Chongyang Festival: A time to honor elders

 

The Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, falls on Oct 18 this year. The festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. In Chinese folklore, the number nine is regarded as the highest single-digit number - it's a homonym to the Chinese word "jiu", which contains the auspicious meaning of "a long and healthy life". Traditions include climbing to high places, admiring chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine, and honoring the elderly.