Double Ninth Festival Celebrations in Hunan

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. This year the festival falls on October 21. A variety of activities are held across Hunan to celebrate the traditional 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. In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day.

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 during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm their love and concern for family members and close friends.Source: chinadaily

　　Double Ninth Festival Celebrations in Hunan

　　1.Senior Care Launched by Hunan Charity Federation

　　Themed "events held to publicize respect of the senior during Double Ninth Festival", a senior care project was launched by the Hunan Charity Federation at a nursing home in Ningxiang County on Oct. 15. About 1,000 clothes have been reportedly donated to the elderly.

　　Chinese Source:ccn.people.com.cn

　　2. Month-long Events for Seniors Marks in Changsha

The opening show

An on-site physical examination

　　On the occasion of the upcoming Chongyang Festival (or Double Ninth Festival), Seniors' Month & Veteran TCM Doctors' Clinic Tour in Communities kicked off in Yuhua District of Changsha on Oct. 18. On that morning, tens of TCM doctors from the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine conducted physical examinations for local residents for free at Gaide Square of Shazitang Street.

Chinese Source:news.sina.com.cn

　　3.Get-together Banquet Held to Celebrate Chongyang Festival

　　Photo taken on Oct. 18 shows the seniors enjoying a get-together meal. On that day, series of activities were held for seniors to celebrate the upcoming Seniors’ Day in Furong District of Changsha, including taking delicacies cooked by one hundred households, appreciating art performances staged by a troupe, and tasting Chongyang cakes, festive peaches and noodles presented by children.

Chinese Source:www.hunan.gov.cn

　　4.The Elderly People Enjoy Traditional Birthday Party

　　Over 300 elders from a community of Changsha’s Yuelu District spent a happy Double Ninth Festival together with volunteers of the community on Oct. 18. The volunteers specially prepared a birthday ceremony for 80-year-old residents. They enjoyed birthday cakes and noodles, and received best wishes from children in Han–style costume or Hanfu.

　　A child dressed in Han-style costume feeds a 80-year-old grandmother with birthday noodles, which symbolizes longevity in Chinese tradition.

　　Community volunteers together with children dressed in traditional clothes, celebrate 80-year-old birthdays for the old.

　　Community volunteers in traditional clothes give a hand language show to wish the seniors longevity and health.

Children play martial arts like exercise.

Performances directed and acted by the seniors

　　Seniors and children read Chinese classics, Three Character Primer together.

　　Chinese Source:www.hn.chinanews.com

　　5.Free Travel for Elderly on Chongyang Festival

　　Chongyang Festival (or Double Ninth Festival) falls on Oct. 21 this year. On that day, the old aged at 65 years old or above and 70 years old or above can enjoy a free taxi trip in downtown Changsha operated by Blue Taxi Team as well as Fuli (welfare) or Xinlicheng (New Mileage) Taxi Team respectively.

Chinese Source:news.voc.com.cn

　　6.Art Performances Presented to Countryside Seniors

Volunteers perform flower-drum opera for the senior.

　　A series of festive performances featured local songs and dances were held in Dayang Village of Shaodong County to celebrate the upcoming Double Ninth Festival on the morning of Oct. 19. Villagers from seven neighboring areas such as Hongjing Village, Huajia Village and Xinyuan Village joined the celebration.