Just when you thought all the Chinese holidays were over for a while…there’s another one.

Today is Chongyangjie (the 9th day of the 9th month on the Chinese lunar calendar) which is translated "Double Ninth Festival".  According to wikipedia Chongyangjie was originally a potentially dangerous day, but has become a day of celebration in which people protect themselves against danger by "climb[ing] a high mountain, drink[ing] chrysanthemum wine, and wear[ing] a plant named zhuyu (茱萸)."  Zhuyu, it turns out, is called dogwood in English.

Here is an English translation of a traditional Chongyangjie poem:

"Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers"

As a lonely stranger in the strange land,

Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.

Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,

All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.

So get out there and climb a mountain today…for your own safety.  (Ha!)