The Double Ninth Festival (the Chongyang Festival) is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. With a history of more than 2,000 years, It 1in the Warring States period. It developed quickly and had already been quite common 2 the Tang Dynasty. In the 1980s,the Chinese government made it a public holiday also known as" Senior Citizens' Day", trying to3the moral of respect for the elderly. On this day, people are supposed to visit and4the elderly. Here's the customs of this festival.
Climbing Mountains
Climbing mountains is a main activity during the festival. Take your families to a mountain to get some exercise and breathe5air in the woods. Take a deep breath on top of a mountain, enjoy the beautiful natural autumn 6 all to yourself, exercise your body and get prepared for the coming 7. This will provide you with mental peace and 8the ill-fortune or diseases as they may say.
Appreciating Chrysanthemums (菊花)and Drinking Chrysanthemum wine
Appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking chrysanthemum wine have always been a 9during the Double Ninth Festival. In history it was also called" the Chrysanthemum Festival", as it is the flowering time of chrysanthemums. Poets, celebrities and nobles would 10 a feast to write poems to appreciate the elegance of chrysanthemums. Today, 11 chrysanthemum exhibitions are often held in big cities to 12people during the festivals.
Appreciating the Falling Autumn
As the Double Ninth Festival 13the early autumn in China every year, it also is a good time for families to get together for a hiking to 14 the colours of the falling autumn.
There are other customs 15 visiting the elderly, eating Chongyang cake and wearing cornel(茱萸).
