What are the traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival?

The traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival include sunbathing in autumn, flying kites, climbing mountains, eating double ninth cake, worshipping ancestors and enjoying chrysanthemums.

1, basking in autumn

The Double Ninth Festival is the best time to enjoy autumn, and some mountain villages in the south of China still retain the characteristics of "basking in autumn". "Sunbathing in autumn" is a typical agricultural custom phenomenon. In mountainous areas, villagers have to use the roofs in front of and behind their houses and their own windowsills to dry and hang crops, which has evolved into a traditional agricultural custom over time.

2. Fly a kite.

Kites are so-called kites. Guangdong, Fujian and other places have always kept the custom of flying kites on Chongyang. The folk Double Ninth Festival is characterized by flying kites.

Step 3: climb the mountain

The custom of climbing on the Double Ninth Festival has a long history. One of the most important festival activities in Chongyang is mountain climbing. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "ascensiontide". There is no uniform rule for climbing mountains. Generally, we climb mountains and towers. Of course, people climb mountains not only to climb mountains, but also to see the red leaves and wild flowers on the mountains and enjoy them by drinking and eating meat. This combination of climbing mountains and picnics is more attractive.

Step 4 eat Chongyang cake

Chongyang cake, also known as flower cake, chrysanthemum cake and five-color cake, is made randomly. It was the original intention of the ancients to make cakes at dawn on September 9. The child put a cake on his head and said a word in his mouth, wishing the child all the best. Exquisite Chongyang cake should be made into nine layers, like a pagoda, with two lambs on it, which conforms to the meaning of Chongyang (sheep). Some people even put red paper flags on Chongyang cakes and light candles. This probably means "lighting a lamp" and "eating cakes" instead of "climbing a mountain", and using a little red paper flag instead of dogwood.

5. ancestor worship

The Double Ninth Festival, New Year's Eve, Tomb-Sweeping Day and Zhongyuan Festival are collectively called the four traditional ancestral festivals in China. On this day, Cantonese people call it "Mount Taigong", and all the family members will come back to "Mount Taigong", especially the men. In ancient times, there was a tradition of praying for ancestors. With the development and evolution of history, the family concept and ancestor worship in many places are getting weaker and weaker.

Step 6 enjoy chrysanthemums

The Double Ninth Festival has always had the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums, so it has been called Chrysanthemum Festival since ancient times. September of the lunar calendar is commonly known as Chrysanthemum Month. On holidays, there will be a chrysanthemum party, and crowds will go to the meeting to enjoy chrysanthemums.