Appreciate the Elderly on the Double Ninth Festival, Oct 2

The Double Ninth Festival falls on October 2 this year. Also known as Chongyang, the festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month on the lunar calendar. The number nine in Chinese culture is considered negative as it is the yang to six's positive ying. Over the years, the day has changed in meaning – from the ancient celebrations warding off the dangerous associations of double nines to the Chinese government later designating this day officially as Senior’s Day in 1966.

Folklore says that a man named Huan Jing sent his people to safety up a hill while he defeated a pestilent monster in his village, thus starting a trend for people to observe the day by hiking up mountains or towers to avoid plagues or diseases. Some may also take the opportunity to visit and clean family graves.

There are numerous species of chrysanthemum that bloom throughout China during the festival period, which has since led people to drink chrysanthemum wine or tea for its cleansing nature, or hang flowers in windows and on doors in order to repel the negative spirits drawn out by yang.

This year, Yuyuantan Park, Tiantan Park, Chaoyang Park, the Garden Expo, and Taoranting Park are holding flower-themed celebrations, whereas the Beijing Botanical Garden is ground zero for the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival from September 25 to October 25. 

However you want to celebrate Double Ninth Festival there are plenty of activities to get involved with and at the very least track down some old people and have some fun.

This blog first appeared on beijingkids.

Photos: ellrbrown (Flickr), audreyjm529 (Flickr)