|
Double
Ninth Festival
The
Double Ninth Day, dated the ninth day of the ninth month on the
Chinese lunar calendar, is a traditional Chinese festival. People
began to observe it as early as in the Warring States Period (475
BC-221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis
to the traditional Chinese world view, yin represents the elements
of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine
is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double
yang day, hence named the Double Ninth Festival (Chong Yang
Festival). (Chong means "to repeat" in Chinese.) This
year's Double Ninth Day falls on Oct. 22 on the solar calendar.
On
the Double Ninth Day, people customarily climb mountains, appreciate
chrysanthemum flowers, drink chrysanthemum wine, and eat
double-ninth cakes. The day is also known as "Festival of the
Elderly." Elderly people are meant to improve their health by
taking part in the activities on that day.
|