Background

The Double Ninth Festival, falling on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is one of China's traditional festivals. It originated from the Han Dynasty according to historical records. As the legend goes, a person from Runan, following the instruction of hermit, wore cornel on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and climbed a mountain with his family to avoid a catastrophe. Later climbing mountain, wearing cornel and taking chrysanthemum brew became a folk tradition for praying for peaceful life and lasting happiness. In ancient China, the number nine was regarded as the largest number of yang, therefore the ninth day of the ninth month is also called the day of "double yang". As the pronunciation of nine in Chinese is the same as that of "long time", "double nine" implies "longevity" and respect for the elderly. It has gradually become a festival of the elderly people, and is widely known as "the Senior People's Day".

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