The stars
Gaze up to where the Milky Way （or “Heavenly River” in Chinese） traverses the night sky and you will see a constellation of five small stars on the east bank. This is Vega, also called the Weaving Maid or “Zhi Nu.” Opposite to her, on the distant western bank, is Altair, also known as Cowherd or “Niu Lang ”, shining brilliantly throughout the ages —— lonely and waiting.
Since Vega is the fifth brightest star in the sky, it is therefore very easy to spot on a summer night. Vega is 16 times bigger than the sun and its surface temperature tops 10,000 degrees Celsius. Vega is also 25 times brighter than the sun and 25 light years away from Earth.
Altair, as the 11th brightest star in the sky, is also easy to spot on a summer night. Altair is four times bigger than the sun at a surface temperature of
Two stars Alshain and Tarazed, located on each side of Altair, are said to be the cowherd's two children. Since the distance between Vega and Altair is 16 light years, they cannot meet in the sky. In the story, the magpie bridge allowed the Weaving Maid and cowherd to meet.
The festival
On Chinese Valentine's Day, couples go to matchmaker temples to pray for everlasting love and marriage. Even single people will frequent the temple for luck in love.
Chinese Valentine's Day is also called “The Daughter's Festival”. Long ago, Chinese girls aspired to becoming skilled craftswomen like the Weaving Maid. This skill was considered essential to their future as wives and mothers. On that night, unmarried girls prayed to the Weaving Maid star for the special gift. When the star Vega was high up in the sky, girls performed a small test by placing a needle on the water's surface： If the needle did not sink, the girl was considered to be ready to find a husband. Once a year, on this day, girls could wish for anything their hearts desired.
In some Chinese provinces, people believe that decorating an ox's horns with flowers on Chinese Valentine's Day will ward off disaster. On the night of Valentine's Day, women wash their hair to give it a fresh and shiny look； children wash their faces the next morning using the overnight water in their backyards for a more naturally beautiful appearance； and girls throw five-colored ropes made during the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival on the roofs so magpies can use them to build the bridge.
相关单词：milky
milky解释：adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的
milky例句：
Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。
相关单词：constellation
constellation解释：n.星座n.灿烂的一群
constellation例句：
A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。
相关单词：Celsius
Celsius解释：adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的
Celsius例句：
The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。
相关单词：magpie
magpie解释：n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者
magpie例句：
Now and then a magpie would call.不时有喜鹊的叫声。
This young man is really a magpie.这个年轻人真是饶舌。
相关单词：everlasting
everlasting解释：adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的
everlasting例句：
These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。
相关单词：aspired
aspired解释：v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 )
aspired例句：
She aspired to a scientific career. 她有志于科学事业。
Britain,France,the United States and Japan all aspired to hegemony after the end of World War I. 第一次世界大战后，英、法、美、日都想争夺霸权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：ward
ward解释：n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开
ward例句：
The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。
相关单词：magpies
magpies解释：喜鹊（magpie的复数形式）
magpies例句：
They set forth chattering like magpies. 他们叽叽喳喳地出发了。
James: besides, we can take some pied magpies home, for BBQ. 此外，我们还可以打些喜鹊回家，用来烧烤。
