Drinking chrysanthemum wine on the Double Ninth Festival is a folk custom of the ancient Double Ninth Festival, which means keeping fit and prolonging life. Chrysanthemum wine contributes to longevity. Chrysanthemum is rich in trace elements, among which selenium is the highest, and selenium can participate in the anti-aging process of the body. These are all in line with the theory of Chinese medicine that chrysanthemum "benefits qi and blood for a long time, is suitable for anti-aging and prolongs life".

The custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine on the Double Ninth Festival has a long history, but there are many versions about its origin. One originated in ancient times and was created by Du Kang, and the other originated in the early Han Dynasty and the court. But in any case, it was Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty who closely linked chrysanthemum with wine and endowed it with cultural connotation and far-reaching influence.

In addition to drinking chrysanthemum wine, there is also the custom of holding chrysanthemums. Cornus officinalis is eaten in addition to being inserted on the head, worn on the arm or put in a sachet. This custom later developed into various customs, such as hanging chrysanthemum branches and leaves on doors and windows on the Double Ninth Festival or sticking paper-cuts, or cutting ribbons into the shape of dogwood and chrysanthemum to give to each other.

Double Ninth Festival

Double Ninth Festival is a traditional folk festival in China, which falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month every year. The number of "Nine" is a positive number in the Book of Changes, and the two positive numbers of "Nine Nine" are heavy, so it is called "Chongyang"; It is also called "Double Ninth Festival", because both the date and the month conform to nine. Returning to the truth of 1999, the ancients thought that 1999 Chongyang was an auspicious day.

In ancient times, there were customs such as climbing to pray for blessings, offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors, and drinking and praying for blessings. Inherited to this day, it has increased the connotation of respecting the elderly. Climbing mountains and enjoying autumn and giving thanks and respecting the elderly are two important themes of today's Double Ninth Festival.

The Double Ninth Festival originated from the worship of astronomical phenomena, which began in ancient times, spread in the Western Han Dynasty and flourished after the Tang Dynasty. According to the existing historical data and textual research, in ancient times, there were activities of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors in season and autumn.

The ancients offered sacrifices to the Emperor and ancestors when the crops were harvested in September, which was an activity to thank the Emperor and ancestors for their kindness. This is the original form of the Double Ninth Festival as an autumn harvest sacrifice activity. The Tang Dynasty is an important period when traditional festival customs are mixed and shaped, and its main part has been passed down to this day.