The Double Ninth Festival
the ninth day of the ninth lunar month

重阳节：一个敬老并登高的日子

     The "Chong Yang Festival" is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is as such known as the Double Ninth Festival.

      Origins:

      The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis to the 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 the name "Chong Yang Festival". (Chong means "repeat" in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

     Climbing mountains:

      On the Double Ninth Festival, people customarily climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemum flowers, drink chrysanthemum wine, and eat double-ninth cakes. The Double Ninth Festival is also the "Old Men Festival". Old people are especially meant to improve their health by taking part in the activities on the day of the festival.

      Family get-togethers:

      The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one's ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organised during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm their love and concern for family members and close friends.

 

      相关中文介绍：

      重阳节有两个主题：敬老与登高
      重阳节，农历九月初九，二九相重，称为“重九”。汉中叶以后的儒家阴阳观，有六阴九阳之说。九是阳数，故重九亦叫“重阳”。重阳节早在战国时期就已经形成，到了唐代，重阳被正式定为民间的节日，此后历朝历代沿袭至今。庆祝重阳节的活动一般包括出游赏景、登高远眺、观赏菊花、遍插茱萸、吃重阳糕、饮菊花酒等活动。
      重阳节又被称为“老人节”，这首先是一个敬老的日子。为什么重阳节包含着敬老的内涵呢？在民俗观念中，因为“九九”与“久久”同音，包含有生命长久、健康长寿的寓意。20世纪80年代开始，我国一些地方把夏历九月初九定为老人节，倡导全社会树立尊老、敬老、爱老、助老的风气。国家非常重视非物质文化遗产的保护，2006年5月20日，该民俗经国务院批准列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。

       相关文章：关于重阳节的英文介绍