因为古老的《易经》中把“六”定为阴数，把“九”定为阳数，在农历的九月初九那天，日月并阳，两九相重，故而叫“重阳”，也叫“重九”。在 1989 年，我国把每年的农历的九月初九定为老人节。传统与现代巧妙地结合，使重阳节成为尊老、敬老、爱老、助老的节日。
In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing (The Book of Changes), number 6 was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number 9 was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day creates the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. The traditional culture of Double Ninth and that of the modern were finely combined. It becomes a festival of respecting for the old people, and loving, helping the old.
登高可以驱除霉运，还意指“晋升高位”。这也是古人为什么很重视这一传统习俗。登高之所以受人重视，特别受老人重视，是因为人们认为登高还意寓“登顶长寿”。除此之外，人们还相信登山能使人健康长寿。
Apart from expelling bad luck and disasters, climbing mounting also indicates “climbing to a higher position”, and it is also an important reason why ancient people pay much attention about this custom. Another reasonthat climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that is has a meaning of “climb to alongevous life”. Also for this reason people believe that climbing mountains can make people live a morelongevous life.
茱萸为长青乔木。该植物具有浓香，它的果实可食用或干存。它的叶子可以用作药材。茱萸具有驱虫去湿，助消化去内热的功效。春季它开紫色的花，然后开始孕育果实。到了秋天，就结出了紫褐色，味酸，带皱，质感柔软的果实。
The dogwood is a species of evergreen arbor; it is heavy-scented plant whose fruit is edible and stock and leavescan be medicinal materials. They can expel insects, get rid of the humidity, help digestion and cure inner heat. It puts out purple flowers in spring and bears, in autumn, purplish-brown fruit that is sour, puckery and mild innature.
重阳糕又名“菊花糕”或“花糕”。重阳糕的历史可追溯到周朝。相传，最初人们是为了庆祝秋收而制作重阳糕的。到现在，就逐渐发展为在重阳佳节人们常吃的一种糕点了。
The Double Ninth cake is also known as “chrysanthemum cake” or “flower cake”. It dates back to the ZhouDynasty. It is said that the cake was originally prepared after autumn harvests for farmers to have a taste of whatwas just in season, and it gradually grew into the present cake for people to eat on the Double Ninth Day.
菊花产自中国，最早记载始于公元前5世纪。菊花在阴历九月盛开，它有一个美称“长寿之花”。
Chrysanthemum originated in China and was recorded in some Chinese books as early as the 5th century B.C. Chrysanthemum blossom in the ninth lunar month have a beautiful name of “flower of longevity”.
古往今来，无数文人墨客在这个特殊的节日都留下了许多佳作，或抒发思乡怀友之情，或表达凌云壮志…
下面，我们将一起走进王维和毛泽东的诗作，感受诗人在重阳佳节的独特心境。
九月九日忆山东兄弟— 王维
Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers——Wang Wei
独在异乡为异客，
As a lonely stranger in a foreign land,
每逢佳节倍思亲。
At every holiday my homesickness increases.
遥知兄弟登高处，
Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,
遍插茱萸少一人。
All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.
采桑子——毛泽东
To the Tune of Tsai Sang Tzu——Mao Zedong
人生易老天难老，岁岁重阳。
Man ages all too easily, not Nature:
Year by year the Double Ninth returns.
今又重阳，战地黄花分外香。
On this Double Ninth,
The yellow blooms on the battlefield smell sweeter.
一年一度秋风劲，不似春光。
Each year the autumn wind blows fierce,
Unlike spring's splendour,
胜似春光，寥廓江天万里霜。
Yet surpassing spring's splendour,
See the endless expanse of frosty sky and water.
（审核/李晓曼）