九九重陽節(jié)

The Double Ninth Festival
the ninth day of the ninth lunar month

重陽節(jié)：一個敬老并登高的日子

     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.

      相關中文介紹：

      重陽節(jié)有兩個主題：敬老與登高
      重陽節(jié)，農(nóng)歷九月初九，二九相重，稱為“重九”。漢中葉以后的儒家陰陽觀，有六陰九陽之說。九是陽數(shù)，故重九亦叫“重陽”。重陽節(jié)早在戰(zhàn)國時期就已經(jīng)形成，到了唐代，重陽被正式定為民間的節(jié)日，此后歷朝歷代沿襲至今。慶祝重陽節(jié)的活動一般包括出游賞景、登高遠眺、觀賞菊花、遍插茱萸、吃重陽糕、飲菊花酒等活動。
      重陽節(jié)又被稱為“老人節(jié)”，這首先是一個敬老的日子。為什么重陽節(jié)包含著敬老的內(nèi)涵呢？在民俗觀念中，因為“九九”與“久久”同音，包含有生命長久、健康長壽的寓意。20世紀80年代開始，我國一些地方把夏歷九月初九定為老人節(jié)，倡導全社會樹立尊老、敬老、愛老、助老的風氣。國家非常重視非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)的保護，2006年5月20日，該民俗經(jīng)國務院批準列入第一批國家級非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)名錄。

       相關文章：關于重陽節(jié)的英文介紹