Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival,is one of the ancient Chinese traditional festivals. Dragon Boat Festival comes on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and has the longest history among the festivals celebrated in China.
Legend of Dragon Boat Festival
To celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival is the traditions and customs for Chinese people in more than two thousand years. As a vast, numerous nationalities, with many stories and legends, so there are not only many disparate section name, but also many different celebrating customs.
Ancient Chinese believed the day of Duanwu was unluchy because mid summer was just around the corner. The hot weather used to bring various diseases, which could spread rampantly. Dispelling disease and driving out evil were the main purpose of the festival. People would hang the picture of Zhong Kui, calamus and moxa in their houses and carry a spice bag around with them. People would also have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi.
Things to do in Dragon Boat Festival
People will do the major things as below to celebrate in Dragon Boat Festival in China.
Dragon Boat RaceThe main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. In Chinese tradition, the dragon boats attempt to rescue the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan. Subsequently, dragon boat race becomes necessary part of the festival. On that day, dragon boat races are held to the sounds of thunderous drum beats. With five downs and ups the boats commence their journey in the sound of memoriam. Racing teams row vigorously, sprinting forward to reach the finish line.
Zongzi, known as Chinese tamales, is a kind of Glutinous Rice Dumpling which is wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and thus resemble Western tamales. Inside the zongzi is glutinous rice and a filling. While the preparation, filling, and even the way the zongzi is wrapped varies between regions and families.
Why to eat Zongzi in Dragon Boat Festival? Here is the legend of it. Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day. Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating Zong Zi to memorize Qu Yuan.
Hanging Calamus and Moxa
On this day, most of the families would also hang calamus and moxa (oriental plants) on the front door. This is also to ward off evil.
Bath with boiled mugwort water
Mugwort is a traditional Chinese medicinal material, which has the effect of mosquito repellent and sterilization. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese people boiled the collected mugwort in water and then bathed in it. It is said that if people bathe with mugwort water on the Dragon Boat Festival day, he will not be bitten by mosquitoes or get sores during the year.
Have a Spice Bag
It's believed that spice bag will not only drive away evil spirits but also bring fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines.
It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year
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