The Qixi Festival takes place on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is known by different names e.g. Qiqiao Festival (“wishing for skills”) and is also celebrated in places such as Japan (Tanabata), Korea (Chilseok) and other countries.

The festival is associated with the legend of the Cowherd (牛郎 symbolised by the star Altair) and the Weaver Girl (织女, symbolised by the star Vega). The romance between the two was forbidden and were banished to opposite sides of the heavenly river (symbolised by the Milky Way). Once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge to reunite the lovers for a single day.

During the Jin and Southern Dynasties, Qiqiao (wishing for skills) customs such as threading needles, knotting 5-colour threads under the starry night became associated with the Qixi Festival. It is believed that wishes made upon the stars during the festival come true faster if one demonstrates skill fullness in the form of arts and handicrafts.

“QiQi” refers to the magpie mascot of the Qixi Festival but is also a nod to the date of the festival!

The Qixi Festival Theme Song is a jingle that is commissioned by Lynn WONG. Like the Ho Yeah Cantonese jingle she commissioned, the Qixi Festival Theme Song also employs technological innovation – As we had only 3 weeks to compose, arrange, produce and record the whole work, we employed the use of Artificial Intelligence in coming up with preliminary ideas for the Chinese lyrics.

It is hoped that this little piece of “ohrwurm” (ear worm) will capture the lively spirit of Qixi Festival and allow everyone to sing and/or whistle along!

Lyrics:
Magpies soar to the sky during Qixi,
Forming the bridge for dreams to be realised.
As the two stars across the Milky Way reunite
Those who demonstrate skillfulness will have their dreams come true.

Let’s make a wish this Qixi
Upon the shimmering stars.
Hand in hand, let us reach for the stars
And take flight with Qiqi.

Let’s make a wish this Qixi
As the stars twinkle above our Lion City.
As the stars reunite and we bond with our loved ones
Songs of joyfulness fill our hearts

Let’s make a wish this Qixi
Upon the shimmering stars.
Hand in hand, let us reach for the stars
And create a brighter tomorrow

七夕喜鹊飞上天
qī xī xǐ què fēi shàng tiān”
搭桥筑梦圆心愿
dā qiáo zhù mèng yuán xīn yuàn
双星渡河再相见
shuāng xīng dù hé zài xiāng jiàn
心灵手巧 梦想方能实现
xīn líng shǒu qiǎo mèng xiǎng fāng néng shí xiàn

七夕乞巧许心愿
qī xī qǐ qiǎo xǔ xīn yuàn
星星夜空中眨眼
xīng xīng yè kōng zhōng zhǎ yǎn
牵起你的手与星星相见
qiān qǐ nǐ de shǒu yǔ xīng xīng xiāng jiàn
七七带你一起飞
qī qī dài nǐ yī qǐ fēi

七夕乞巧许心愿
qī xī qǐ qiǎo xǔ xīn yuàn
星星对狮城眨眼
xīng xīng duì shī chéng zhǎ yǎn
天上人间共团圆
tiān shàng rén jiān gòng tuán yuán
欢乐歌声环绕心田
huān lè gē shēng huán rào xīn tián

七夕乞巧许心愿
qī xī qǐ qiǎo xǔ xīn yuàn
星星夜空中眨眼
xīng xīng yè kōng zhōng zhǎ yǎn
牵起你的手与星星相见
qiān qǐ nǐ de shǒu yǔ xīng xīng xiāng jiàn
我们共创美好明天
wǒ men gòng chuàng měi hǎo míng tiān