How to Celebrate the Double Ninth Festival
How to Celebrate the Double Ninth Festival
The ninety-nine For the number of anodes, the ninety-nine return to the true, the beginning of the dollar, the renewal of Vientiane; the ancients believed that the two yangs were heavy auspicious days. In ancient times, the Double Ninth Festival had a banquet for life.
The Basics
The Double Ninth Festival originates from a Han Dynasty tale about Hengjing, a young man who saves his village from a river monster feared to spread disease. After sending the villagers to a nearby mountain and steeled only with chrysanthemum and dogwood antidotes, Hengjing saves his village by defeating the monster in a brutal sword fight.The Double Ninth Festival falls on a date with two yang numbers, positive and masculine where yin numbers are negative and feminine. Hence, Chong Yang translates literally to “double yang,” a reference to the energy imbalance needing to be brought back into harmony.Double Ninth Festival Traditions
Whether to commemorate Hengjing’s heroism or to neutralize the double yang’s imbalance, Double Ninth Festival traditions focus on curatives, vibrancy and good health. While the holiday began as a day to protect against disease and danger, it’s become an opportunity to celebrate before the onset of winter.- Go Mountain Climbin
- Drink Chrysanthemum Tea
- Eat Chong Yang Cake
- Visit Elderly Relatives
When is the Double Ninth Festival?
The Double Ninth Festival takes place every year between October 1 and October 30 on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. There is no time off granted for the Double Ninth Festival.Double Ninth Festival dates through 2026 are below.Year | Date |
---|---|
2015 | October 21 |
2016 | October 9 |
2017 | October 28 |
2018 | October 17 |
2019 | October 7 |
2020 | October 25 |
2021 | October 14 |
2022 | October 4 |
2023 | October 23 |
2024 | October 11 |
2025 | October 29 |
2026 | October 18 |