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Mark your calendars for a cultural extravaganza on October 11, as we celebrate the International Chung Yeung Festival! This intriguing festival, also known as Double Ninth Festival, is a heritage-rich event celebrated in Chinese communities around the globe. Historically, the festival originated over 2000 years ago during the Han dynasty in honor of a famous poet's act of filial piety. Today, it symbolizes a day to show respect for ancestors and express appreciation for the changing season's beauty. Join us as we embark on a day filled with scenic hikes, ritual visits to the graves of loved ones, and a grand feast of mouthwatering, autumnal delights. Get ready to immerse yourself in this beautiful confluence of culture, tradition, and hearty feasting!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>221 BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Han Dynasty Origins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The earliest records of the Chung Yeung Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, with its roots in folk customs.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>618 AD</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Tang Dynasty Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Tang Dynasty, the Chung Yeung Festival was officially recognized as a day to pay respects to ancestors.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>960 AD</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Song Dynasty Development</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the Song Dynasty, the tradition of climbing high mountains and enjoying chrysanthemum wine became popular during the festival.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1911</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Chung Yeung Cake Emergence</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the early 20th century, the tradition of making Chung Yeung cakes shaped like chrysanthemums or sheep became widespread.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1949</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>People's Republic of China</div><div class='timeline-text'>After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the festival continued to be celebrated as a day to honor ancestors and celebrate autumn.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2008</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UNESCO Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 2008, UNESCO included the Chung Yeung Festival in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, marking its global significance.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Organize a scenic hike</h3><p class='facts-text'>In keeping with tradition, plan a hike up a high mountain or hill. This activity symbolizes the old custom of climbing high to avoid harm and seek good luck. Along the way, appreciate the picturesque beauty of the autumn season and share stories about the festival's history and significance.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prepare a traditional feast</h3><p class='facts-text'>Get your culinary skills in gear and prepare a grand feast. The festival is renowned for delicious autumnal treats, like chrysanthemum wine and cakes. Share this feast with family and friends, savoring every bite while sharing tales of ancestors.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Visit your ancestors' grave</h3><p class='facts-text'>Pay homage to your ancestors by visiting their graves. On this day, people typically perform ritualistic ceremonies to show their respect and express gratitude to their ancestors. It's a profound way to connect with your roots and understand the essence of this occasion.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Decorate with chrysanthemums</h3><p class='facts-text'>Associating with the festival and the poet's tale, chrysanthemums are symbols of longevity and good luck. Adorn your house with blooming chrysanthemums to bring in luck, charm, and vibrancy to your surroundings.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Write a poem of gratitude</h3><p class='facts-text'>Get your creative juices flowing and write a poem expressing your gratitude for the people in your life, for Mother Nature, or even to your ancestors. This activity can be a thoughtful and profound way to encapsulate and share your thoughts and feelings on this special day.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It’s a connection to cultural heritage and traditions</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The Chung Yeung Festival allows people around the world to participate in an age-old Chinese tradition, connecting them to their cultural heritage and ancestors. This celebration is a unique way to learn about the culture and history embedded in this festival, helping us to acknowledge our roots and understand different ways of life.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages appreciation of nature’s beauty</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The custom of undertaking a scenic hike during this festival is a fantastic opportunity to appreciate nature's beauty, especially during the fall season. Observing the changing leaves and embracing the freshness of autumn adds a spiritual perspective to the experience and encourages mindfulness.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Opportunity for celebrating with family and friends</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Whether it's walking together up a hill, sharing a mouth-watering feast, or paying homage to ancestors, the Chung Yeung Festival provides an excellent opportunity for family and friends to come together in celebration. It's a day that cultivates gratitude, togetherness, and reflection, making it a deeply meaningful occasion.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Chung Yeung Festival coincides with the ninth day of the ninth lunar month</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Chung Yeung Festival, also known as Double Ninth Festival, falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. The double nine is considered a potentially dangerous numerological combination, hence rituals and activities are conducted to ward off potential harm.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>It was made a public holiday in Hong Kong in 1998</h3><p class='facts-content'>In Hong Kong, Chung Yeung Festival became a public holiday only in 1998. Because of its core value of promoting respect for one’s ancestors, it was added to the list of statutory holidays to uphold this valuable facet of traditional Chinese culture.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The festival is associated with a legend about disaster avoidance</h3><p class='facts-content'>A popular legend associated with the festival involves a seer who warned a man to go to a high hill with his family on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. When the family returned, they found their fellow villagers dead from an epidemic. This is why climbing hills became a traditional activity for this festival.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Chung Yeung cakes are a traditional food for the festival</h3><p class='facts-content'>These cakes, also known as Chongyang cakes, are steamed buns made from flour, sugar, jujubes and chestnuts. They are prepared in various shapes, commonly like sheep or chrysanthemums, and are enjoyed during the festival to usher in good luck.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The festival often includes kite flying</h3><p class='facts-content'>In some regions, it is customary to fly kites on the Chung Yeung Festival. These are not only flown during the day but also at night when lanterns are hung on them to create a spectacle of floating lights in the sky. This activity symbolizes throwing away bad luck and bringing good luck.</p></div></div>
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