Chrysanthemums in hand, let’s explore Chongyang. This place celebrates a festival steeped in tradition. The Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, is a significant date in the Chinese calendar. It is a time to honor the elderly and embrace ancient customs.
The Chongyang Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The name “Chongyang” means double nine in Chinese. In ancient times, people considered this day auspicious. It has been widely observed for centuries. The Chinese government declared it Seniors’ Day in 1989. This emphasized respect and love for the elderly.
The origins of the Chongyang Festival are fascinating. Legend says a monster in the Ruhe River caused illness. A young man named Huan Jing sought a way to defeat it. He learned magic from an immortal. The immortal gave him zhuyu leaves and chrysanthemum wine. He instructed the villagers to climb a hill with these items on the ninth day of the ninth month. The monster appeared, but the fragrance of the zhuyu and wine weakened it. Huan Jing then defeated the monster.
Thus began the tradition of ascending to a higher place. People do this to avoid misfortune on this special day.
The Double Ninth Festival includes various festivities. Sightseeing and climbing mountains are popular activities. People appreciate chrysanthemums. They plant zhuyu and eat Chongyang cakes. Drinking chrysanthemum wine is also a tradition. The sound of “nine” in Chinese sounds like the word for longevity. Nine is the largest single-digit number. Autumn is the harvest season. This gives additional significance to the Chongyang Festival.
Many customs are linked to folk rituals. Taoism has strong links to the Chongyang Festival. Taoist scriptures say eating chrysanthemum helps people live long and youthful lives. Taoism describes pure yang as immortal. The Chongyang Festival represents the meeting of two yang. Taoists believed this was the best time to ascend to heaven. “Ascending to heaven” became “ascending a height.”
There are other customs associated with Chongyang. Wearing dogwood leaves is believed to wash away bad luck. Chrysanthemums symbolize longevity. They bloom around this time. People also pay respects to ancestors. They offer food and burn incense. It is not advised for women to do housework on this day. It is also not advised to wish people a happy celebration. This is due to the association of the number nine with misfortune.
Today, many young people accompany the elderly on outings. They also prepare delicious food for them. The Chongyang Festival beautifully blends tradition and modernity. It’s a time for family, respect, and remembrance. As we conclude our exploration of Chongyang, remember the importance of honoring our elders. Cherish the traditions that connect us to the past.