There are many holidays and festivals. Dads have Father's Day and Mums have Mother's Day. But do our grandparents have a special festival? Yes, they do!
The Double Ninth Festival is a special day for older people in China. It started long ago. The festival is on lunar September 9th. On this day, people show love and respect to their grandparents.
There are many ways in which Chinese people express their respect. When an older person enters a room, everyone stands. People are introduced from the oldest to the youngest. When we present a book to an older person, two hands are used. Young people always offer their seats to older people on a crowded subway or bus.
Respecting older people is a tradition in China. That's because the Chinese know that older people have knowledge and experience that young people can learn. Chinese people are proud of being old.
In Western countries, however, older people seldom think they are old. They are called" seniors" instead of "old people". They'd rather do everything themselves. Even after retirement (退休) they take up hobbies, part-time jobs and new activities to keep their bodies working well.
Westerners respect their older people, too. Usually seniors don't have to buy tickets for trains or buses, They are given discounts (打折) in stores and restaurants.
But Western seniors don't often live with their children-they live alone. For holidays, the family usually gather at the grandparents' home, and a great smile and a warm hug for their parents are enough for grown children to show their respect.
