The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday with a rich history and cultural significance. Here are some key facts about the festival:
- Date: The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which typically falls in late May or June.
2. Origins: The festival is believed to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poetand minister during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair after his homeland was conquered. Locals raced out in boats to save him or retrieve his body and threw rice dumplings into the water to keep fish and evil spirits away from his body.
3. Dragon Boat Races: One of the most iconic features of the festival is the dragon boat races. Teams paddle in long, narrow boats decorated like dragons, competing to reach the finish line first. The races symbolize the attempts to rescue Qu Yuan and are a major highlight of the celebrations.
4. Zongzi: A traditional food associated with the Dragon Boat Festival is zongzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. These dumplings come in various fillings, such as sweet bean paste, meat, or egg yolk.
- Herbal Medicine and Incense: During the festival, people often hang mugwort and calamus plants around their doors and windows to ward off evil spirits and disease. Some also wear scented sachets filled with herbs for protection and good health.
- Dragon Boat Festival as a Public Holiday: The festival is a public holiday in several East Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. It is also celebrated by Chinese communities around the world.
- Cultural Significance: The Dragon Boat Festival is not only a time for honoring Qu Yuan but also an opportunity to celebrate Chinese culture and heritage. The festival emphasizes themes of loyalty, filial piety, and patriotism.
- Other Names: Besides Duanwu Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is also known by other names, such as the Double Fifth Festival, Tuen Ng Festival (in Hong Kong), and Dano (in Korea, where similar customs are observed).
The Dragon Boat Festival is a vibrant and important celebration that combines historical commemoration with lively activities and traditional customs.
