the double ninth festival（the ninth day of the ninth lunar month）重阳节

农历九月初九，两阳相重，故叫“重阳”，重阳节又是“老人节”。“九月重阳，金风送爽”，重阳自然是登高远眺的好时节，在这一天，人们佩带茱萸，携酒登山，畅游欢饮。当然，“重阳登山”不仅仅是因为秋高气爽的好天气，做为重阳节一大重要习俗，“登山”源于一个“为民除害”的民间传说。关于这个因“民间英雄”而兴起的节日，虽然大部分人都可用汉语来讲述，但若想把它送出国门之外，讲给老外听，似乎还是难了那么一点点。来吧，阅读一下以下文字，相信会对您有所帮助。
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 (475221bc).
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. 

the9th day of september in the lunar calendar is "the chinese chong yang festival" and a happy occasion in autumn. according to the traditional theory of "yin" and "yang", both the9th month and the9th day of the month belong to "yang", which means positive and masculine, and "chong" means double, thus it is called "chong yang".

people often gather for a party, appreciate chrysanthemums, pin the leaves of cornus on clothes. and the custom of climbing mountains and eating a special cake also features the day.

this custom of climbing mountains can be dated back as early as west han dynasty. some old travel notes have it that, people climbed to mountain peaks not only for beautiful scenes and poetic inspiration, but also the avoidance of evil spirits and disasters.

this practice came from an ancient folktale. it is said long ago there appeared a devil of plaguein the ruhe river. people lay down and died wherever it came up. a boy named heng jing swore to help his neighbors and fellow people to get rid of it. he visited many famous mountains to seek a powerful master. finally an old taoist took him in and taught him how to defeat the devil. heng jing put his whole heart into study and practice.

one day, the taoist called him up and said, "heng jing, tomorrow is the9th day of september and the devil will reappear. it is time for you to go home and stop the devil." the master also gave him a pack of leaves of cornus and a jar of liquor soaked with chrysanthemums. riding a crane, heng jing went a great distance back home in a day. as instructed by his master, he told his fellow villagers to climb up the nearby mountain with a cornus leaf pinned on their clothes and a glass of chrysanthemum liquor in hand.

when the devil of plague came up from under the water, it got dizzy by the scent of cornus and chrysanthemums. heng jing fought with his master"s sword and killed the devil in a few rounds. people held parties, drank chrysanthemum liquor to celebrate it. and the next year, the custom of mountain climbing became popular among the villagers.

in the golden september, chrysanthemum blooms, reminding people of the folktale. and later a special cake with dates, chestnuts and meat was made to add more festivity to the special day.

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