后來在民間大致發(fā)展成若干版本的傳說，其中一種是這樣的：
相傳在東漢時期，汝河有個瘟魔，只要它一出現(xiàn)，家家就有人病倒，天天有人喪命，這一帶的百姓受盡了瘟魔的蹂躪。一場瘟疫奪走了青年桓景的父母，他自己也因病差點兒喪了命。病愈之后，他辭別了心愛的妻子和父老鄉(xiāng)親，決心出去訪仙學(xué)藝，為民除掉瘟魔。桓景四處訪師尋道，訪遍各地的名山高士，終于打聽到在東方有一座最古老的山，山上有一個法力無邊的仙長，桓景不畏艱險和路途的遙遠(yuǎn)，在仙鶴指引下，終于找到了那座高山，找到了那個有著神奇法力的仙長，仙長為他的精神所感動，終于收留了桓景，并且教給他降妖劍術(shù)，還贈他一把降妖寶劍�；妇皬U寢忘食苦練，終于練出了一身非凡的武藝。
這一天仙長把桓景叫到跟前說：“明天是九月初九，瘟魔又要出來作惡，你本領(lǐng)已經(jīng)學(xué)成，應(yīng)該回去為民除害了”。仙長送給他一包茱萸葉，一盅菊花酒，并且密授辟邪用法，讓他騎著仙鶴趕回家去。
桓景回到家鄉(xiāng)，在九月初九的早晨，按仙長的叮囑把鄉(xiāng)親們領(lǐng)到了附近的一座山上，發(fā)給每人一片茱萸葉，一盅菊花酒，做好了降魔的準(zhǔn)備。中午時分，隨著幾聲怪叫，瘟魔沖出汝河，但是瘟魔剛撲到山下，突然聞到陣陣茱萸奇香和菊花酒氣，便戛然止步，臉色突變，這時桓景手持降妖寶劍追下山來，幾個回合就把溫魔刺死劍下，從此九月初九登高避疫的風(fēng)俗年復(fù)一年地流傳下來。
后來人們就把重陽節(jié)登高的風(fēng)俗看作是免災(zāi)避禍的活動。另外，在中原人的傳統(tǒng)觀念中，雙九還是生命長久、健康長壽的意思，所以后來到1989年重陽節(jié)被立為老人節(jié)。Earlier the festival legends in the Wu Liang Dynasty, "Qi continued resonance in mind: Ru'nan Huan Jing with the travel expenses of leinian, Fei Wei said:" in September 9th, when a disaster you home. Be anxious to go, so the family of the Jiang Sheng capsule, dogwood, to climb the arm, drink chrysanthemum wine, in addition to this disaster." As king, Qijia mountain. We also see a dead chicken dog, cattle and sheep. Fei Wen said: "this generation can also." The world nine high alcohol consumption, the woman with cystic Zhuyu, covered at this.
later in the general development of folk into some versions of the legend, one of them is this:
down in the Eastern Han Dynasty, a Ruhe devil, as long as it appeared, every family will have people sick, every day someone died, people in this area suffered the ravages of the devil. A plague killed the young Huan Jing's parents, his illness has almost lost his life. He recovered, he said goodbye to his beloved wife and his people, determined to visit Xian conservatory out, the people get rid of the devil. Huan Jing four division seeking visit, visit the mountains around, finally heard an old mountain in the East, there is a study on the mountain boundless supernatural power, Huan Jing Buweijianxian and distant journey, under the guidance of the crane, finally found that mountain, which have found a the magical powers of the immortals long, long cents for his spirit, finally took a king, and he taught spirit swordplay, he also donated a spirit sword. Huan Jing and hard, and finally out of an extraordinary Wu Yi.
this day to study Huan Jing call and said: "tomorrow is the beginning of September nine, the devil and evil will come out, you have ability to learn, should go back for the people". H gave him a packet of dogwood leaves, a cup of chrysanthemum wine, and evil secret delegated usage, let him ride the crane back home.
Huan Jing returned home, nine in the morning at the beginning of September, according to the study told the villagers to a nearby hill, to each a piece of dogwood leaves, a cup of chrysanthemum wine, well overcome preparation. At noon, with some weird sound, blast out Ruhe devil, but the devil just PuDao hill, suddenly smell Zhuyu strange sweet and chrysanthemum wine, will face sudden screeching halt, at this time, Huan Jing holding lock sword down to recover, several rounds of the temperature magic sword stabbing to death, from this September at the beginning of nine climbing and epidemics of Customs handed down year after year.
then people put the Double Ninth Festival Customs disaster is seen as a refuge activities. In addition, in the Central Plains of traditional values, two or nine lives a long, healthy longevity mean, so later to 1989 festival will be established as a festival for the elderly.
