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The Double-Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and has a history of more than 1,700 years.
Among Chinese numbers, one, three, five, seven and nine are positive numbers and two, four, six and eight are negative ones. Thus, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is called Double-Positive or Double-Nine. The Double-Ninth Festival sees various activities such as climbing a mountain, admiring chrysanthemums, wearing cornel (Cornus officinalis) and eating Double-Ninth cake, etc.
As an alien visitor in a strange land all by myself,
I think all the more of my loved ones on every festive occasion.
I know in the far away that when my brothers climb the mountain,
All wear cornel but one person is absent.
-- Tang Dynasty Wang Wei
Missing Brothers in Shandong on the Double-Ninth Day
Ancient people thought climbing a mountain on this day could help them avoid misfortune and prevent disasters, and this gradually evolved into a relaxation and exercise.
It is also the traditional custom to wear cornel and admire chrysanthemums. Cornel is a kind of plant with edible fruit, while its stem and leaves have medicinal value. Chrysanthemum blooms in September, and enjoys the reputation of a "flower of Longevity". To prevent plague and drive off foul smells, people wear cornel and chrysanthemum on the Double-Ninth Festival, and drink tea and wine made from the flowers.
Made of flour, the Double-Ninth cake can be sweet if jujube, ginkgo, pine nuts and apricot kernel are added, or salty if meat is added. Some exquisite cakes are made into nine layers with a pattern of two sheep above, which is homophonic of "Double Ninth".
There is no longer any custom of wearing cornel on the Double-Ninth Festival, but many people will climb a mountain, admire chrysanthemums and appreciate the beautiful scenery of autumn. In recent years, new contents have been added into this ancient festival, which has become a time to show respect for the elderly. People hold various activities in honor of senior citizens, wishing them good health and a long life.
重陽節(jié)
農(nóng)歷九月初九是重陽節(jié)。這是一個(gè)很古老的節(jié)日,距今已有1,700多年的歷史。
在中國數(shù)字中,一、三、五、七、九為陽數(shù),二、四、六、八為陰數(shù)。因此,九月初九被稱作重陽或重九。中國古代,重陽節(jié)是一個(gè)重要的節(jié)日,這一天要舉行各種活動(dòng),如:登高、賞菊、插茱萸、吃重陽糕等。
獨(dú)在異鄉(xiāng)為異客,
每逢佳節(jié)倍思親。
遙知兄弟登高處,
遍插茱萸少一人。
——唐 王維
《九月九日憶山東兄弟》
登高是重陽節(jié)的主要習(xí)俗。古人認(rèn)為,九九重陽,登高可以避禍免災(zāi)。后來,重陽節(jié)登高爬山,逐漸演變成了人們放松心情、鍛煉身體的體育和旅游活動(dòng)。
插茱萸和賞菊也是重陽節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗。茱萸是一種植物,果實(shí)可以吃,莖、葉都是藥材。菊花在九月盛開,有“長壽花”的美稱。為了避免瘟疫,驅(qū)除惡氣,重陽節(jié)這天,人們就把茱萸和菊花插戴在身上,還要觀賞菊花,飲菊花茶和菊花酒。
重陽糕是一種用面粉做的食品,可以加棗、銀杏、松子、杏仁做成甜的,也可以加肉做成咸的,講究的還要做成九層,再在上面做兩只小羊,以諧“重陽(羊)”之音。
現(xiàn)在過重陽節(jié),已經(jīng)見不到插茱萸等風(fēng)俗了,但是很多人仍然會(huì)在這一天登高賞菊,觀賞秋天的美景。近年來,這個(gè)古老的節(jié)日又增加了新的內(nèi)容,成為一年一度的“敬老節(jié)”。每當(dāng)佳節(jié)來臨,人們都要舉辦各種敬老活動(dòng),祝愿老年人步步登高,健康長壽。 |
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