Today is the traditional Chinese festival called Chung Yeung Festival. Chung Yeung Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. People usually take part in some tradional activities on Chung Yeung Festival, such as go climbing and eat Chung Yeung Cake.
The following story is taken from the internet.
"Traditionally, people go climbing on the Chung Yeung Festival. This custome come into story from the Han Dynasty tells of a man named Huan Ching who was studying the immortal arts from the Taoist monk Fei Chang-fang. One Day Fei Chang-fang warned Huan Ching that, "On the ninth day of the ninth moon, great calamity will strike your home. You must quickly tell your family to sew a cloth bag and fill it with dogwood branches. This you must hold tightly in your hand and ascend to the mountain top and there drink chrysanthemum wine. If you do all of these things as instructed, you will be able to avoid disaster." Huan Ching heeded Fei Chang-fang's warning, leading his family to the mountain top on the specified day. When the family returned again at dusk, Huan Ching discovered, as the Taoist sage had warned, that all of his chickens, dogs, and sheep, and other animals had been violently slaughtered. Upon hearing this news, Fei Chang-fang went to Huan, telling him, "All of this has been done so that you may escape death!" And since that time, the customs of ascending high, drinking chrysanthemum wine, and carrying dogwood branches have all become part of the Chung Yeung Festival"
As it's not easy for people living in cities to climb mountains, most of people choose to eat Chung Yeun Cake. Here is another story about Chun Yeung Cake I read from Internet.
"The tradition of eating cakes in September is originated from the ancient times. Though the name of "Gao" started from the Six Dynasties, the cakes had already existed in Han Dynasty, which was called "Er" in Chinese at that time. It is made of rice flour, which is classified into two types: paddy rice flour and millet rice four. They are streamed together, which is named "Er". In September, the millet is ripe. It is regarded as the food just in season, which is offered to ancestors as sacrifices. Chongyang Cake comes from the food just in season in September. That is why Chongyang Cake is recommended for offering sacrifices to ancestors on the day of Chongyang Festival."
I went to a food grocery named "Shen Da Cheng" in Nanjing Road after work today, which is famous for their Chung Yeung cakes. To my surprise, I marveled at how many people lined up in front of the store when I arrived there. I finally bought a box of it. My parents were so happy when I sent them the box of Chung Yeng Cake. And I feel so relieved at the same time.
The attached photo in this blog is the cake I bought today.
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