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The people of China celebrate the 9th day of the 9th lunar month as the "Double Ninth festival." The other name of the festival is Chongyang Festival. The theory of Yin and Yang, the two opposite principles in nature have been termed as the basis of this festival. Yin is the negative feminine power while Yang is the positive masculine power. According to the ancients every thing in this world can be explained on the basis of the Yin and Yang theory. For example the even numbers belong to Yin while the odd numbers belong to Yang. It is said that on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, two yang numbers meet thus giving out much positive energy. Thus the day is termed as Chongyang. Chong, in the Chinese language stand for double.
Keeping the importance of the Double ninth festival in the Chinese culture, we have collected the necessary information associated with the festival and have compiled it on this page.
Legends Associated With The Festival
Many stories have been related to the double ninth festival, but there is one particular legend associated with the festival. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there lived a man named Huan Jing, whose teacher, Fei Changfang was a man having prophetic powers and had the ability to tell future. One particular day, Huan was told by his teacher that a disaster was waiting for his family in the future and if he wants to avert the disaster on his family, then Huan must take a red bag each for his family member and should place a dogwood in each red bag. Then each of them should tie that red bag on their arms and should leave the home immediately ad should mount the top of a mountain. Huan and his family did as told by Fei and when they got back home they were astonished to find all their poultry and livestock dead. Huan repeated all these things to his teacher who told him that because of the steps taken by the Huan's family, the poultry and livestock died in place of them. Thus from that day climbing a mountain, carrying a spray of dogwood became a ritual to be performed every year on this day.
Celebrations
For the celebration of Double ninth festival, the Chinese people believe in climbing a mountain, carrying a spray of dogwood and drinking chrysanthemum wine on the particular day. It is a popular belief that if a family observes these rituals on the ninth day of the ninth lunar day then all the disasters on the family would be averted. Even though many people now don't believe in carrying a spray of dogwood along with them, the ritual of mounting a hill is still a famous practice of this festival. Dogwood is a plant used as an herb with a strong fragrance. But now Chinese people are nit much aware of the dogwood herb. Children also fly kites as a part of the double ninth festival. The shapes of the kites usually resemble that of an animal like eagles, centipedes, butterflies and a whole lot of other animals.
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