Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. In Chinese culture, the number nine is considered yang, so this day is also referred to as "Double Yang". It is a traditional custom to climb mountains on this day, hence the festival is also known as "Climbing Festival". It is also called Double Ninth Festival, Zhuyu Festival, and Chrysanthemum Festival. In addition, the homophone for the date "9/9" sounds like "jiu jiu" which means "long-lasting" in Chinese, so it is a common day for ancestral worship and honoring the elderly. The Double Ninth Festival, along with Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival, and Ghost Festival, is one of the four major Chinese traditional festivals for ancestral worship. In recent years, due to the increased respect for the elderly, this festival has also been referred to as "Senior Citizens' Day". Now let's learn about the traditional food and drink for the Double Ninth Festival!
Eating Lamb Noodle Soup
Symbolism: The pronunciation of "lamb" is similar to "yang" in Chinese, which is related to the theme of the festival. The noodles used in the soup are made from white flour. "White" is derived from the Chinese character "bai" which is composed of "one hundred" minus "one", symbolizing ninety-nine, to correspond to the theme of "9/9". In Beijing, celebrating the birthday of a ninety-nine-year-old is known as "bai shou" which means "white longevity". Wealthy families can hold a banquet on this day, with lamb prepared in various ways such as stir-frying, roasting, boiling, or serving a whole lamb. Effect: Lamb meat is tender and easy to digest compared to beef. It is high in protein, low in fat, and rich in phospholipids. It has less fat and cholesterol content than pork and beef. Lamb meat is a delicious food for winter to nourish and warm the body, providing both nourishing and warming effects.
Eating Chongyang Cake
Symbolism: The tradition of eating Chongyang Cake is related to the custom of climbing mountains. The pronunciation of "high" sounds similar to "cake" in Chinese. Originally, Chongyang Cake was eaten to celebrate the abundant harvest of autumn crops and the joy of tasting new grains. Later, the tradition of eating cake while climbing mountains emerged, symbolizing the auspicious meaning of continuously achieving higher levels of success.
Not suitable for: In order to make the cake sweet and tasty, it usually contains a large amount of sugar and even lard. The main ingredient, glutinous rice, is also difficult to digest. Therefore, Chongyang Cake is not suitable for people who are obese, diabetic, have high blood lipids, coronary heart disease, poor gastrointestinal function, or pancreatitis.
Enjoying Chrysanthemum and Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine
Symbolism: Chrysanthemum wine is a tradition for the Double Ninth Festival. The homophony between "9/9" and "jiu jiu" is related to the pronunciation of "wine". Therefore, it is believed that drinking chrysanthemum wine on this day can bring longevity and youthfulness.
Effect: Chrysanthemum wine is made from chrysanthemum flowers, glutinous rice, and yeast. It was historically known as "longevity wine" and has a refreshing and sweet taste. It has the effects of nourishing the liver, improving eyesight, enhancing brain function, and delaying aging. If it is combined with Chinese herbs such as Rehmannia, Angelica, and Goji berries, it can also be effective for dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and excessive dreaming.
Eating Chrysanthemum Cake
Symbolism: The Double Ninth Festival is a time to honor the elderly and avoid disasters by climbing mountains. The homophony between "cake" and "high" in Chinese contains the meaning of "rising step by step", which is considered auspicious.
Effect: Chrysanthemum cake is made by boiling fresh chrysanthemum flowers in water, filtering the potion, and then mixing it with honey to make a paste. It has the effects of dispelling wind, clearing heat, and improving eyesight.
