Showing Respect for Seniors

In China, there is a special day for elderly people — the Double Ninth Festival. The festival is on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. As the Chinese word for nine has ___1___ same sound as the word for long, people take the Double Ninth Festival to show their ___2___ (wish) of long life for elderly people.

There are many traditions for this festival. On that day, families get together and climb mountains for good luck and in the hope that elderly people will be much ___3___ (happy) and live longer. They also drink chrysanthemum wine (菊花酒) and wear a plant ___4___ is called zhuyu. Chrysanthemum wine has great medical values and it’s popular ___5___ many people. Zhuyu is ___6___ (regard) as a kind of clean plant that can clean houses and cure diseases.

Respecting elderly people is shown not only on this special day ___7___ also in daily life. For example, when an elderly person enters a room, everyone stands up and greets him or her ___8___ (polite). When there are several guests at the table, the host usually introduces ___9___ (they) from the oldest to the youngest.

Respecting elderly people is a traditional virtue (美德) in China, and Chinese people are ___10___ (pride) of it. Besides, to respect the elderly people is to respect yourself tomorrow.