和大多数传统节日一样，重阳节也有古老的传说。

　　相传在东汉时期，汝河有个瘟魔，只要它一出现，家家就有人病倒，天天有人丧命，这一带的百姓受尽了瘟魔的蹂躏。

　　一场瘟疫夺走了青年恒景的父母，他自己也因病差点儿丧了命。病愈之后，他辞别了心爱的妻子和父老乡亲，决心出去访仙学艺，为民除掉瘟魔。恒景四处访师寻道，访遍各地的名山高士，终于打听到在东方有一座最古老的山，山上有一个法力无边的仙长，恒景不畏艰险和路途的遥远，在仙鹤指引下，终于找到了那座高山，找到了那个有着神奇法力的仙长，仙长为他的精神所感动，终于收留了恒景，并且教给他降妖剑术，还赠他一把降妖宝剑。恒景废寝忘食苦练，终于练出了一身非凡的武艺。

　　这一天仙长把恒景叫到跟前说：“明天是九月初九，瘟魔又要出来作恶，你本领已经学成，应该回去为民除害了”。仙长送给恒景一包茱萸叶，一盅菊花酒，并且密授避邪用法，让恒景骑着仙鹤赶回家去。

　　恒景回到家乡，在九月初九的早晨，按仙长的叮嘱把乡亲们领到了附近的一座山上，发给每人一片茱萸叶，一盅菊花酒，做好了降魔的准备。中午时分，随着几声怪叫，瘟魔冲出汝河，但是瘟魔刚扑到山下，突然闻到阵阵茱萸奇香和菊花酒气，便戛然止步，脸色突变，这时恒景手持降妖宝剑追下山来，几个回合就把温魔刺死剑下，从此九月初九登高避疫的风俗年复一年地流传下来。梁人吴均在他的《续齐谐记》一书里曾有此记载。

　　后来人们就把重阳节登高的风俗看作是免灾避祸的活动。另外，在中原人的传统观念中，双九还是生命长久、健康长寿的意思，所以后来重阳节被立为才老人节。

　　Festival legends, and the majority of traditional festivals like, the Chung Yeung Festival is an ancient legend。

　　Down in the Eastern Han Dynasty, a plague Ruhe devil, as long as it appeared, some people get sick every family, every day someone died, that the people who suffer with the disease ravaged by demons. A plague killing of the young Fuller's parents, his illness has killed almost lives. When fully recovered, he said goodbye a beloved wife and his people, determined to visit Xian Conservatory out, the people get rid of the plague demons. Fuller four division Seeking visit, visited every Goldsmith around the mountains, and finally asked to be one in the east of the oldest mountain, mountains have an almighty cent long, and Fuller all else a distant journey, under the guidance of the red-crowned cranes, finally found a really tall mountains, which have found a miraculous powers of the immortals long, long cents for his spirit moved. finally accept the constant King, and he taught Spirit swordplay, he also donated a Spirit sword. Fuller clock drilling, and finally out of a training extraordinary boy。

　　Put the angel long Fuller was called the Frontier, said : "Tomorrow is September 9th, the god of evil also has to do evil. you have skills studies, we should go back to the people from harm. " Sin Cheung gave Fuller a packet Cantleye leaves, chrysanthemums things without actually buying liquor, and protect them from evil secret delegated usage, Fuller rode a red-crowned cranes rushing home。

　　Fuller returned to his hometown, September 9th in the morning, according to Sin long urged folks get put in the vicinity of a mountain. Cantleye to each one leaves things without actually buying chrysanthemum wine, well overcome preparation. Around midday, as against the sharp, blast out Ruhe devil, but the devil blast just Pudao Hill, Wen sudden bursts of Cantleye Qi Hong and chrysanthemum alcohol, stop screeching halt, faces mutation, Then Fuller holding Lock sword down to recover, several rounds of the devil put to death Wen Jian, From then on September 9th assume avoid the outbreak of customs handed down year after year. Liang Wu is in his "Qi added harmonic mind," a book of those records。

　　Later, people will bring in the custom Festival assume a disaster is seen as a refuge activities. In addition, the Central Plains of traditional values, or double nine lives a long, healthy longevity mean, Therefore, later Festival will be established as a festival for the elderly。