七夕情人节（Chinese Valentine’s Day）即将到来，相信许多人都已经规划好要如何跟另一半共度美好一天。不过，你知道七夕情人节的起源是什么吗？七夕这天台湾又有什么传统习俗呢？今天就跟着 VoiceTube 透过以下对话和介绍来一探究竟吧！
Jack: Hey Tony! Any plans for Chinese Valentine’s Day?
Jack：嘿 Tony！你七夕情人节有任何计画吗？
Tony: Chinese Valentine’s Day? Isn’t Valentine’s Day in February?
Tony：七夕情人节？情人节不是 2 月的事吗？
Jack: Chinese Valentine’s Day is celebrated on July 7th of the lunar calendar, and it comes from the romantic tale of two lovers who can only come together once a year.
Jack：七夕情人节都是在每年的农历 7 月 7 日庆祝，而这个节日的典故则与一对每年只能相聚一次的恋人的浪漫神话有关。
Tony: That sounds really sad. Why aren’t they allowed to meet each other at other times of the year?
Tony：听起来是个很难过的故事。为什么他们不能在一年中的其他时间相见呢？
Jack: Legend has it that the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor, the Weaver Girl, was bored by her mundane life as an immortal. Thus she decided to descend into the mortal world.
Jack：相传玉皇大帝最小的女儿织女因为厌倦枯燥乏味的神仙生活，因此决定下到凡间。
Tony: Interesting. What happened next?
Tony：真有趣。接着又发生了什么事呢？
Jack: On earth, she fell in love and got married with the Cowherd, which defied the rules of heaven. Therefore, when the Weaver Girl’s mother discovered their union, she sent soldiers to bring the Weaver Girl back, and the lovers were separated.
Jack：到了凡间，织女与牛郎坠入爱河并结为连理，但这样却违反了天庭的规范。因此当王母娘娘得知他们两个结婚的事实后，便马上派遣天兵天将把女儿送回天庭，硬生生地将这对恋人拆散。
Tony: The Weaver Girl’s mother was ruthless. Did the Cowherd try to pursue them?
Tony：王母娘娘也太无情了。那牛郎有尝试去追赶他们吗？
Jack: Of course. An old cow once rescued by the Cowherd offered his skin for the Cowherd to make shoes which could fly him to heaven. But the Weaver’s Girl’s mother knew of his arrival and created the Milky Way to separate the lovers forever.
Jack：当然。一只曾被牛郎拯救的老牛贡献了他的牛皮，让牛郎做成能带他飞往天庭的鞋子。但王母娘娘发现牛郎紧追在后，于是急忙创造出银河，以将这对恋人永远分开。
Tony: Oh no! That was such a tragedy!
Tony：喔不！这真是个悲剧！
Jack: Fortunately, the magpies were moved by the couple’s love for each other, so they formed a bridge for them to walk over the Milky Way. this also melted the heart of the Weaver Girl’s mother. She agreed to let the couple meet one night out of every year on July 7th, which eventually became Chinese Valentine’s Day.
Jack：幸运的是，喜鹊们被牛郎和织女的爱情所感动，所以搭了鹊桥让他们能穿越银河跟彼此相见。王母娘娘最后也心软，允许这对恋人在每年的 7 月 7 日相会，最终演变成现今的七夕情人节。
台湾七夕传统习俗有哪些？
透过以上的对话了解七夕情人节的典故后，接下来让 VoiceTube 带大家看看几个与七夕有关的台湾民间习俗，让大家在欢庆佳节之余，也能应景认识这些传统习俗的背后缘由！
挂絭、祭拜七娘妈 Wear amulets and worship the Seven Star Goddess
七夕祭拜七娘妈的习俗从牛郎和织女的故事发展而来，相传他们在分开后因为无法养育孩子，于是将小孩交由织女的姐姐们照顾，人们因而称她们为「七娘妈」，并视她们为孩子的守护神（patron saint）。通常祭拜七娘妈时，父母会用红线将古钱或锁排串（string）成「絭」，挂在小孩的脖子或手腕上，并于每年七夕固定到庙里更换，直到孩子平安长大到 16 岁成年为止，也就是所谓的「做十六岁」（coming-of-sixteen）。
乞巧 Pray for the ability of doing good needlework
由于织女的工作是编织天上的云彩和神仙的衣服，因此古代的年轻女性会在七夕当天用七味碗和胭脂（rouge）来祭拜织女，祈求织女让自己能拥有好手艺（craftsmanship），进而获得好姻缘，如此「乞求巧手」的习俗也使七夕又被大家称为「乞巧节」。女孩们在这天也会尝试将五色细线穿过黄铜制的细针，并准备瓜果当作供品（offerings），只要顺利完成穿针（thread）或是有小蜘蛛在瓜果上结网，都代表「乞巧」成功的意思。
祭拜床母 Worship the goddess of the bedchamber
民间相传床母负责助产安胎（miscarriage prevention）与保护孩子，人们会在七夕当天下午 6 点，将麻油鸡（sesame oil chicken）、油饭（steamed glutinous rice）、面线、纸钱（praying cash）及床母衣等供品摆设于幼儿的床上，并默念祷词（prayer）来感谢床母对孩子的保佑和守护。
拜魁星君诞辰 Celebrate the birthday of Kui Xing
七夕除了是七娘妈的诞辰外，其实也是另一位神明「魁星星君」（Kui Xing）的生日。根据中国占星术（astrology）记载，魁星星君是科举（imperial examination）之神，跟人们熟知的文昌帝君皆为主掌文事的神明。因此古代要求取功名的男性，都会在这天祭拜魁星，并于书房悬挂从「魁」字转化而成的魁星踢斗图，以祈求自己考运亨通、金榜题名。
以上就是 VoiceTube 为各位整理的七夕情人节由来及相关习俗介绍，希望大家看完这篇文章后，对于这个节日能有更深入的认识。今年七夕情人节对另一半表达爱意的同时，不妨可以找机会体验看看这些传统习俗，深刻感受台湾的在地文化！
