重阳节，又称为双九节、老人节。汉中叶以后的道家阴阳观，有六阴九阳。因为《易经》中把“六”定为阴数，把“九”定为阳数，九月九日，日月并阳，两九相重，故而叫重阳，也叫重九。古人认为是个值得庆贺的吉利日子，并且从很早就开始过此节日。重阳节作为一个以娱乐为主的节日，主要节俗活动是登高、赏菊、喝菊花酒、插茱萸、还要吃糕。重阳节，早在战国时期就已经形成，到了唐代被正式定为民间的节日，此后历朝历代沿袭至今。由于九月初九“九九”谐音是“久久”，有长久之意，所以常在此日祭祖与推行敬老崇孝活动。

今天这篇文章非常简单，very reader-friendly，我们一起来玩点新鲜的。阅读完后请自己试着用英语回答下面几个问题，一定要动口哦，哈哈哈哈哈哈~

1.Describe the origin of the Double Ninth Festival.

2.Why do people value climbing mountains?

3.What can people benefit from the chrysanthemum flower wine?

4.Please make a brief introduction on dogwood.

The Double Ninth Festival

“On the Ninth Day of the Ninth Lunar Festival: Thinking of My Brothers In Shandong”

Wang Wei(701-761) in Tang Dynasty

All alone in a foreign land.

I am twice as homesick on this day.

When brothers carry dogwood up the mountain,

Each of them a branch, and my branch missing.

The "Chong Yang Festival" is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is as such known as the Double Ninth Festival.

Origins

The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy[1] that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double yang day, hence the name "Chong Yang Festival". (Chong means "repeat" in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds[2] the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

[1]dichotomy: a difference between two completely opposite ideas or things 一分为二，对分 

There is often a dichotomy between what politicians say and what they do. 

政治家的言行之间常有天壤之别。

[2]herald: to be a sign that something important, and often good, is starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by celebrating or praising it 预示…的开始；（尤指通过庆祝或赞扬）宣布（常指好事）

The president's speech heralds a new era in foreign policy.

总统的演说预示着一个外交政策新时代的开始。

This drug has been heralded as a major breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer. 

据称这种药是在对抗乳腺癌方面取得的一个重大突破。

On the Double Ninth Festival, people customarily climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemum flowers, drink chrysanthemum wine, and eat double-ninth cakes.

The Double Ninth Festival is also the "Old Men Festival". Old people are especially meant to improve their health by taking part in the activities on the day of the festival.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one's ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organised during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm their love and concern for family members and close friends.

Climbing Mountains

People like to climb mountains on this festival, so Double Ninth Festival is also called "Mountain-climbing Festival".

The 9th lunar month, with clear autumn sky and bracing air, is a good time for sightseeing. So people, both ancient and present, love to go sightseeing this month.

Apart from expelling bad luck and disasters, climbing mounting also indicates "climbing to a higher position", and it is also an important reason why ancient people pay much attention about this custom. Another reason that climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that is has a meaning of "climb to a longevous life". Also for this reason people believe that climbing mountains can make people live a more longevous life.

It is really refreshing to climb mountains and enjoy the beauty of nature at this bright and clear time in autumn. Climbing mountains on Double Ninth Festival was already prevailing in the Tang Dynasty, and a lot of poems were devoted to this custom.

Enjoying Chrysanthemum Flowers

Chrysanthemum originated in China and was recorded in some Chinese books as early as the 5th century B.C. Chrysanthemum blossom in the ninth lunar month have a beautiful name of "flower of longevity".

The custom of wearing chrysanthemum appeared in the Tang Dynasty already and was always very popular throughout the time afterwards. The entrances of some taverns[小酒馆；酒吧] in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) were decorated with the flowers on the day, which was supposed to incite customers' desire for wine. Chrysanthemum displays were usually held immediately after the day in some regions of China in the Qing Dynasty. People in Beijing began to stick the chrysanthemums on doors and windows to "get rid of the bad luck and bring in the good ones" which is an alteration of the custom of wearing Chrysanthemum on head. At these displays people might enjoy chrysanthemum flowers, take part in poem-composing competitions or watch painters drawing paintings of chrysanthemum flowers.

Drinking Chrysanthemum Flower Wine

The chrysanthemum flower wine is unique in brewing[冲泡；酿制]. In ancient times，people usually picked fresh chrysanthemum flowers and leaves on the 9th of the 9th lunar month, and brewed the mixture of them and grains into the wine, which would not be drunk until the same day next year. The wine is said to have wholesome effects on sharpness of the eye, alleviation of headache, drop of hypertension, reduction of weight and removal of stomach trouble, thus contributing to longevity. It is said that the drinkers of the chrysanthemum wine would be free from evil and have strong physique[体魄；体格] against cold weather.

Wearing Dogwood[茱萸]

The dogwood is a species of evergreen arbor[常绿植物]; it is heavy-scented plant whose fruit is edible and stock[树干] and leaves can be medicinal materials. They can expel insects, get rid of the humidity, help digestion and cure inner heat. It puts out purple flowers in spring and bears, in autumn, purplish-brown[紫褐色；紫红色] fruit that is sour, puckery[带涩味的] and mild in nature.

The custom of wearing dogwoods was already very popular in the Tang Dynasty. The ancient people believed that planting dogwoods on Double Ninth Festival could prevent diseases and avoid disasters. They also wear them on arms or heads or put them in sachets[小香袋；香囊]. Most of people that follow the custom are women and children, and in some places men also wear them.