Double Ninth Festival

People celebrate a special day in fall.

It is on the ninth day of the ninth month. Many families climb high mountains together. They look at pretty flowers.

They drink tea made from flowers. Some eat sweet rice cakes. They also wear a plant called dogwood.

This day is for honoring old people. It is a time for joy. It is a day to celebrate life.

The Double Ninth Festival is a special holiday. It happens on the ninth day of the ninth month. In China, this is a very lucky day. People call it the Double Yang Festival. They use the word yang for good energy.

Families do many fun things together. Many people go hiking to climb mountains. They look at bright chrysanthemum flowers. Some people drink tea made from these flowers. They might even drink chrysanthemum wine. People also eat special treats. They eat Chongyang cake or rice cakes. In Korea, people eat pancakes with chrysanthemum leaves.

This holiday is also a time to show respect. Families visit the graves of their ancestors. They clean the graves and leave food. They might leave fruit or roast pig. They also honor older people. In Taiwan, this is Senior Citizens' Day.

Some people wear a plant called zhuyu. This is also called dogwood. It is used to stay healthy. In Japan, people celebrate at shrines and temples. They may eat chestnut rice. The festival is a time for joy and health.

This is a part of the festival in Japan.

The Double Ninth Festival is a special time in many East Asian cultures. It happens on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese calendar. In Chinese tradition, the number nine is a "yang" number. This means it holds a lot of positive energy. Because there are two nines, it is called the Double Yang Festival. This makes the date feel very lucky and auspicious. People celebrate to wish for health and long lives.

Many people enjoy being outside during this festival. A common tradition is to climb a mountain. While hiking, people look at bright chrysanthemum flowers. They might drink chrysanthemum tea or even homemade chrysanthemum wine. Some people also fly kites or make flower cakes. In Korea, people celebrate by having picnics on hills. They often eat tasty pancakes made with chrysanthemum leaves. In Japan, people might eat chestnut rice or chestnuts with sticky rice.

There are many old stories about how this holiday began. One story comes from the Eastern Han dynasty. A man named Huan followed his teacher's advice to climb a mountain. He drank chrysanthemum wine and ate special food that day. When he returned home, his animals were all safe. If he had stayed home, he might have been in danger. Another story involves a maid named Jia in an imperial palace. She told people to wear dogwood and drink chrysanthemum wine. These customs eventually spread to many people.

This holiday is also a time to honor family and history. Many people visit the graves of their ancestors to show respect. In Hong Kong and Macau, families clean the graves and repaint them. They might lay out food like fruit or roast suckling pig. In Taiwan, the holiday is also called Senior Citizens' Day. This was started in 1966 to care for older people. Local governments sometimes give small cash payments to seniors for this day. It is a way to show they are valued.

People use certain plants to help them feel healthy. They often wear a plant called zhuyu, which is also known as dogwood. This plant is believed to have cleansing qualities. People also use chrysanthemums to help air out their houses. In Taiwan, stores sell rice cakes called "gao" to celebrate. The name sounds like the word for height. This links to the idea of growing taller or living longer. Even mountain climbing races are held with winners wearing zhuyu wreaths.

The Double Ninth Festival is a traditional East Asian holiday. It occurs on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese calendar. In Chinese tradition, the number nine is considered a yang number. Yang refers to a specific type of spiritual energy. Because the ninth day of the ninth month contains two nines, it has extra yang. This makes the date highly auspicious, or lucky. For this reason, some people call it the Double Yang Festival.

Many people celebrate this day to wish for longevity and good health. One primary way to observe the festival is by climbing mountains. This activity is often paired with drinking chrysanthemum liquor or tea. People also wear the zhuyu plant, which is known as Cornus officinalis or dogwood. Both the chrysanthemum and the zhuyu plant have cleansing qualities. Historically, these plants were used to air out houses or treat illnesses. Today, the festival remains a time for hiking and appreciating chrysanthemum blossoms.

There are several distinct ways people participate in these traditions. In China, people might fly kites or make special flower cakes. Some families use the day to welcome married daughters back home for visits. In Korea, the festival is called Jungyangjeol. Koreans often eat pancakes made with chrysanthemum leaves to promote health. In Japan, the holiday is known as Chōyō. It is one of the five sacred ancient festivals, or sekku. Japanese celebrations often take place at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Legends provide different explanations for the festival's origins. One story dates back to the Han dynasty. A man named Huan was advised by his teacher, Fei, to climb a mountain. Fei told him to bring chrysanthemum wine and food on the ninth day. Huan followed these instructions and returned home to find his livestock were safe. Had he stayed home, he and his family might have faced danger. Another legend involves an imperial court plot during the time of Emperor Gaozu of Han. A maid named Jia told common people to wear dogwood and drink chrysanthemum wine to stay safe. This custom eventually spread to the wider public.

Family veneration is a major part of the holiday's significance. Many people visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. In Hong Kong and Macau, families treat this as a statutory public holiday. They visit ancestral graves to clean them and repaint inscriptions. Families may lay out food offerings like fruit or roast suckling pig. After the spirits consume the spiritual element of the food, the family eats it. This process connects the living with those who came before them.

In modern times, the festival has taken on new social roles. In Taiwan, the holiday was rededicated as Senior Citizens' Day in 1966. This change emphasizes the importance of caring for and appreciating the elderly. Local governments in Taiwan often provide small cash payments to senior citizens for the occasion. In some areas, mountain climbing races are held to celebrate. The winners of these races are awarded a wreath made of zhuyu.

Food plays a symbolic role in these celebrations. In Taiwan, stores sell rice cakes called "gāo." This name is a homophone, meaning it sounds like the word for height. This connection symbolizes the wish for longevity. Some rice cakes are decorated with colorful flags to represent the zhuyu plant. In Japan, people might eat chestnut rice or chestnuts with glutinous rice. These specific foods help mark the seasonal transition and the festival's themes.

The festival connects to broader cultural systems across East Asia. While the timing may differ, the themes of health and nature remain constant. In Japan, the festival is often observed on September 9 of the Gregorian calendar. This differs from the lunisolar calendar used in other regions. Despite these differences, the core focus on the ninth day persists. Whether through the Karasu-zumo sumo matches in Kyoto or Korean picnics, the holiday links people to their environment. It remains a vital way to honor history, family, and the changing seasons.