The Double Ninth, Kite Festival, or Festival of High Places, commemorates an ancient Chinese legend where a good man and his family are spared from disaster. It is customary on this day to picnic in the mountains or hills, and to fly kites. It is also a day to remember one's ancestors, and visit gravesites.

Legend has it that on this day, Sun Go, a kind and just farmer was warned by a soothsayer to flee with his family into the mountains. He did just that. While in the mountains he and his family picnicked and flew kites to pass the time. When they returned to their village, they found that every living thing had been killed. Miraculously his family had been spared.

This day is a legal holiday in Hong Kong, and Macao.

Note: This holiday is one of Calendar Mine's over 500 built-in observances. Dates for the above holiday are calculated accurately for any location on the globe.

See Also

Holiday Catalogue

Chinese Traditional Holidays