StoryandCustomsofDoubleNinthFestival
TheOriginofDoubleNinthFestival
TheDoubleNinthFestival,alsoknownasChongyangFestival,isatraditionalChinesefestivalthatfallsontheninthdayoftheninthlunarmonth,whichisusuallyinOctober.AccordingtoChineseliterature,theoriginofDoubleNinthFestivalcanbetracedbacktotheHanDynasty(202BCE–220CE).
DuringtheHanDynasty,itwasbelievedthattheninthdayoftheninthlunarmonthwasasuitabledayforvariousactivities,suchasclimbing,drinkingchrysanthemumwine,andwearingcornels.Theseactivitieswereaimedatavoidingdisastersandillnessesandincreasinglongevity.
TheCustomsofDoubleNinthFestival
TheDoubleNinthFestivalisadaywhenChinesepeoplecelebratetheirelders,especiallytheseniorcitizens.Oneofthemostpopularcustomsduringthefestivalistoclimbamountain.PeoplebelievethatbyclimbingamountainontheDoubleNinthFestival,theycanimprovetheirphysicalandmentalhealthandwardoffbadluck.Hence,groupsofpeoplewouldgatherandtaketothemountainstoenjoytheautumnscenery.
AnotherimportantcustomofDoubleNinthFestivalistoeatChongyangCake.Thecake,whichhasahistoryofover500years,ismadeofriceflourandisshapedlikeachrysanthemum.Itisalsodecoratedwithjujubeandchestnut,whichsymbolizesgoodfortuneandprosperity.
WishingWordsforDoubleNinthFestival
OntheDoubleNinthFestival,itiscustomarytogiveoureldersourbestwishes.Herearesomepopular“chantingphrases”thatChinesepeopleusetoexpresstheirwishes:
1.长寿：
chángshòu:longlife
2.健康：
jiànkāng:health
3.平安：
píngān:peaceandstability
4.快乐：
kuàilè:joyandhappiness
Byexpressingthesewishes,weshowourrespecttooureldersandprayfortheirhappiness,health,andlongevity.
