The Double Ninth Festival

                                   The Double Ninth Festival  
     The "Chong Yang Festival" is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar [ˈlju:nə](农历) month, and it is as such known as the Double Ninth Festival(重阳节).
Origins: The festival began as early as the Warring States Period(战国时期) (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy(两分) that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin(阴) represents the elements of darkness(黑暗元素) and yang(阳) represents life and brightness(生命和光明). 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"(重复) in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds(预示) the approach of winter.(冬天的来临) It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial [ˈfɪli:əl](孝顺的) Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors.(祖先) The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion [əˈkeiʒən](场合) to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.(贡品)

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

Family get-togethers(家庭成员的团聚): The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one's ancestors, the sacrifices(牺牲) they made and the hardships(困难) they underwent. Often, family outings(家庭户外活动) are organised during which people search to renew [riˈnju:](重新开始) their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm [ˌri:əˈfɜ:m](再确认) their love and concern for family members and close friends.