This year, the Double Ninth Festival falls on October 26, a little over one month from now. Before this festival starts, let us find out a little more about this holiday and how it got started.
The Double Ninth Festival (重阳节 Chóngyángjié), observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar (October 26 in 2009), is a traditional Chinese holiday, mentioned in writing since before the East Han period (thus, before AD 25).
According to the I Ching, nine is the yang number; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month (or double nine) has too much yang (a traditional Chinese spiritual concept) and is thus a potentially dangerous date. Hence, the day is also called "Double Yang Festival" (重阳节). To protect against the danger, it is customary to climb a high mountain, drink chrysanthemum wine, and wear the zhuyu (茱萸) plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.) Also on this holiday, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.
Origin
It is said that in the ancient China, probably in Han dynasty, on September 9th(on the Lunar calendar), the emperor and his attendants would wear the zhuyu plant, eat the rice cakes and drink the chrysanthemum wine to dispel bad luck and pray for longevity.
Double Ninth may have originated as a day to drive away danger, but like the Chinese New Year, over time it became a day of celebration. In contemporary times it is an occasion for hiking and chrysanthemum appreciation. Stores sell rice cakes (糕 "gāo", a homophone for height 高) inserted with mini colorful flags to represent zhuyu. Most people drink chrysanthemum tea, while a few strict traditionalists drink homemade chrysanthemum wine. Children in school learn poems about chrysanthemums, and many localities host a chrysanthemum exhibit. Mountain climbing races are also popular; winners get to wear a wreath made of zhuyu.
This is an often-quoted poem about the holiday:
"Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers" - Wang Wei (Tang Dynasty)
Original:
《九(jiǔ)月(yuè)九(jiǔ)日(rì)憶(yì)山(shān)東(dōng)兄(xiōng)弟(dì)》 王維
獨(dú)在(zài)異(yì)鄉(xiāng)為(wéi)異(yì)客(kè)，
每(měi)逢(féng)佳(jiā)節(jié)倍(bèi)思(sī)親(qīn)。
遙(yáo)知(zhī)兄(xiōng)弟(dì)登(dēng)高(gāo)處(chù)，
遍(biàn)插(chā)茱(zhū)萸(yú)少(shǎo)一(yì)人(rén)
English:
As a lonely stranger in the strange land,
Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.
Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,
All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.
