Do you know about Chung Yeung Festival?

Celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month, Chung Yeung Festival is a public holiday observed in mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It has a rich 2,000-year history. Particularly in Hong Kong, people celebrate this traditional Chinese holiday by engaging in a variety of activities like hiking up mountains, remembering departed family members, and rebalancing yin-yang energy to honour its history and contemplate the origin story of a legendary swordsman that is revealed here.

On Chung Yeung Festival, also known as Double Ninth Festival (重陽節; pronounced chóngyáng jié in Mandarin or chung yeung jit in Cantonese), Hong Kong residents clean the tombs of their ancestors, ascend steep slopes, and consume purifying delicacies to eliminate negative energy. Chung Yeung Festival, which is observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, falls on October 11, 2024. Despite many similarities, Chung Yeung Festival and Ching Ming Festival (清明節), which is observed in the spring, are not the same. During these celebrations, people wash tombs in remembrance of their ancestors and loved ones who have passed away and consume special meals like chilled glutinous rice dumplings. What sets them apart is that Ching Ming, which signifies "light" or "brightness," places an emphasis on new beginnings following a chilly season.

These days, Chung Yeung is observed much like any other holiday to enjoy time off from the stresses of everyday life. But examining its historical foundations shows a more profound significance. "Dual yang" is the meaning of the Cantonese expression "chung yeung," where "yang" refers to the lighter side of the yin-yang (陨홶) symbol. Whereas yin is said to symbolise passive, feminine, grounded earth energy, yang is thought to represent masculine energy, brightness, and the skies.

Why is the ninth day of the ninth month when this day is observed?

Nine is the biggest yang number in ancient Chinese numerology (odd yang numbers contrast with even yin numbers). The lighter-hearted traditions of hiking and kite flying originate from this doubling of the biggest yang number, which represents compassion for the world and seeing the light in all situations. But yang doubling also brings about what is thought to be an excess of yang energy, which may result in unfortunate happenings on the date. Thus, the "cleansing" exercises, which are actually intended to release pent-up energy and restore yin and yang balance.

What is the origin of this celebration?

The origin of the Double Ninth holiday is in a valiant tale from the Han Dynasty. The storyline of the many versions' centres on a guy by the name of Huan Jing ascending a mountain to rescue his fellow villagers and family. 

The entire hamlet had been destroyed by the demon. Fortunately, the immortal that had alerted Huan Jing had said that the demon might be killed with chrysanthemum wine. The demon was vanquished after employing such strategy. An alternative conclusion to this tale has Huan Jing Huan using a magical sword to fight the demon, thereby becoming known as a legendary swordsman.

What do people usually eat on this day? 

Of course, there is no event without food and beverages! Families like the delicious chung yeung cakes (重阳糕, pronounced chung yeung gou), which are also known as five-color cakes or chrysanthemum cakes. Rice flour and sugar are used to make them, while dried fruit and walnuts are used as decorations. Despite the varied ways the Chinese characters are written, "cake" has the same sound as "tall" or "high" in Cantonese. However, the hope is that indulging in the cake will lead to prosperity and advancement, both professionally and personally.

Though not a public holiday outside of Hong Kong and Macau, Chung Yeung Festival is observed in various regions of Asia, such as China, Macau, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. All of these celebrations share the common theme of honouring the dead by sweeping tombs, burning offerings, and, of course, indulging in traditional cuisine.

To honour the elderly, Chongyang Festival is observed throughout China as the Senior Citizens' Festival. Obon Day is observed in August in Japan as a way to honour the deceased. Activities include cleaning tombs and hanging lanterns to serve as a guide for stray souls. People in South Korea travel back to their ancestral houses for Chuseok, which falls in September, and make food offerings suited for a feast.

And you? Are you going to celebrate the ancestors on October 11th?