[First published August 2, 2014] Chinese Valentine's Day that is -- the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, falling this year on August 2nd. This day commemorates the romantic tale of the Cowherd and the Celestial Weaver girl. There are many variations to the story, but it involves a celestial maiden who came down from the heavens and fell in love with a humble cowherd. But the lovers were separated when the Celestial maiden was forced to return to Heaven. They are allowed to reunite one day out of the year.
Variations of this story are told throughout Asia, but the heavenly tale is associated with a particular spot in Shandong Province which I had the pleasure of visiting a few months ago. There was nothing flashy or commercial at the spot -- a hill, a lake, and a park. It was pleasant to think that people had been telling the story of these lovers for over twenty-five hundred years, including at this quiet spot...
Variations of this story are told throughout Asia, but the heavenly tale is associated with a particular spot in Shandong Province which I had the pleasure of visiting a few months ago. There was nothing flashy or commercial at the spot -- a hill, a lake, and a park. It was pleasant to think that people had been telling the story of these lovers for over twenty-five hundred years, including at this quiet spot...
It is said that if you stand under grape vines on this special night you can hear the lovers whispering.
Well, as they were married, perhaps the conversation goes like this:
Did you pay that final Telus bill?
I thought you were doing that!
Have you seen my golf shoes? Where did you put them?
I didn't put them anywhere. Look in the back of your van where you throw everything.
Naw, of course this is a romantic holiday. Flower sellers moved through the crowds at the outdoor plaza where we had dinner tonight. And I could reflect that we were separated for one third of a year, not a full year, and are now reunited. We did not reunite on a bridge made of magpies but it's great to share the adventure of China with Ross.
Well, as they were married, perhaps the conversation goes like this:
Did you pay that final Telus bill?
I thought you were doing that!
Have you seen my golf shoes? Where did you put them?
I didn't put them anywhere. Look in the back of your van where you throw everything.
Naw, of course this is a romantic holiday. Flower sellers moved through the crowds at the outdoor plaza where we had dinner tonight. And I could reflect that we were separated for one third of a year, not a full year, and are now reunited. We did not reunite on a bridge made of magpies but it's great to share the adventure of China with Ross.
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