Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine 饮菊酒

菊花，是中国名花，也是长寿名花。由于菊的独特品性，菊成为生命力的象征。
Chrysanthemum is a famous flower and symbol of longevity in China. Due to its unique feature, chrysanthemum has become a symbol of vitality.
早在屈原笔下，就已有“夕餐秋菊之落英”之句，即服食菊花瓣。而酿制菊花酒，在汉魏时期就早已盛行。直到明清，菊花酒仍然是盛行的健身饮料。
Qu Yuan wrote the line stating “have the blossom of chrysanthemum in autumn for dinner”, i.e. to eat the chrysanthemum petal. As far back as the Han and the Wei Dynasties, making chrysanthemum wine was very popular. In the Ming and the Qing Dynasties, the chrysanthemum wine was still a popular health drink.
重阳佳节，中国有饮菊花酒的传统习俗。由于菊花酒能疏风除热、养肝明目、消炎解毒，故具有较高的药用价值，在古代被看作是重阳必饮、祛灾祈福的“吉祥酒”。
On the Double Ninth Festival, Chinese people have a traditional custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. Due to the high medicinal value of the chrysanthemum wine, which can dispel wind and reduce heat, nourish the liver to improve visual acuity, and diminish inflammation and detoxify, it was regarded as an “auspicious wine” one must drink on the Double Ninth Festival to remove ill fortune and pray for wellbeing.
时逢佳节，清秋气爽，菊花盛开，窗前篱下，片片金黄。除登高插茱萸外，亲友们三五相邀，同饮菊酒，共赏黄花，确实别有一番情趣。
On the Double Ninth Festival, the autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp. The chrysanthemums are in full bloom. In front of the window and near the fence, there are patches of golden flowers everywher. In addition to ascending a height and wearing dogwood sprig, it is great fun to invite some friends to drink chrysanthemum wine and enjoy the yellow flowers together.