The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival, is a colorful and deeply cultured worldwide central celebration. Beyond the exciting dragon boat races, it’s also a time to commemorate history, enjoy festive foods, and participate in customs that date back centuries. This blog post dives into the rich traditions, legendary stories, and joyful celebrations that make this Chinese Dragon Boat Festival a special time indeed.
Qu Yuan: A Story of Chinese Loyalty and Sacrifice
The Dragon Boat Festival does stand out as an event that everyone looks forward to in China because it is based on the touching story of a patriotic poet and statesman, Qu Yuan, who served the Chu kingdom during the Warring States period.
Fallen into despair over the corruption rampant in court and the fate of his state, Qu Yuan proceeded to drown himself in the river of Miluo. The local people, who were deeply impressed by him, ran out in boats to try and save him, beating drums and splashing the water to scare away evil spirits and keep fish from eating his body. They even tossed rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river as offerings. Many of the festival’s traditions have arisen from these acts.
Traditions That Endure:
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival traditions reflect the shared fortitude of remembrance, protectiveness, and good health.
- Dragon Boat Racing: No matter where you went in China during the festival, the most visible and appealing part of the Dragon Boat Festival is definitely dragon boat racing. Teams of paddlers, guided by a drummer, compete in long, elaborately adorned boats crafted in the shape of dragons. These races represent the villagers’ attempts to save Qu Yuan from the river.
- Visiting relatives: Zongzi (粽子) are sticky rice dumplings that are wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with savory or sweet fillings, like pork, beans, dates, or nuts. Consumed during the festival, zongzi celebrates the rice dumplings that were thrown into the river so that fish wouldn’t eat Qu Yuan’s body. They are a key part of the celebration and delicious!
- Drinking Realgar Wine (雄黃酒): Realgar wine (雄黃酒) is made from fermented grains and the mineral realgar, and it is traditionally consumed on the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. It’s thought to have detoxifying and protective properties, driving away evil spirits and diseases that occur with the summer heat. (Modern health authorities now warn against drinking realgar wine, as realgar is toxic and contains arsenic).
- Hanging Calamus and Mugwort (菖蒲和艾草): These smell-good herbs are hung on the door and window during the festival. They’re thought to be able to heal and to be natural insect repellent; they’re symbols of protection from disease and misfortune.
- Wearing Perfume Pouches (香包): Children used to wear colorful perfume pouches, filled with aromatic herbs and medicinal ingredients. According to one, these pouches keep evil spirits away and help the wearer from falling ill.
Festivities Around the World:
In addition to China, Chinese communities around the world place the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Traditions may vary by region, but the essence of remembrance, celebration, and community remains. Wherever the festival is celebrated, you are sure to see dragon boat races, cultural performances, and, of course, the much-loved zongzi.
The story of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a rich tapestry of history, tradition, and community celebration. It is a vibrant and significant celebration that reverberates through the lives of people from all walks of life.
Looking Ahead: Dragon Boat Festival 2025
The next Dragon Boat Festival is on May 31, 2025. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, which usually falls in late May or June in the Gregorian calendar.
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