Chongyang Festival is a traditional festival in China. It is a day for people to climb hills. The purpose of climbing is to reach people’s refreshing, fitness, and illnesses. Chongyang Festival is on a different date every year. It is usually looked at through lunar calendar, which is on September 9; also known as Double Ninth Festival.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a plague, known as the Ruhe Devil, that caused many to suffer. There was a young boy, named Heng Jing, who received a sword, a bag of dogwood leaf, and a cup of chrysanthemum wine. He used these items to killed the Ruhe Devil.

Traditionally, Chongyang Festival is a festival to prevent disease. However, as time passed generation by generation, Chongyang Festival has become a festival that promotes a longer life and good health.

During the Chongyang Festival, people usually eat chrysanthemum cake and drink  chrysanthemum wine. Some activities the Chongyang Festival consist of are viewing chrysanthemum and wearing dogwood. Chongyang Festival is also known as Chrysanthemum Day because chrysanthemum means longevity in China. People wear dogwood or bring dogwood because it signifies luck and illnesses.

Many cultures have festivals similar to the Chongyang Festival so it’s important to be respectful of cultural similarities and differences.

– Cuishan Ma