Double Ninth Festival

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Double Ninth Festival

Applicant: Ministry of culture

Project No.: 454

Project No.: X - 6

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Zhongzhi unit

Type: new item

Applicant: Ministry of culture

Protection unit: Ministry of culture and Tourism

Introduction to the Double Ninth Festival:

Applicant: Ministry of culture

The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is called "Chongyang", also known as "Chongjiu". Chongjiu became a festival, which can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. According to the miscellany of Xijing, Jia Peilan, a member of the palace of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, wore dogwood on September 9, ate bait and drank chrysanthemum wine, which made him live a long life After more than 2000 years of changes, the Double Ninth Festival has become a diversified festival with various customs.

During the Double Ninth Festival, people hold various activities, including climbing, collecting herbs, planting Cornus, appreciating chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine, hunting, shooting willows, flying kites, Cuju, eating double ninth cakes, women returning to their mothers' homes, and filial piety to the elderly. During the Double Ninth Festival, the production and works are also very rich, mainly including Cornus officinalis, chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum wine, double ninth cake, birthday star, toys, etc.

Today's Chongyang Festival has been given a new meaning. In 1989, China designated September 9 as the old people's day, which harmoniously combines tradition with modernity, making this traditional festival a new festival of respecting, respecting, loving and helping the elderly. Institutions, organizations and communities all over the country often organize elderly people who have retired from their jobs to enjoy the autumn scenery, play in the water, or climb mountains, so that their bodies and minds can be relaxed in the embrace of nature. Many young people in families will also help them to go to the countryside for activities or specially prepare some delicious food for them.

The Double Ninth Festival is a big Autumn Festival, which has the advantages of good weather (in autumn) and harmony (respect for the elderly). Related customs include collecting Chinese herbal medicine, honoring the elderly, keeping healthy with medicinal wine and climbing the mountain. Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other places pay special attention to the sea god worship activities held on this day. The Double Ninth Festival provides a typical case for the study of traditional festival culture to conform to the development of the times. The transformation from the Double Ninth Festival to the old people's day has a positive role in promoting healthy social atmosphere, and also has a very important practical significance in maintaining the reunification of the motherland and enhancing the sense of national identity.