August 19 was the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar. A day for lovers. The festival of the Heavenly Weaving Fairies and the Earthly Cowherd.
If you look up into the sky on a clear, bright and cloudless night, you might spot the moon fairies represented by seven stars located close to the moon. The twinkling lights of the youngest fairy is dimmer than the other six. Probably because she was already married to the cowherd and conceived a son and thus not so pure as her celestial sisters.
I do not remember anyone celebrating this festival today. But when I was young a table was set up outside our house, with food offerings for the faithful lovers. If the sky were scattered with clouds, we would wait patiently until the moon emerged behind them. The couple only get to meet up with each other once a year. So much longing pains and so much pitiful tears for the lovers, it flowed down as torrential rain that day.
These raindrops are believed to have medicinal purpose. We would collect and use it for soaking uncooked rice in an earthenware for 49 days. When the rice is softened, grind them in a stone grinder, sieve the rice flour with a white cotton cloth to rid off excess water. This fine powdery flour is used to make pearl drops. Dry them under the sun with fragrant pandan leaves then store in glass bottles for later use as powder. To use, take one or two pearl drops, mix with a little water in your palm and wipe it all over your face, neck and wherever you want to apply. This powder effectively helps to keep pimples and heat rashes away.
If your stubborn pimples still refuse to subside please do not look for me. Look up into the sky and pray for the moon fairies to help you or check and monitor your diet thoroughly. Refrain from oily and spicy foods. Or maybe, your hormones has mutated drastically due to the genetic food developed in this space age by enthusiastic food technologists. Well, someone has to be the guinea pig for food testing.
After the Apollo 11 had landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, worshipping of the moon has gradually declined. Perhaps, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin had scared the celestial colony away from the moon. Or maybe, the strange machine Michael Collins was piloting had managed to drove them to Mars.
Now, you know why the Martians visit us and where they originated from. You visited me last time, I drop by occasionally to say hello.
If you look up into the sky on a clear, bright and cloudless night, you might spot the moon fairies represented by seven stars located close to the moon. The twinkling lights of the youngest fairy is dimmer than the other six. Probably because she was already married to the cowherd and conceived a son and thus not so pure as her celestial sisters.
I do not remember anyone celebrating this festival today. But when I was young a table was set up outside our house, with food offerings for the faithful lovers. If the sky were scattered with clouds, we would wait patiently until the moon emerged behind them. The couple only get to meet up with each other once a year. So much longing pains and so much pitiful tears for the lovers, it flowed down as torrential rain that day.
These raindrops are believed to have medicinal purpose. We would collect and use it for soaking uncooked rice in an earthenware for 49 days. When the rice is softened, grind them in a stone grinder, sieve the rice flour with a white cotton cloth to rid off excess water. This fine powdery flour is used to make pearl drops. Dry them under the sun with fragrant pandan leaves then store in glass bottles for later use as powder. To use, take one or two pearl drops, mix with a little water in your palm and wipe it all over your face, neck and wherever you want to apply. This powder effectively helps to keep pimples and heat rashes away.
If your stubborn pimples still refuse to subside please do not look for me. Look up into the sky and pray for the moon fairies to help you or check and monitor your diet thoroughly. Refrain from oily and spicy foods. Or maybe, your hormones has mutated drastically due to the genetic food developed in this space age by enthusiastic food technologists. Well, someone has to be the guinea pig for food testing.
After the Apollo 11 had landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, worshipping of the moon has gradually declined. Perhaps, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin had scared the celestial colony away from the moon. Or maybe, the strange machine Michael Collins was piloting had managed to drove them to Mars.
Now, you know why the Martians visit us and where they originated from. You visited me last time, I drop by occasionally to say hello.
