Traditionally, two months and two days, in pairs, are considered lucky. Why are most ancient festivals a single month and a single day? After careful study, we can find that these so-called festivals are not originally called "good days" as the later generations evolved, but originated from extremely unlucky days, or "fierce" or "evil".
It is in these unlucky months and days that people pray for exorcism, thus forming festival activities. Zhengri, also known as the beginning of the year and the first day of the first month, is the first day of the first month and is called "the day of three yuan" by later generations. The Shangsi Festival on March 3rd originated from the religious witchcraft activities of clearing filth in ancient spring. In ancient times, people gathered together in winter and lived in seclusion. In spring and March, the warm wind is warm, and people walk out of their winter habitats and come to the river to drive away bad luck and usher in another seasonal cycle.
In the Han Dynasty, Longshui in Chang 'an and Luoshui in Luoyang were both golden places for dignitaries to hold Shangsi Festival at that time, and the witchcraft significance of Shangsi Festival has gradually been replaced by entertainment factors such as tourism and feasting. The fifth day of May is related to the summer solstice, which was a taboo day in the Han Dynasty. At that time, people thought the fifth day was an evil day, and people tied their arms with colored silk. In the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, May 5th was gradually associated with Qu Yuan, and people pinned their memory on Qu Yuan, a great patriotic poet, through folk activities such as dragon boat race and jiaozi.
July 7th is Valentine's Day in China. In ancient times, its time point was determined according to the position of Vega. Vega belongs to Lyra and is the star in the northern hemisphere with brightness second only to that of arcturus. Therefore, it has long been noticed by ancient stargazers, and Vega is regarded as a symbol star for dividing seasons. As far as astrology is concerned, July 7th means the beginning of a year, so the custom of praying for children has always been one of the cores of Valentine's Day in China.
With the development of social life, people's imagination is getting richer and richer, and gradually the folklore about the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is born. According to Yin-Yang and Five Elements, "Nine is Lao Yang, and the anode must change", and "Nine Nine" and "Nine Nine" overlap. Therefore, with the development of the times, the word "Chongyang" has gradually narrowed, and people use "Chongyang" to refer to September 9 alone, that is, the "Double Ninth Festival" of later generations, also known as the Double Ninth Festival.