The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the traditional Double Ninth Festival. Because in the ancient Book of Changes, "six" was defined as yin number, and "nine" was defined as yang number. On September 9, the sun and the moon combined with yang, and 29 was the most important, so it was called Chongyang, also called Chongyang. The ancients thought it was an auspicious day to celebrate, and this festival was celebrated from a very young age.

The activities to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival are colorful and romantic, which generally include traveling to enjoy the scenery, climbing high into the distance, watching chrysanthemums, planting dogwood everywhere, eating the Double Ninth Festival cake, drinking chrysanthemum wine and other activities.

Double Ninth Festival, because it is homophonic with "long", and nine is the largest number in the number, which means long life. Moreover, autumn is also the golden season of harvest in a year, and the Double Ninth Festival has far-reaching influence. People have always had special feelings for this festival. There are many excellent poems in Tang poetry and Song poetry to congratulate the Double Ninth Festival and chant chrysanthemums.

Today's Double Ninth Festival has been given a new meaning. 1989, China designated September 9th as the festival for the elderly, skillfully combining tradition with modernity, and becoming a festival to respect, care for and help the elderly. At this time, organs, organizations and streets all over the country often organize retired old people to enjoy the scenery in autumn, or play near the water, or climb mountains to keep fit, so that their bodies and minds can be bathed in the embrace of nature; The younger generation of many families will also help the elderly to go to the suburbs or prepare some delicious food for the elderly.

Chongyang custom

Autumn is crisp, sweet-scented osmanthus is fragrant, and the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is rich in activities and interesting, including climbing mountains, enjoying chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine, eating double ninth cake and inserting dogwood.

Climbing: In ancient times, Chongyang had the folk custom of climbing, so the Double Ninth Festival was also called "Climbing Festival". According to legend, this custom began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many climbing poems written by scholars in the Tang Dynasty, most of which are the custom of writing the Double Ninth Festival. Du Fu's Seven Laws "Ascending the Mountain" is a famous article about climbing the mountain in Chongyang. There is no uniform rule for climbing mountains. Generally, we climb mountains and towers. There is also the custom of eating "Chongyang cake".

Eating Chongyang cake: According to historical records, Chongyang cake is also called flower cake, chrysanthemum cake and five-color cake, which is made randomly. At dawn on September 9th, put a cake on the child's head and say something in his mouth, wishing the child all the best. This is the original intention of the ancients to make cakes in September. Exquisite Chongyang cake should be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, with two lambs on it, which conforms to the meaning of Chongyang (sheep). Some people even put red paper flags on Chongyang cakes and light candles. This probably means "lighting a lamp" and "eating cakes" instead of "climbing", and using a red paper flag instead of dogwood. At present, there is still no fixed variety of Chongyang cake, and the soft cakes eaten around Chongyang Festival are called Chongyang cakes.

Enjoy chrysanthemum and drink chrysanthemum wine: Double Ninth Festival is the golden autumn season of the year, and chrysanthemums are in full bloom. It is said that appreciating chrysanthemum and drinking chrysanthemum wine originated from Tao Yuanming, a great poet in Jin Dynasty. Tao Yuanming is famous for his seclusion, his poems, his wine and his love for chrysanthemums. Later generations have followed suit, so Chongyang has the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums. In the old days, literati and officialdom also combined chrysanthemum appreciation with banquets in order to get close to Tao Yuanming. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng was the capital, and chrysanthemum appreciation on Chongyang was popular. At that time, there were many varieties and shapes of chrysanthemums. People also call September of the lunar calendar "Chrysanthemum Month". On the Double Ninth Festival, when chrysanthemums are in full bloom in Ao Shuang, watching chrysanthemums has become an important part of the festival. After the Qing dynasty, the habit of enjoying chrysanthemums was particularly prosperous, and it was not limited to September 9, but it was the most prosperous around the Double Ninth Festival.

Inserting dogwood and chrysanthemum: The custom of inserting dogwood on the Double Ninth Festival has been very common in the Tang Dynasty. The ancients thought that inserting Evodia rutaecarpa on the Double Ninth Festival could take refuge and eliminate disasters. Or wear it on your arm, or make a sachet and put it in it, or wear it on your head. Most of them are worn by women and children, and in some places, men also wear them. Ge Hong's Miscellanies of the Western Classics in the Jin Dynasty recorded that Kaunus participated in the Double Ninth Festival. Besides wearing dogwood, people also wear chrysanthemums. This happened in the Tang Dynasty and has been popular since ancient times. In the Qing Dynasty, the custom of Beijing Double Ninth Festival was to stick chrysanthemum branches and leaves on doors and windows, "to get rid of evil and filth, and to make money into treasure". This is the vulgarization of the chrysanthemum on the head. In the Song Dynasty, some people cut ribbons into dogwood and chrysanthemum and gave them to each other.

The custom of celebrating the Double Ninth Festival in various places: In addition to the above common customs, there are some unique festivals in various places.

In the official harvest season of the Double Ninth Festival in northern Shaanxi, there is a song that says: "In September, there will be nine Double Ninth Festival, so autumn harvest is busy. Xiaomi, Xiaomi, go up and up. " The Double Ninth Festival in northern Shaanxi is in the evening, and one day is a whole day of harvesting and threshing. In the evening, in the treetops, people like to eat buckwheat noodles and instant-boiled mutton. After dinner, people go out of their homes in twos and threes, climb the nearby hills, light fires, talk about the land, and wait until the chickens crow before going home. When climbing mountains at night, many people will pick some wild chrysanthemums and put them on their daughters' heads to ward off evil spirits.

In Puxian, Fujian, people follow the ancient custom of steaming nine layers of Chongyang rice fruit. In ancient China, there was a custom of "eating bait" on Double Ninth Festival, which is today's cake and rice fruit. Jade Candle Collection in Song Dynasty said: "Those who eat chrysanthemum wine on the 9th will reap millet and glutinous rice at that time, and taste new things because of their sticky taste, thus becoming a habit." Song Zuqian, a poet of Puxian in the early Qing Dynasty, said in "Nine Songs of Fujian": "When you smell the festival near Chongyang, you are shocked to hear the wild incense, and you can pick up the wild incense with your hand basket. The jade pestle is smashed into green powder and the pearl is called Langwei. " Since modern times, people have transformed rice fruit into a unique nine-fold rice fruit. Wash high-quality late rice with clear water, soak it for 2 hours, take it out and drain it, mix it with water and grind it into slurry, add alum (dissolved in water) and stir, add brown sugar (boiled with water to make a thick sugar solution), then put it on a steamer, spread a clean cooking cloth, then scoop in rice slurry for nine times, steam for a few minutes and cook it out, and coat peanut oil on the rice noodles. This rice fruit is divided into nine layers, which can be uncovered and cut into water chestnuts. Four sides are distinct and translucent. It is sweet, soft and delicious, and it doesn't stick to teeth. Respect for the elderly is the best gift for Chongyang.

In some places, people also have the opportunity to climb mountains, sweep graves and commemorate their ancestors in Chongyang. People in Puxian worship ancestors more than Qingming, so there is a saying that it is small in March and big in September. Due to the coastal area of Puxian, the ninth day of September is also the anniversary of Mazu's ascension to heaven. Villagers often go to the Tianhou Palace and the Palace Temple in Mazu Tempel or Meizhou to pray.

After the founding of New China, the activities of the Double Ninth Festival have enriched new contents. 1989, China double ninth festival was designated as the festival for the elderly. On this first day, all localities should organize the elderly to climb mountains and have an autumn outing, broaden their horizons, exchange feelings and exercise, and cultivate people's noble character of returning to nature and loving the motherland.

The origin and legend of Chongyang

The Double Ninth Festival was mentioned in Chu Ci during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Qu Yuan's Journey wrote: "Set Chongyang into the Emperor's Palace and see the capital of Qing Dynasty ten days later." The "Double Ninth Festival" here refers to the sky, not just festivals. In Nine Days Zhong You written by Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei in the Three Kingdoms period, it was clearly written that Chongyang kept the festival: "From the year to the month, I suddenly returned to September 9. Nine is the number of yang, and the sun and the moon coincide. It is well known and considered suitable for a long time, so it is a feast. "

Tao Yuanming, a scholar in Jin Dynasty, said in the preface to the poem "Idle for Nine Days": "I am idle and love the name of Nine. Autumn chrysanthemums are full of gardens, but they are sad, empty for Jiuhua, and precious words are like gold. " Chrysanthemum and wine are mentioned here at the same time Probably in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a custom of drinking and enjoying chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival. In the Tang Dynasty, Chongyang was officially designated as a folk festival.

In the Ming Dynasty, on the Double Ninth Festival in September, the palace would eat flower cakes together to celebrate, and the emperor would personally climb the Long Live Mountain to celebrate his autumn ambition. This custom has been passed down to the Qing Dynasty.

Legend of Double Ninth Festival: Like most traditional festivals, Double Ninth Festival has ancient legends.

According to legend, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a plague demon in Ruhe. As soon as it appeared, people in every household fell ill and died every day, and people in this area were ravaged by plague demons.

A plague killed the parents of the teenager Hengjing, and he almost died of illness himself. After he recovered from his illness, he bid farewell to his beloved wife and fellow villagers and decided to go out to study in immortals to rid the people of the plague. Heng Jing visited teachers everywhere and famous scholars all over the world. Finally, he found an oldest mountain in the east. There is a miraculous fairy on the mountain. Under the guidance of the crane, Hengjing finally found the mountain and the immortal with magical power. The immortal was moved by his spirit, and finally took in Heng Jing, taught him the sword to subdue the demon, and gave him a sword to subdue the demon. Hengjing forgot to eat, sleep and practice hard, and finally became an extraordinary martial art.

On this day, the immortal called Heng Jing to his side: "Tomorrow is the ninth day of September, and the plague god will come out to do evil again. When you learn the skill, you should go back and kill the people. " Xianchang gave Hengjing a pack of dogwood leaves and a cup of chrysanthemum wine, and secretly taught him how to ward off evil spirits and let Hengjing ride a crane home.

Hengjing returned to his hometown. On the morning of the ninth day of September, according to the fairy's instructions, he led the villagers to a nearby mountain and gave everyone a dogwood leaf and a cup of chrysanthemum wine to prepare for subduing the evil spirits. At noon, with several strange calls, Mo Wen rushed out of the Ruhe River, but just as Mo Wen jumped down the mountain, he suddenly smelled the strange fragrance of Cornus officinalis and the alcohol smell of Chrysanthemum, and his face suddenly changed. At this time, Heng Jing chased Mo Wen down the mountain with a demon sword in his hand, and stabbed him to death in a few rounds. Since then, the custom of climbing mountains on the ninth day of September to avoid epidemics has been handed down year after year. Wu Yun, a native of A Liang, recorded this point in his book Qi and He Xu.

Later, people regarded the custom of climbing on the Double Ninth Festival as an activity to avoid disasters. In addition, in the traditional concept of people in the Central Plains, the Double Ninth Festival still means longevity, health and longevity, so the Double Ninth Festival was later established as the festival for the elderly.

Chongyang poetry

On holiday in the mountains, picking mulberry leaves on Chongyang reminds me of my brothers in Shandong.

(Tang) Wang Wei

Life is easy when you are old, but difficult when you are old. I am a stranger in a foreign land, and I miss my relatives twice every holiday.

Today is Chongyang, and the yellow flowers in the battlefield are particularly fragrant. When I think of my brothers' bodies climbing high, I will feel a little regret for not being able to reach me.

The annual autumn wind is very strong, unlike spring, which is September 10.

Better than spring, just like Wan Li frost on the vast river. (Tang) Li Bai

On the 9th, Qishan climbed high yesterday and will do it again today.

(Tang) Du Mu chrysanthemum is too bitter, Double Ninth Festival.

On the river, the geese just flew south, and they made friends with wine and hip flask mountain. Zhong Shu JIU ri

Laughter makes people laugh, when chrysanthemums are in full bloom. (Tang)

However, I will try my best to pay for the festival, and I won't hate it when I board the plane. On September 9, at Wangxiangtai, he sat in a farewell cup.

After all, life is a short history, so why do you cry like Qi Jinggong? Human feelings are tired and bitter in the south, and Hongyan is from the north.

On September 9, Xuanwu Mountain completed its nine-day trip.

(Tang) Lu (Tang)

Looking at the mountains and rivers on September 9, looking at the wind and smoke. Don't compare the border with Kyoto, the frost grass has withered in August.

In another country, drinking Jinhua wine, Wan Li shares the same sorrow with Hongyan. I wonder if there will be chrysanthemums in the wine today?

Nine-day service and nine-day lucky Lin Wei Pavilion climbed to the top.

Wei Anshi (Tang)

Yellow flowers and purple chrysanthemums fall on the edge of the fence, and the chrysanthemums are full of wine and fragrance. On the ninth festival, you must take action.

I can't bear to look forward to my hometown today, but I am forced to join the crowd. The golden wind flutters chrysanthemums, and the jade dew weeps dogwood branches.

Drunk flowers look eight miles, astronomical seven miles.

(Song) Li Qingzhao's coming to Shenzhen should be imminent, and it should be forgetting the danger.

The fog is thick and the clouds are light, and it will always be sad. The brain sells golden beasts. Yu Chang 'an returned to Yangzhou on September 9th to visit Weishan Pavilion.

Double Ninth Festival, lying in bed, in the middle of the night, the cold on my body has just been soaked. (Southern Dynasty Chen)

Dongli drinks until dusk, and faint chrysanthemum fragrance overflows his sleeves. My heart went south, but my body came back from north to south in autumn.

Don't get carried away, the curtain rolls west wind, people are thinner than yellow flowers! How many flowers are there under the fence in my hometown today?

Indulge in the east wind for nine days

(Yuan) Guan Hanqing (Ming) Wen Qing

Poems on the red leaves make it resist the emotional baggage, and people in chrysanthemums lie in the songs upstairs. After three years, I was not at home when it was opened.

The shadows of wild geese in the sky are thin, and the moon is thin at sunset. When is today's wine, suddenly it has become the flower of the old garden.

When the air is crisp in autumn, the willows are bright, the wild clouds are connected with trees, and the geese gather sand in cold weather.

Who will teach white clothes to deliver wine? Boarding Infinity, where is Wangjing China?