Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on Thursday this year, which is the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It is also known as Duanwu Festival, an ancient and vibrant celebration deeply rooted in Chinese culture. It honors the memory of Quyuan, a revered poet and statesman of ancient China. With dragon boat races, delicious zongzi, and a rich tapestry of traditions, this festival unites communities in a spirit of unity and remembrance.

One of the most cherished traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival is the exhilarating dragon boat races. Teams of rowers, guided by the rhythmic beat of drums, propel their elaborately decorated boats through the water with strength and precision. These races not only showcase the unity and teamwork of the participants but also pay homage to the legendary poet Quyuan, whose memory the festival honors.

Another beloved tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival is the consumption of zongzi, delicious pyramid-shaped rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. These delectable treats are filled with a variety of ingredients such as sticky rice, meats, beans, and nuts. Enjoyed by families and friends, zongzi symbolizes the act of warding off evil spirits and ensuring good fortune during this special time of the year.

Many believe that Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet, and minister known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry, who eventually became a national hero.

Qu Yuan (340–278 BC) was a patriotic poet and exiled official during the Warring States Period of ancient China. He drowned himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th Chinese lunar month, when his beloved Chu State fell to the State of Qin. Local people desperately tried to save Qu Yuan or recover his body, to no avail.

However, it is evidenced that the Dragon Boat Festival actually came before the death of Qu Yuan. Its earliest origin is related to the fifth lunar month which was known to ancients as the ‘month of poison’. During the early hot days of summer, people would easily fall ill and epidemics spread. This made the month seem evil, so people in ancient times regarded it as an important time to prevent diseases and keep evil spirits away.

Therefore, Dragon Boat Festival was originally regarded as a traditional medical and health festival. It is traditionally a festival for people to (ceremonially) come against diseases and poisonous insects.

Dragon Boat Festival customs can be roughly divided into two categories. One is to worship the god of dragon and heroes, such as Qu Yuan. The activities include dragon boat races and eating glutinous rice dumplings.

Another category aims to fend off evils and keep people healthy. The activities include bathing in herbal concoctions, hanging wormwood and calamus, and drinking realgar wine.