double ninth festival
the 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional chongyang festival or double ninth festival it usually falls in october in the gregorian calendar in an ancient and mysterious book yi jing or the book of changes number 6 was thought to be of yin character meaning feminine or negative while number 9 was thought to be yang meaning masculine or positive so the number nine in both month and day create the double ninth festival or chongyang festival chong in chinese means double also as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify forever both are jiu jiu the chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration thats why ancient chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago
the custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago therefore the double ninth festival is also called height ascending festival the height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity even today people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day
on this day people will eat double ninth gao (or cake) in chinese gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height) people do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in there is no fixed ways for the double ninth cake but super cakes will have as many as nine layers looking like a tower
the double ninth festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms china boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times so enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival also people will drink chrysanthemum wine women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness
in 1989 the chinese government decided the double ninth festival as seniors day since then all government units organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts at the waterside or on the mountains the seniors will find themselves merged into nature younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day
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