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, 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.
Ascending Height
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.
Enjoying Chrysanthemum
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.
Show Love and Respect to the Elderly
The Double Ninth Festival is a day expressly for youngsters to show love and respect to the elderly. It depends on the family as to how they celebrate this day, whether by visiting their own grandparents or going to nursing homes and bringing love and joy to the elderly living there. So, it can be said that the festival is a day to share love with the community and with all the people who are in need of care and companionship.Another appropriate activity for this day would be mountain or rock climbing to symbolize climbing to another stage in life.
Days Countdown to Chinese New Year
The current date is 14th October 2021
109 days until 1 February 2022 (Chinese New Year)