Double Ninth Festival is one of the most important Chinese traditional festivals. People climb mountains, drink chrysanthemum wine(菊花酒) or wear zhuyu to celebrate it. The (reason) for these things are told in a beautiful story about a brave young man, Heng Jing.
About 2000 years ago, in the River Ru there lived devil (魔鬼). He made people sick. Heng Jing's parents died from the illness, so Heng Jing decided to kill the devil. He went deep into the mountains to study kung fu and made (he) strong. After learning the devil would come again to his home village on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, he went back. He (lead) the people from his village up a mountain. He asked them (carry) zhuyu and drink some chrysanthemum wine. It's believed that zhuyu would make the devil scared the wine would protect them from illnesses. And (final), Heng Jing killed the devil. The whole village celebrated, because they (save) by the brave young man. That is why today the festival is connected with mountain climbing, zhuyu and chrysanthemum wine.
Because "jiu" can also mean "long", it's also named Elders' Day these days. It's a day to show respect for elderly people and wish them a much (long) and healthier life.
Respecting elderly people can be shown not only this special day but also in daily life. Please respect and care for the old around us.
