重陽節的起源用英文介紹

A. 重陽節的英文介紹簡短 英語簡介帶翻譯精選

重陽節指農歷九月初九這一天，九被視為陽數中最大的一個，兩九相重，故稱重陽。很多同學都想知道用英文如何介紹重陽節，一起來看一下！

如何用英文介紹重陽節

he Double Ninth Festival and other traditional festivals, is a family reunion festival; also a commemorate the ancestors of the family.

In Singapore, there are still a part of the Double Ninth Festival Hall retained the custom of worship, called "autumn festival".

重陽節和其他傳統節日一樣，是家人團聚的佳節；也是一個紀念祖先的家人。在新加坡，仍有一部分會館保留重陽節祭祖的習俗，叫做「秋祭」。

September lunar month, month daily average is nine, Shuangyang is named, the double ninth festival. The main festival festival activities is climbing, chrysanthemum, drink chrysanthemum wine, eat cake, cornel.

農歷九月初九，月日均是九數，雙陽相重，故名重陽節。重陽節主要節俗活動是登高、賞菊、喝菊花酒、插茱萸、還要吃糕。

重陽節的英文介紹簡短範文

The double ninth festival, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, is known as the "double ninth", which is also known as the "double ninth", which is also known as the "climbing festival". There are also nine, dogwood, chrysanthemum festival and so on. Since September 9th "jiujiu" homophone is "long", there is permanent meaning, so often on this day ancestor worship and implementation of the old activities. The double ninth festival is also the fourth festival of Chinese traditional festivals. On December 28, 2012, the law is clear on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

重陽節，農歷九月初九，二九相重，稱為「重九」，民間在該日有登高的風俗，所以重陽節又稱「登高節」。還有重九節、茱萸、菊花節等說法。由於九月初九「九九」諧音是「久久」，有長久之意，所以常在此日祭祖與推行敬老活動。重陽節與除、清、盂三節也是中國傳統節日里祭祖的四大節日。2012年12月28日，法律明確每年農歷九月初九為老年節。

B. 關於重陽節的由來英語作文

重簡悔爛陽節是我國的一個傳統節日，也是敬老節。在重陽節的時候人們就會登高爬山，體驗秋高氣爽的天氣;還會尊敬老人，慰問老前猜人，給老人家送上節日的問候和禮物。下面是我為大家精心攔漏整理的文章，希望對大家有所幫助。

篇一：重陽節的由來英語作文

The source of the heavy sun can be traced back to pre-qin dynasty. In the spring and autumn annals, the season of the autumn and autumn period is contained in the book: "in September, the family will be killed and the agriculture will be collected, and the five will be held. The Tibetan emperor's harvest is in god's storehouse. "It is the sun, the great deal, the sacrifice, the son of heaven." It can be seen that at that time, there was a harvest time in autumn and September, when the sacrifices were made to the emperor and ancestors of the emperor, and the activities of his ancestors.

"On September 9th, the dogwood, the ting, the chrysanthemum wine, the cloud is a long life," said jia peilan, a member of the western han dynasty in the han dynasty. Legend has it that since then, there has been a double ninth festival. This is the influence of ancient sorcerers later Taoist priests pursuing long life and taking drug taking. At the same time, there are large catering activities, which were developed from the feast of harvest in the pre-qin period. "The jingchu age" cloud: "September 9, four people and the barbecue." Sui gongzhan yun: "September 9th banquet, unknown to the generation, but from the song to song." Long life and banquet, constitute the foundation of double ninth festival. Three kingdoms. Cao PI, the book of nine days and the clock, said: "the month of the month, the ninth of September. Nine is the number of Yang, and the sun and moon and should, double jia's name, think yiyu long, so to enjoy the banquet gao will." It can be seen that the time has been set. The theme of the double ninth festival is longevity, dogwood, chrysanthemum wine, chrysanthemum, wine making and sacrifice, etc. It has added the connotation of the old and the old, which is more meaningful, and also has the activity of the dazu barbecue and various kinds of games.

重陽的源頭，可追溯到先秦之前。《呂氏春秋》之中《季秋紀》載：「九月命家宰，農事備收，舉五種之要。藏帝籍之收於神倉，祗敬必飭。」「是日也，大饗帝，嘗犧牲，告備於天子。」可見當時已有在秋九月農作物豐收之時祭饗天帝、祭祖，以謝天帝、祖先恩德的活動。

漢代，《西京雜記》中記西漢時的宮人賈佩蘭稱：「九月九日，佩茱萸，食蓬餌，飲菊花酒，雲令人長壽。」相傳自此時起，有了重陽節求壽之俗。這是受古代巫師後為道士追求長生，採集葯物服用的影響。同時還有大型飲宴活動，是由先秦時慶豐收之宴飲發展而來的。《荊楚歲時記》雲：「九月九日，四民並籍野飲宴。」隋杜公瞻注雲：「九月九日宴會，未知起於何代，然自駐至宋未改。」求長壽及飲宴，構成了重陽節的基礎。三國時，。魏文帝曹丕《九日與鍾繇書》說：「歲往月來，忽復九月九日。九為陽數，而日月並應，倍嘉其名，以為宜於長久，故以享宴高會。」可見當時節俗已定型了。重陽節主題，是求長壽、戴茱萸、釀菊酒、賞菊、釀酒及祭把酒業神等。在流傳至今後又添加了敬老等內涵，更具有意義，另外有登高野宴活動及各種游戲等。

篇二：重陽節的由來英語作文

The double ninth festival is a traditional festival in China, and it is also an old festival. On the double ninth festival, people will climb the mountain to experience the crisp autumn weather. We will also respect the old people, visit old people, and send festive greetings and gifts to the elderly. The double ninth festival is said to be originated from the ancient times. On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, ke huan of qi took many people to climb the mountains and climbed the city wall. Qi jing gong felt that the autumn air was cool and refreshing, so he decided it was a good day. At this time of the year, at this time of the year, qi jinggong will go out to the heights, and later, to form a custom.

This semester, I learned an ancient poem about the double ninth festival: wang wei's "September 9 memory of the shandong brothers".

I am a stranger in a strange country.

He who knows his brother is at the highest level.

重陽節是我國的一個傳統節日，也是敬老節。在重陽節的時候人們就會登高爬山，體驗秋高氣爽的天氣;還會尊敬老人，慰問老人，給老人家送上節日的問候和禮物。重陽節據說是源於古時候的齊景公。農歷九月九這天，齊桓公帶著很多人登高山、爬城垣，齊景公感到秋高氣爽，心曠神怡，於是認定是個吉日。以後每年這個時候，齊景公都要外出登高，後人仿之，形成習俗。

這學期就學了一首關於重陽節的古詩：王維的《九月九日憶山東兄弟》。

獨在異鄉為異客，每逢佳節倍思親。

遙知兄弟登高處，遍插茱萸少一人。

篇三：重陽節的由來英語作文

The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the traditional double ninth festival. Because the ancient "six" as in "I ching" Yin, "nine" as Yang number, September 9th, the moon and sun and Yang, October, so called chongyang, also known as the ninth day the ancients believed that a geely is a cause for celebration, and starting from the very early about this festival.

The celebration of the double ninth festival is a colorful and romantic activity, which usually includes a view of the view, a high view, a view of the chrysanthemum, the planting of the dogwood, the heavy Yang cake, the chrysanthemum wine and other activities.

農歷九月初九，為傳統的重陽節。因為古老的《易經》中把「六」定為陰數，把「九」定為陽數，九月九日，日月並陽，兩九相重，故而叫重陽，也叫重九，古人認為是個值得慶賀的吉利日子，並且從很早就開始過此節日。

慶祝重陽節的活動多彩浪漫，一般包括出遊賞景、登高遠眺、觀賞菊花、遍插茱萸、吃重陽糕、飲菊花酒等活動。

C. 重陽節的起源 日期 傳統 意義英語表達

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

D. 關於重陽節的英語介紹 關於重陽節的英語介紹是什麼

1、The Double Ninth Festival, the annual the 9th day of the ninth month of the

Chinese lunar calendar day, is a traditional festival of the Chinese nation.重陽節，為每年的農歷九月初九日，是中華民族的傳統節日。

In ancient times, there were customs of climbing high to pray for

blessings, visiting chrysanthemums in autumn, wearing dogwood, offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors, and feasting for longevity.

古時民間在重陽節有登高祈福、秋遊賞菊、佩插茱萸、祭神祭祖及飲宴求壽等習俗。

So far, it has added the connotation of respecting the elderly, enjoying the feast high on the day of the Double Ninth Festival, and being grateful to the elderly.傳承至今，又添加了敬老等內涵，於重陽之日享宴高會，感恩敬老。

Appreciation of the autumn and gratitude for respecting the elderly are two important themes of todays Double Ninth Festival.

登高賞秋與感恩敬老是當今重陽節日活動的兩大重要主題。

2、go to the high 登高

Chongyang Festival first has the custom of climbing high. In September, the golden autumn, the weather is high and refreshing. This season, climbing high is expected to achieve the goal of relaxation and happiness, fitness and disease elimination.

重陽節首先有登高的習俗，金秋九月，天高氣爽，這個季節登高遠望可達到心曠神怡、健身祛病的目的。

3、Chrysanthemum 賞菊

On the Double Ninth Festival, there has always been the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums, so it has been called chrysanthemum festival since ancient times. The lunar calendar is commonly known as the chrysanthemum month in September, and the chrysanthemum conference is held at the festival. Since the Three Kingdoms and Wei Jin Dynasties, Chung Yeung has been drinking and appreciating chrysanthemums for poetry. In ancient Han customs, chrysanthemums symbolize longevity.重陽日，歷來就有賞菊花的風俗，所以古來又稱菊花節。農歷九月俗稱菊月，節日舉辦菊花大會，傾城的人潮赴會賞菊。從三國魏晉以來，重陽聚會飲酒、賞菊賦詩已成時尚。在漢族古俗中，菊花象徵長壽

E. 介紹重陽節的英語作文

介紹重陽節的英語作文

介紹重陽節的英語作文該怎麼寫呢，下面我為大家精心搜集了3篇關於介紹重陽節的英語作文，歡迎大家參考借鑒，希望可以幫助到大家!

介紹重陽節的`英語作文一

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number

On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum

blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.

介紹重陽節的英語作文二

the 9th day of 9th lunar month is the traditional chongyang festival, or double ninth festival. it usually falls in october in the gregorian calendar. in an ancient and mysterious book yi jing, or the book of changes, number "6" was thought to be of yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be yang, meaning masculine or positive. so the number nine in both month and day create the double ninth festival, or chongyang festival. chong in chinese means "double." also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "jiu jiu," the chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. that's why ancient chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

介紹重陽節的英語作文三

The 9th day of September in the lunar calendar is "the Chinese Chong Yang Festival" and a happy occasion in autumn. According to the traditional theory of "Yin" and "Yang", both the 9th month and the 9th day of the month belong to "Yang", which means positive and masculine, and "Chong" means double, thus it is called "Chong Yang".

People often gather for a party, appreciate chrysanthemums, pin the leaves of Cornus on clothes. And the custom of climbing mountains and eating a special cake also features the day.

F. 重陽節的來歷中英文版

重陽節的來歷中英文版

重陽節的來歷中英文版

重陽節(The Double Ninth Festival)農歷九月九日，為傳統的重陽節，又稱「老人節」。《易經》中把「六」定為陰數，把「九」定為陽數，九月九日，日月並陽，兩九相重，故而叫重陽，也叫重九。

The "Chong Yang Festival" is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is as such known as the Double Ninth Festival.

traditonal customs

傳統習俗

Climbing Mountains

登高

People like to climb mountains on this festival, so Double Ninth Festival is also called 「Mountain-climbing Festival 「.

The 9th lunar month, with clear autumn sky and bracing air, is a good time for sightseeing. So people, both ancient and present, love to go sightseeing this month.

陰歷9月這天，正值秋高氣爽，適合旅行觀光。所以，一到金秋九月，不論男女老少，都喜歡在此時旅行登高。

Apart from expelling bad luck and disasters, climbing mounting also indicates 「climbing to a higher position」, and it is also an important reason why ancient people pay much attention about this custom. Another reason that climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that is has a meaning of 「climb to a longevous life」. Also for this reason people believe that climbing mountains can make people live a more longevous life.

登高可以驅除霉運，還意指「晉升高位」。這也是古人為什麼很重視這一傳統習俗。登高之所以受人重視，特別受老人重視，是因為人們認為登高還意寓「登頂長壽」。除此之外，人們還相信登山能使人健康長壽。

It is really refreshing to climb mountains and enjoy the beauty of nature at this bright and clear time in autumn. Climbing mountains on Double Ninth Festival was already prevailing in the Tang Dynasty, and a lot of poems were devoted to this custom.

在九月登高既是件愜意放鬆的事，又是件可以欣賞到自然之美的幸事。重陽節登高，在唐代就開始盛行了，古時也有很多跟重陽登高有關的詩歌：

「On the Ninth Day of the Ninth Lunar Festival: Thinking of My Brothers In Shandong」

------- Wang Wei(701-761) in Tang Dynasty

All alone in a foreign land.

I am twice as homesick on this day.

When brothers carry dogwood up the mountain,

Each of them a branch, and my branch missing.

九月九日憶山東兄弟

(唐) 王維

獨在異鄉為異客，

每逢佳節倍思親。

遙知兄弟登高處，

遍插茱萸少一人。

Enjoying Chrysanthemum Flowers

賞菊花

Chrysanthemum originated in China and was recorded in some Chinese books as early as the 5th century B.C. Chrysanthemum blossom in the ninth lunar month have a beautiful name of 「flower of longevity」.

菊花產自中國，最早記載始於公元前5世紀。菊花在陰歷九月盛開，它有一個美稱「長壽之花」

Drinking Chrysanthemum Flower Wine

飲菊花酒

The chrysanthemum flower wine is unique in brewing. In ancient times，people usually picked fresh chrysanthemum flowers and leaves on the 9th of the 9th lunar month, and brewed the mixture of them and grains into the wine, which would not be drunk until the same day next year. The wine is said to have wholesome effects on sharpness of the eye, alleviation of headache, drop of hypertension, rection of weight and removal of stomach trouble, thus contributing to longevity. It is said that the drinkers of the chrysanthemum wine would be free from evil and have strong physique against cold weather.

菊花酒的'釀造十分獨特。古時，人們在九月九日採摘新鮮的菊花和菊花葉，然後把它們和穀粒一起釀製成酒。等到來年的同一時候再打開品嘗。據說，菊花酒具有清神明目，減肥降血壓，治療胃病的功效。因此，可以飲菊花酒可以使人長壽。另外，飲菊花酒還有驅邪抗寒的效用。

Wearing Dogwood

插茱萸

The dogwood is a species of evergreen arbor; it is heavy-scented plant whose fruit is edible and stock and leaves can be medicinal materials. They can expel insects, get rid of the humidity, help digestion and cure inner heat. It puts out purple flowers in spring and bears, in autumn, purplish-brown fruit that is sour, puckery and mild in nature.

茱萸為長青喬木。該植物具有濃香，它的果實可食用或干存。它的葉子可以用作葯材。茱萸具有驅蟲去濕，助消化去內熱的功效。春季它開紫色的花，然後開始孕育果實。到了秋天，就結出了紫褐色，味酸，帶皺，質感柔軟的果實。

Eating Double Ninth Cake

吃重陽糕

The Double Ninth cake is also known as 「chrysanthemum cake」 or 「flower cake」. It dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. It is said that the cake was originally prepared after autumn harvests for farmers to have a taste of what was just in season, and it graally grew into the present cake for people to eat on the Double Ninth Day.

重陽糕又名「菊花糕」或「花糕」重陽糕的歷史可追溯到周朝。相傳，最初人們是為了慶祝秋收而製作重陽糕的。到現在，就逐漸發展為在重陽佳節人們常吃的一種糕點了。

Flying a paper crane

放紙鳶

Paper crane is just kite. According to our traditions and customs, flying kites usually happen at the Qing Ming Festival. But Tomb Sweeping Festival is ring the rainy season which obviously is not suit for flying a kite, while Double Ninth Day owns clear autumn sky and crisp air making kite flying a best outdoor activity.

紙鳶類似於風箏。據中國傳統習俗，人們通常在清明節放風箏。但每逢清明，也是雨紛紛的時節，因而並不適合放風箏。相比之下，重陽節這天，秋高氣爽，最適合戶外放風箏。

G. 重陽節的英文簡介

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival.
It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number 6 was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number 9 was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive.
So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means double.
Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify forever, both are Jiu Jiu, the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.
農歷九月九日，為傳統的重陽節。因為古老的《易經》中把六定為陰數，把九定為陽數，九月九日，日月並陽，兩九相重，故而叫重陽，也叫重九，古人認為是個值得慶賀的吉利日子，並且從很早就開始過此節日。
在古代，民間在重陽有登高的風俗，故重陽節又叫登高節。相傳此風俗始於東漢。唐代文人所寫的登高詩很多，大多是寫重陽節的習俗;杜甫的七律《登高》，就是寫重陽登高的名篇。登高所到之處，沒有劃一的規定，一般是登高山、登高塔。

H. 用英語的幾段話概括重陽節的來歷故事

重陽節的來歷故事英文簡介如下：

The custom ofascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago.Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height AscendingFestival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower.Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Eventoday, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

On this day,people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the samepronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress ineverything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double NinthCake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

I. 關於重陽節的英語介紹

重陽節是我們傳統的一個敬老愛老的日子。你知道關於重陽節的英語介紹嗎?以下是我為你介紹的關於重陽節的英語介紹，歡迎閱讀。
關於重陽節的英語介紹篇【1】
The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.

In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.
關於重陽節的英語介紹篇【2】
The "Chong Yang Festival" is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is as such known as the Double Ninth Festival.

Origins: The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double yang day, hence the name "Chong Yang Festival". (Chong means "repeat" in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

Climbing mountains: On the Double Ninth Festival, people customarily climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemum flowers, drink chrysanthemum wine, and eat double-ninth cakes. The Double Ninth Festival is also the "Old Men Festival". Old people are especially meant to improve their health by taking part in the activities on the day of the festival.

Family get-togethers: The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one's ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organised ring which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm their love and concern for family members and close friends.
關於重陽節的英語介紹篇【3】
The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double yang day, hence the name "Chong Yang Festival". (Chong means "repeat" in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

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J. 英語報告：關於重陽節的來歷，習俗和發展，各位英語的佼佼者，幫幫忙，不一定寫全，感激不盡

Chong Yang Festival / The Double Nineth Festival

The Chongyang Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, so it is also known as the Double Ninth Festival.

The festival is based on the theory of Yin and Yang, the two opposing principles in nature. Yin is feminine, negative principle, while Yang is masculine and positive. The ancients believed that all natural phenomena could be explained by this theory. Numbers are related to this theory. Even numbers belong to Yin and odd numbers to Yang. The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is a day when the two Yang numbers meet. So it is called Chongyang. Chong means double in Chinese. Chongyang has been an important festival since ancient times.

The festival is held in the golden season of autumn, at harvest -time. The bright clear weather and the joy of bringing in the harvest make for a festive happy atmosphere. The Double Ninth Festival is usually perfect for outdoor activities. Many people go hiking and climbing in the country, enjoying Mother Nature's final burst of color before she puts on her ll winter cloak. Some will carry a spray of dogwood.

It is hard to say when these customs were created. But there are many stories which are closely related. The book Xu Qi Xie Ji, written by Wu Jun in the sixth century has one such story. In ancient times, there lived a man named Huan Jing. He was learning the magic arts from Fei Changfang, who had become an immortal after many years of practicing Taoism. One day, the two were climbing a mountain. Fei Changfang suddenly stopped and looked very upset. He told Huan Jing, On the ninth day of the ninth month, disaster will come to your hometown. You must go home immediately. Remember to make a red bag for each one of your family members and put a spray of dogwood in every one. Then you must all tie your bags to your arms, leave home quickly and climb to the top of a mountain. Most importantly, you must all drink some chrysanthemum wine. Only by doing so can your family avoid this disaster.

On hearing this, Huan Jing rushed home and asked his family to do exactly as his teacher said. The whole family climbed a nearby mountain and did not return until the evening. When they got back home, they found all their animals dead, including chickens, sheep, dogs and even the powerful ox. Later Huan Jing told his teacher, Fei Changfang, about this. Fei said the poultry and livestock died in place of Huan Jing's family, who escaped disaster by following his instructions.

And so it happened that climbing a mountain, carring a spray of dogwood and drinking chrysanthemum wine became the traditional activities of the Chongyang Festival.

The dogwood is a plant with a strong fragrance, and is often used as a Chinese herbal medicine. People in ancient times believed it could drive away evil spirits and prevent one from getting a chill in late autumn. So its history as a medicine goes back many centuries. But the custom of carrying a spray of dogwood ring the Double Ninth Festival is slowly dying out and many people, especially young people in the cities, do not even know what a dogwood spray looks like.

Even thought the tradition of carrying a few sptigs of dogwood dies out, that of climbing mountains is reaching new heights.

Early in the Western Han Dynasty, about 2,000 years ago, people used to climb a high platform outside the capital city of Chang'an on the occasion of the Chongyang Festival. For many, it was the last outing of the year before the onset of winter. The custom evolved into its present form, when people go climbing to get some exercise as well as enjoy the autumn scenery.

But what about those people who live in flat regions far from any mountain? The problem is solved by going for a picnic and eating cakes. The Chinese word for cake is Gao, a homonym of the Chinese word for high.

Mountains are high, so eating cake can, by a stretch of the imagination, take the place of going for a climb.

Since nine is the highest odd digit, people take two of them together to signify longevity. Therefore, the ninth day of the ninth month has become a special day for people to pay their respects to the elderly and a day for the elderly to enjoy themselves. It has also been declared China's day for the elderly.