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Sunday, 4 January
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Tuesday, 6 January
Chongyang Festival
The Chongyang Festival (the Old People’s Festival) is celebrated 9th Day of the 9th Month in the Chinese Lunar year.
It is a very long standing traditional festival, like so many in the Chinese calendar. The number nine traditionally means "a long, long life" for old people. Nowadays, it has become the day on which people show respect for elders, and on which young people can give special treats to the elder members of their families - showing their love for the old by helping them enjoy this special senior citizen's holiday.
On this day many young people travel back to the family home with their children to greet their parents. Many people visit old people’s homes, taking food and goods, even money, as gifts – this is especially the case for many children of local schools who take a special interest in the senior citizens in their neighbourhood.
Not only do they take gifts, they may also do housework for the old people by "Spring-cleaning" (although it is Autumn) whilst singing and dancing for them, and generally trying to make their day happy and memorable.
Many old people will get together and go on an outing, perhaps climbing the hills to enjoy the nice scenery of late Autumn, and seeing the chrysanthemum in bloom, as this is the season when these flowers are at their very best. Days out like this not only uplift the spirits, but also gives the senior citizen the opportunity to express and exchange their sentiments as well as exercising their bodies.
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