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Today is the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar, the "Double Ninth" Festival. Climbing hills is the traditional event for the festival and last evening about 68,000 Guangzhou citizens climbed Baiyun Mountain for celebration.
A聽girl聽with a traditional pinwheel.
Climbing hills in the festival with a pinwheel in hand will bring good luck. (Photo Source: Guangzhou Daily)
Colourful plastic pinwheels are very popular.
The rain and low temperature make many local residents put aside their climbing plans. So this year the crowd in Baiyun hill is just half of the size of last year.
However, the festive atmosphere is not affected. As the "Double Ninth" festival is also a day for family get-together, many youths say that they are to have a dinner with their parents today.
A young citizen, surnamed Zhu, said, "My wife and I just had our honey moon travel to Japan in the National Day Holiday and did not visit either my or her parents, and today we will have a very big meal with her parents."
Chong Yang Festival (Double Ninth Festival)
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.
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.
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.
Editor: 寮犺幑
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