Chongyang Festival in China

The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2019, this date is October 7

In many Chinese families, younger family members honor their elderly relatives (Photo: XiXinXing, Shutterstock)
Holiday Chunyang - the holiday of the double nines. It falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar. In ancient times, this day was considered happy.

On this day, the people still keep the custom of climbing the mountain (this is called dangao - go upstairs), savor cake, drink wine infused on the petals of chrysanthemums and admire these flowers. Climbing the mountains during the Chongyang feast is a kind of ritual, the symbolic purpose of which is to get rid of disasters and life's difficulties, a prayer for happiness.

During the feast, Chongyang was baked festive cakes of wheat or rice flour. The cakes were decorated with apricot pits, dates, chestnuts, melon seeds, raisins, and nuts.

Since the end of the 80s of the last century, the Chongyang holiday has become a significant date for the elderly. Every year on this day throughout the country various events are held in honor of the older generation, they are invited to the solemn meetings and amateur art shows. In many Chinese families, the younger members of the family honor their elderly relatives, give them gifts.