Zhuyu leaves (Cornus offinalis)Here in Malaysia we only think of the 9th day of the 9th lunar month as the last day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival but in places like China, Hong Kong and Taiwan it is celebrated as the Chung Yeong or Double Yang Festival. I believe that it is a holiday in these places.
According to Chinese belief, the number nine is a yang number and if we have a day with two nines that would mean double the yang energy. As we all know too much of something is not good and so it is belief that there is danger lurking on this date. To protect oneself from any danger, the Chinese would go hike up a hill, drink chrysanthemum wine and wear a plant called zhuyu (Cornus offinalis). Why chrysanthemum wine and zhuyu? Well, it is because these two are said to have cleansing qualities and are used on occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.
Reference: www.en.wikipedia.org/Wiki_Double_Ninth_Festival
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