米俐的部落格

農曆九月初九是重陽節。這是一個很古老的節日，距今已有1,700多年歷史。在中國數字中，一、三、五、七、九為陽數：二、四、六、八則為陰數。因此 九月初九 被稱作重陽或重九。中國古代，重陽節是重要的節日，這一天要舉行各種活動，如：登高、賞菊、插茱萸和吃重陽糕等。

登高是重陽節的主要習俗。古人認為，九九重陽，登高可以避免災禍。後來重陽登高爬山演變成人們放鬆心情、鍛鍊身體的傳統習俗。

茱萸是一種植物，果實可以吃；莖和葉都是藥材。

菊花在九月盛開，有「長壽花」的美譽。為了避免瘟疫和驅除惡氣，重陽節這一天，人們就把茱萸和菊花插在身上，還要欣賞菊花，飲菊花茶與菊花酒。

重陽糕點是一種用麵粉做的食物，可以加棗、銀杏、松子和杏仁造成甜的，也可以加肉造成鹹的，講究的還要造成九層糕，上面再造兩隻小羊，以諧重陽（羊）之音。

The Double-Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of lunar month and has a history of more than 1,700 years.

Among Chinese numbers, one, three, five, seven and nine are positive number and two, four, six and eight are negative ones. Thus, the ninth day of the ninth lunar monthis called ‘Double-positive’ or ‘Double-nine’. The Double-nine Festival sees various activities such as climbing a mountain, admiring chrysanthemums, wearing cornel (Cornus officals) and eating Double-nine cake, etc.

Ancient people thought climbing a mountain on this day could help them to avoid misfortune and prevent disaster, and this gradually evolved into a relaxation and exercise.

It is also the traditional custom to wear cornel and admire chrysanthemums blooms in the lunar ninth month, and enjoys the reputation of a ‘Flower of Longevity’. To prevent plague and drive off foul smells, people wear cornel and chrysanthemums on the Double-nine day Festival, and drink tea and wire made from the flowers.

Made of flour, the Double-nine cake can be sweet if jujube, ginko, pine nuts and apricot kernel are added, or salty if meat is added. Some exquisite cakes are made into nine layers with a pattern of two sheep above, which is homophonic of ‘Double-ninth’.