The love story between Niulang (cowherd) and Zhinu (weaver) is one of the most famous Chinese folk love legends. The earliest record of this myth is over 2600 years ago.
Niulang was an honest and kind cowherd who lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day he met a beautiful girl named Zhinu, the seventh daughter of the Goddess, who had descended to the earth to look for fun. Zhinu soon fell in love with Niulang and came down secretly from the heaven to earth and married him. They lived a happy life and gave birth to two children. Unfortunately, the Goddess soon found out the fact that her daughter married a mortal. She was furious and immediately took Zhinu back to the heaven.
Niulang was very grieved after his wife Zhinu left him. Driven by Niulang’s misery, his ox should begin to talk and help him fly to heaven to meet his wife. Whe was about to catch up with his wife, the goddess found Niulang and used her hairpin to slash it across the sky and created the Milky Way between to top him. Then Zhinu became the star Vega and Niulang the star Altair. They were separated on the two banks and could only shed their tears. Moved by their love and devotion, lots of magpies formed bridge for the couple to meet each other. The Goddess was also touched by their love and finally allowed them to meet on the 7th of the 7th lunar month every year, which became today’s Double Seventh Day, the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
On that day Chinese people will look up the sky and watch the two stars Altair and Vega meet on the same side of the Milky Way for the yearly meeting.