The"ChongYangFestival"iscelebratedontheninthdayoftheninthlunarmonth,anditisassuchknownastheDoubleNinthFestival.
Origins:ThefestivalbeganasearlyastheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC).Accordingtotheyin/yangdichotomythatformsabasistotheChineseworldview,yinrepresentstheelementsofdarknessandyangrepresentslifeandbrightness.Thenumbernineisregardedasyang.Theninthdayoftheninthmonthisadoubleyangday,hencethename"ChongYangFestival".(Chongmeans"repeat"inChinese.)Theninthmonthalsoheraldstheapproachofwinter.Itisatimewhenthelivingneedwarmclothing,andfilialChinesesonsanddaughtersextendedthistomakethefestivalatimeforprovidingwinterclothesfortheirancestors.TheDoubleNinthFestival,therefore,alsobecameanoccasiontovisitthegravesofdeadfamilymembers.Clothesmadeofpaperwouldthenbeburntasofferings.
Climbingmountains:OntheDoubleNinthFestival,peoplecustomarilyclimbmountains,appreciatechrysanthemumflowers,drinkchrysanthemumwine,andeatdouble-ninthcakes.TheDoubleNinthFestivalisalsothe"OldMenFestival".Oldpeopleareespeciallymeanttoimprovetheirhealthbytakingpartintheactivitiesonthedayofthefestival.
Familyget-togethers:TheDoubleNinthFestivalisalsoatimeforfamilyget-togethers.Itisanoccasiontorememberone'sancestors,thesacrificestheymadeandthehardshipstheyunderwent.Often,familyoutingsareorganisedduringwhichpeoplesearchtorenewtheirappreciationofnatureandtoreaffirmtheirloveandconcernforfamilymembersandclosefriends.
TheDoubleNinthFestivalinSeptember9th.TheDoubleNinthFestivalisatraditional,liketoeatdinnertogether.Severalaboutgoodfood,theendtoatable.Asnightfell,lightsshine,peopledrinkchrysanthemumwine,Erguotou,eatameal,tojoinyou,emotionalexchange.Asmilingface,aburstoflaughteroutofnarrowroom,wewisheachotheralongandhealthylife,everythingissafe,thecourtyardisfilledwithauspiciousatmosphere.
Thedoubleninthday,peoplehavetorespectthecustoms,theyoungergenerationwillgivetheelderlymoreconsiderate.Inadditiontogivethemsomethingdelicioustoeat,anotherrelativetosympathyfamilyman,amarriedgirlearlyinthemorningtoreturnhometovisittheirparents,torepaytheupbringing.Conditionalfamily,butalsotoaccompanytheoldmantohavealookinthefun.
TheDoubleNinthFestivalofBeijing,intheautumnwindsendsbright,clearskyseason.Toopeninflyingakite,issimple,isalsoverypopularforrecreationalactivitieslike.WhentheQingDynastyoldBeijingflyingmoveextremelylivelypopularshops,marketsellallkindsofkites,kiteflowermarketsellsthemostcompletevarietiesofgoodquality.
Now,thecourtyardalreadychangeoncelived,theChungYeungFestival"seealsothecakeisbusy"scenehasnotsee.Butwhenthefestivalday,couldnothelpbutthinkoftheoldneighborhoodatethecakeinthecourtyard,drinkingteaandlaughingchatwarm,Misschildhoodlaughplaysmallpartners.Imperceptibly,thinkofMaoZedongPoems:Godeasylifedifficultfortheold,buttheDoubleNinthFestival,thisdoubleninth,especiallyfragrantyellowflowersonthebattlefield.Eachyeartheautumnwindblowsfierce,unlikespring'ssplendour,yetsurpassingspring'ssplendour,seetheendlessexpanseoffrostyskyandwater.
Todayisthedoubleninthfestival,Iwenttothelotusflowermountaintoplaywithmymother,wewenttolianhuamountain,fathersaidtogetthenewspaper,thendisappeared,wehadtoclimblianhuamountain.
Ifirstunderthelianhuawarm-upexerciseinthepark,then,wegotoclimbthelianhua,Iranquicklytothetopofthehill,allthewaytothestatueofdengxiaoping'sthere,wewenttofindfather,daddidn'tfind,wecaneatup,weatepeanuts,bread,drankthemineralwater,waituntilwe,satiatedwithfoodandthenwentdownthemountain.AsIwalkeddownthehill,mysisterandIweresofarawaythatwewereleftbehind,andwefinallywalkedout.
Thenwewenttotheuncle'shouseagainandsawdad,andthendadwasgoingoutagain.Dadwalkedforawhileandwewentaway.
That'sthekindofthingthathappenedonthedoubleninthfestival.