What are the customs of the Chongyang Festival?

One, ascend

In ancient times, the folk in the Chung Yeung has the custom of ascending the heights, so the Chung Yeung Festival is also known as the "Festival of Ascension", rumor has it that this custom began in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty literati wrote a lot of poems of ascension, most of them are written on the custom of Chung Yeung Festival, Du Fu's "Ascension" is to write the Chung Yeung ascend the heights of the famous piece, the ascent of the heights of the places visited.

There are many poems written on the festival, most of which are about the custom of ascending high mountains and towers on the Chongyang Festival.

Two, eat Chung Yeung cake

Chong Yeung cake, also known as flower cake, chrysanthemum cake, five-color cake, the system is not fixed, more random. September 9 when the sky is bright, with a piece of cake on the forehead of the children, the mouth read the words, wishing the children all things high, is the ancient September for the cake's original intention. The delicate Chongyang cake to be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, the top is also made into two small sheep, in line with the meaning of Chongyang.

Some also inserted a small red paper flag on the cake, and light candles. This is probably the "light", "eat cake" instead of "high" meaning, with a small red paper flag instead of cornelian cherry.

Three, appreciate chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine

Chrysanthemum Festival is the year's 'Golden Autumn, chrysanthemums in full bloom, according to legend, appreciate chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine, originated in the Jin Dynasty, the great poet Tao Yuanming. Tao Yuanming was famous for his seclusion, his poetry, his wine, and his love of chrysanthemums; later generations followed his example, and the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums at the Chung Yeung Festival was born. In the old days, the literati also combined chrysanthemum-appreciation with drinking and feasting, in order to get closer to Tao Yuanming.

Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, was a popular place for chrysanthemum appreciation, and at that time there were many varieties of chrysanthemums in a variety of shapes and sizes. Folk also called the ninth month of the lunar calendar "the month of chrysanthemums", and in the Chrysanthemum Festival, where chrysanthemums blossomed in the frost, chrysanthemum viewing became an important part of the festival. After the Qing Dynasty, chrysanthemum appreciation is especially prosperous, and is not limited to the ninth day of the ninth month, but is still the most prosperous before and after the Chrysanthemum Festival.

Four, insert dogwood and hairpin chrysanthemum

The custom of inserting dogwood on Chongyang Festival has been very common in the Tang Dynasty. Ancient people believe that in the Chongyang Festival on this day insert cornelian cherry can take refuge in disaster; or wear in the arm, or as incense bag to put cornelian cherry inside the belt, there are inserted in the head. Mostly women, children wear, some places, men also wear. Chrysanthemum Festival to wear cornelian cherry, in the Jin Dynasty Ge Hong "Western Scripture Miscellany" has been recorded.

Besides wearing cornelian cherry, people also wear chrysanthemums on their heads. This was already the case in the Tang Dynasty and has been prevalent through the ages. In the Qing Dynasty, the custom of the Chongyang Festival in Beijing was to put chrysanthemum branches and leaves on doors and windows to "lift the evils and attract good luck". This is a variation of the head hairpin chrysanthemum. Song Dynasty, there will be colored silk cut into cornelian cherry, chrysanthemum to give each other to wear.

Five, climb up to travel

The ancients climbed up to the sun, was to avoid evil spirits. Tang Wang Wei's poem, "I know that my brothers climbed to the top, and there were fewer dogwoods," is a depiction of this scenario. Cornus officinalis is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine plant with a pungent odor. It can be burned to ward off insects and vipers. Ancient people used to wear it in September to drive away evil spirits.

In the Jinnan region of Shanxi Province, since ancient times, there is also the traditional habit of ascending the heights on September 9th. The great mountains and rivers, and the sightseeing of the famous monuments, became the festival of the feast. To this day, in the folk recitation of the "Qiankun open win concept, my generation together high", "the east wind can not stay, Ran up the peak", "September Xin new clear, three farmers celebrate the fall" and other famous words.

In the past in Xiangning County, Chongyang Festival day schools generally want to take a vacation, led by teachers to students for mountaineering activities. Parents often have to ride along and watch, and some follow along with the hiking. And the tradition of this day in Wanrong County is to hold a temple fair at Jikwang Mountain, where those who rush to the fair, take pleasure in climbing the mountain.

And in the northern region of Jinbei, climbing customs are relatively thin, in the past on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, young people often go to fight rabbits or chickens, belonging to the ancient northern ethnic minorities riding horseback to practice archery legacy. In recent years, some young students, festivals like to invite the company, carrying delicacies, happy to travel. Climbing up to look around, high in the sky, cloud clear, branches of fruit, ripe fields, often intoxicated and forget to return.

Sixth, respect for the elderly

JiuJiu ChongYang Festival, today has become a symbol of longevity of the elderly festival. It is customary to comfort the elderly on this day. The old people like to walk outside the door, exercise exercise exercise. Physically strong people also want to climb the neighborhood high, far away from the eyes of the Shu, in order to strengthen the twilight Zhi.

Seven, chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is also a traditional activity of the Chrysanthemum Festival. It is the season when chrysanthemums are in full bloom in autumn. Ancient people used to drink chrysanthemum wine while enjoying chrysanthemums. Today, many people still like to drink chrysanthemum wine on this day, and most of them drink some dried chrysanthemums in the wine. Some places in northern Jin, drinking wine happy at the door, known as the resignation of the green, meaning farewell to the fall.

Cities around September 9, used to organize chrysanthemum exhibitions. Ten thousand people empty alleys, all witnessed the scene. Shanxi folk used to pick a wild chrysanthemum. It is a good idea to put it on the top of your head or wear it on your chest.