Double Ninth Festival

photo/Ma Jian

When clear and refreshing autumn arrives and chrysanthemums envelope the world, it's time for the Chinese Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival.

The Double Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. In Chinese folklore, the number nine is the largest number - it's a homonym to the Chinese word jiu, which contains the auspicious meaning of "a long and healthy life".

photo/ Zhang Weitao

It is customary to climb a high mountain, eat rice cakes, drink chrysanthemum liquor, and wear the zhuyu plant, Cornus officinalis, as a wish to avoid evilness and prolong life.

As double ninth was pronounced the same as the word signifying “forever” in the Chinese characters, both are“Jiu Jiu,”people would hold activities to worship their ancestors and venerate the elderly.

It has been practiced by Chinese people since ancient times that“Filial piety is the most important of all virtues.”From the point of passing on traditional culture, respecting, taking good care of and loving the seniors is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation.