Boston, Sept. 1, 2016, — The Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE) and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA) have gained cooperation from the City of Boston to have offering tables available for Chong Yang Festival this Fall.
Held on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, Chong Yang Festival is also called Double Ninth Festival. In Chinese, nine is regarded as the number of Yang (which means masculine as opposed to Yin which is feminine). The ninth day of the ninth month is the day that has two Yang numbers, and “chong” in Chinese means double which is how the name Chong Yang was created. It is a day for people to eat Chong Yang cake, drink chrysanthemum wine, climb mountains, and pay homage to chrysanthemums.
Chong Yang Festival falls on Oct. 9 this year. The offering tables will be available from Oct. 1 to 16, allowing for three full weekends to pay respects at the Mount Hope Cemetery Chinese Memorial.
The offering tables will be placed near the Chinese Memorial—originally constructed without a permanent structure for food offerings due to City regulations and safety concerns. The City of Boston, advised by CHSNE, will now be placing offering tables out during Ching Ming (spring) and Chong Yang (fall).
Mt. Hope Cemetery is located at 355 Walk Hill St, Mattapan. Gates are open 7-days a week from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The cemetery office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to Noon. The phone number for the office is (617) 635-7361.
About Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE)
CHSNE is a non-profit membership organization established in 1992 to document, preserve, and promote the history, impact, and legacy of Chinese immigration to and settlement in New England. CHSNE supports researchers through our archival photographs and ephemera, oral histories, and object collections. CHSNE hosts various events throughout the year, including lectures by local scholars and authors, walking tours of Chinatown, movie screenings, and an annual banquet. Our bilingual newsletter features local events, short essays, notices, and community opportunities. We strive to work on diverse projects that allow us to showcase local history for a public audience. Please join us for our Annual Meeting and Dinner Banquet on Friday, September 30. Learn more at: chsne.org.