This is the first comprehensive bilingual book about the Qixi Festival in Singapore. Besides looking into ancient Chinese texts to trace the origins and developments of the festival, it examines the customs brought over by early Chinese women migrants to Singapore since the mid-19th century. This book honours our foremothers, such as the Majies, Samsui women, female factory workers, as well as women in clan associations and individual households, for whom the festival was an important part of their social lives. It also investigates how the festival went from heyday to mayday in Singapore, juxtaposed with the festival’s trajectories in other countries. Drawing from ethnographic research and oral history interviews with diverse stakeholders, it further synthesises views from the community on how the Qixi Festival, once a significant part of our collective heritage, can be revived. *** 《七夕节:新加坡曾经拥有的神话与现实》是第一本关于新加 坡七夕节的综合性双语书籍。本书通过中国古代文献追溯七夕节的起 源和发展,进一步研究自19世纪中叶以来,早期中国妇女移民带入 新加坡的习俗,以及直到21世纪的本地节日与其他国家节日的发展 轨迹。本书向我们的女性先民致敬,包括妈姐、三水女工、工厂女 工,以及会馆女会员和家庭妇女,对她们来说,节日是社交活动, 也是不可或缺的生活日常。本书综合与不同社区利益相关者的第一 手口述历史访谈内容,探讨如何保留我们丰富的文化遗产与集体记 忆,以及重塑七夕节的渠道。

1. Festivals ? Singapore. 2. Chinese ? Singapore ? Social life and customs. 3. Festivals ? China. 4. Folklore ? China.