What is Chung Yeung Festival?

Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, is celebrated annually on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which typically falls in October in the Chinese and Hong Kong culture. It is a traditional festival where families honor their ancestors by visiting their graves, performing rituals, and offering food and incense. The day is also marked by outdoor activities such as hiking, based on the belief that climbing to high altitudes will protect against evil spirits.

Chung Yeung Festival is an important day to pay respects to ancestors while also promoting health and longevity through physical exercise. It is a time for reflection, remembering loved ones, and appreciating the strength of family ties.

History and Origin

The history of Chung Yeung Festival dates back over 2,000 years and is rooted in Taoism. The festival originated during the Han Dynasty, influenced by ancient Chinese beliefs in the balance of yin and yang, which are central to Taoist thought. According to Chinese numerology, the number nine is considered yang and strong, and thus the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, a double yang day, is considered auspicious but also a time to ward off potential danger.

A famous story associated with the festival is the tale of Huan Jing, who was warned by a soothsayer that a disaster would strike his village on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. To avoid it, Huan Jing and his family fled to the mountains. When they returned, they found their village had been destroyed, and they had avoided disaster thanks to the climb. This tale has inspired the custom of hiking to high places during the festival.

Chung Yeung Festival was officially recognized as a public holiday in Hong Kong and remains an important day for ancestor worship and family unity.

Who Observes Chung Yeung Festival?

• Families and Individuals: People observe Chung Yeung Festival by visiting ancestral graves, bringing offerings such as food, incense, and paper money to honor deceased relatives. Families gather to share a meal and reflect on their ancestors’ lives and legacies.
• Taoist and Buddhist Practitioners: The festival holds special significance for followers of Taoism and Buddhism, who perform rituals and prayers at temples to honor their ancestors and protect their family’s well-being.
• Hikers and Outdoor Enthusiasts: As part of the tradition, people take part in outdoor activities like hiking or climbing mountains to ward off bad luck and enjoy nature. This custom represents the belief in maintaining health and avoiding negative influences.
• Hong Kong Residents: In Hong Kong, Chung Yeung Festival is a public holiday, and many residents take the day off to visit family graves or engage in outdoor activities with loved ones.
• Chinese Communities Worldwide: Chinese communities around the world celebrate the festival by honoring ancestors and performing traditional rituals, preserving their cultural heritage.

Slogans and Themes

Chung Yeung Festival is centered around themes of ancestor worship, family unity, and longevity. The day emphasizes respect for family traditions, reflection on the past, and promoting health through physical activity. Slogans such as “Climb High for Good Luck” and “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future” reflect the importance of balancing respect for one’s roots with the pursuit of a prosperous and healthy future.

Colors, Symbols, and Patterns

Colors:

• Red: Red is often used during the festival to symbolize good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. It represents the protection sought through rituals and ceremonies.
• Gold: Gold represents wealth and honor, often symbolizing the offering of paper money and gold-colored joss paper, burned to honor ancestors.
• White: Used for mourning and purity, white is often associated with the reverence and respect shown to deceased family members during ancestral rituals.

Symbols:

• Mountains: Climbing mountains is a central activity of Chung Yeung Festival, symbolizing the need to ascend spiritually and physically to avoid danger and promote well-being.
• Chrysanthemum Flower: The chrysanthemum flower is commonly associated with the festival and symbolizes longevity, resilience, and perseverance. Chrysanthemum wine is sometimes consumed to ward off evil spirits.
• Incense: Burning incense symbolizes respect and communication with ancestors, creating a bridge between the living and the spiritual realm during worship.

Patterns:

• Cloud Patterns: Representing the height and loftiness associated with climbing mountains, cloud motifs are often used to symbolize the idea of ascending to avoid danger.
• Floral Patterns: Chrysanthemum flowers and other floral designs represent the beauty of nature and life’s resilience, fitting the themes of longevity and good health.
• Circular Patterns: Circles symbolize eternity and continuity, reflecting the belief in the cyclical nature of life, death, and the afterlife, as honored during the festival.

Most Used Hashtags

• #ChungYeungFestival
• #DoubleNinthFestival
• #AncestorWorship
• #HonoringAncestors
• #ChungYeungHike

How to Participate in Chung Yeung Festival

• Visit Ancestral Graves: One of the main ways to participate in Chung Yeung Festival is by visiting the graves of ancestors, offering food, incense, and symbolic paper money. This shows respect and maintains a connection with one’s family lineage.
• Go Hiking: Embrace the traditional activity of hiking to a high place, which is believed to bring good fortune and health. Spend time outdoors with family and friends, enjoying the benefits of nature.
• Prepare Traditional Foods: Cook or share traditional foods such as chrysanthemum tea, chrysanthemum wine, or rice cakes with family members. Sharing a meal is a way to honor ancestors and strengthen family bonds.
• Burn Joss Paper: Burn joss paper or symbolic offerings to honor ancestors, believed to provide them with comfort and fortune in the afterlife. This is a common practice to show reverence during the festival.
• Attend a Temple: For those who practice Taoism or Buddhism, visiting a temple and participating in ancestral rituals can be a meaningful way to observe the festival, offering prayers for deceased loved ones and seeking blessings for the family.

Importance of Chung Yeung Festival

Chung Yeung Festival is significant because it reinforces the values of filial piety, family loyalty, and respect for tradition that are central to Chinese culture. By honoring ancestors, people reaffirm their connection to their heritage and demonstrate gratitude for the sacrifices made by previous generations. The festival also serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life and the need to take care of one’s health and well-being through activities like hiking and outdoor exercise.

The festival also brings families together, providing an opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and reconnection with family members, both living and deceased. In modern times, it continues to symbolize the importance of balancing personal and family well-being, while promoting cultural practices that sustain the memory of those who have passed.