Double Ninth Festival: Ancient tales and modern customs

The chrysanthemum fairy's guide

Once upon a time, on the river bank of the Great Canal lived a farmer called Aniu with his blind mother.

Aniu was worried about his mother's disease but all medicines failed to return her eyesight. One night, he dreamed of a girl, who told him to find white chrysanthemum ten miles to the west of the Great Canal. She said the flower would blossom on the ninth day of the ninth month and could cure his mother's eyes.

He did as instructed by the girl in the dream, and planted it in his backyard. A few days later, the plant blossomed with nine white flowers. His mother's eyesight was recovered by the medicine prepared from the flowers.

These tales, passed on for over a thousand years, are an indispensable part of the traditions we abide by today. But with changing times the festival has also integrated some new meanings in the modern world.

In 1989, the Chinese government officially announced the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar as a day for senior citizens, aiming to encourage all to respect and love the elders. Reason? The pronunciation of double nine in Chinese is the same as another term meaning "a long time," thus extending a wish for all elders to live a long and healthy life.

The old customs are all still relevant to people's health. Hiking encourages people to exercise, while chrysanthemum wines are beneficial for the eyes, liver, and brain. Cornel, with its special fragrance, can drive away the pest and prevent people from catching a cold. The day is also a good reminder for all, especially for the seniors, to take care when the weather is changing.

Nowadays, it's a fashion for young adults to have a family outing with their elder parents on this day. When busy-working children come back to their lonely elders, warmly catch up, and enjoy the lovely scenery of the fall, their family ties are deepened.