Dragon Boat Festival in China
Dragon Boat Festival is a holiday in China.
When is Dragon Boat Festival in China
Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on 22, June, 2023 in China.
About Dragon Boat Festival in China
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional holiday in China that is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which usually falls in June. The festival is named after the dragon boat races that take place during the celebration.
The Dragon Boat Festival has a history of over 2,000 years and is believed to have originated from the legend of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister of the state of Chu during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River after his country was conquered by the state of Qin. The local people who admired him raced their boats to save him, and later on, they would race their boats every year to commemorate him.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people eat zongzi, a traditional food made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with various fillings such as pork, beans, or egg yolks. They also drink realgar wine, a traditional Chinese wine made of fermented cereal grains and realgar, a type of arsenic sulfide, which is believed to have insect-repelling and health-boosting properties.
In addition to dragon boat races and eating zongzi, people also hang calamus and wormwood leaves on their doors to ward off evil spirits and diseases. Children also wear colorful silk pouches containing fragrant herbs, called xiangbao, around their necks to protect them from evil.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a time for families to gather and enjoy each other’s company. It is also a time to celebrate Chinese culture and traditions.
History of Dragon Boat Festival in China
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that has been celebrated for over 2,000 years. The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which usually falls in late May or early June.
The origins of the Dragon Boat Festival can be traced back to ancient China. According to legend, the festival commemorates the death of a famous poet and minister named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan lived during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) and was a loyal servant of the Chu kingdom. However, he was exiled from the kingdom after being falsely accused of treason. During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote many poems expressing his love for his country and his sorrow at its downfall.
In 278 BCE, when Qu Yuan learned that the Chu capital had been captured by the enemy, he threw himself into the Miluo River in despair. The local people who admired Qu Yuan raced out in their boats to try to save him, but were too late. To prevent the fish in the river from eating his body, the people threw rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the water as a sacrifice.
Over time, the Dragon Boat Festival became a way to honor Qu Yuan and his sacrifice. The festival is celebrated with dragon boat races, in which teams of rowers race to the beat of a drum in long, narrow boats decorated with dragon heads and tails. The rice dumplings, known as zongzi, are also an important part of the festival. These are made by wrapping glutinous rice and fillings such as pork, beans, or dates in bamboo leaves and steaming them.
Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated not only in China but also in other parts of the world, including Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. It is recognized as a public holiday in China and is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and cultural activities.
How is Dragon Boat Festival celebrated in China
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is celebrated in China on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which usually falls in June on the Gregorian calendar. Here are some of the ways in which the festival is celebrated in China:
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Dragon Boat Racing: The most famous and exciting activity during the festival is the dragon boat racing. Teams of rowers paddle in long, narrow boats decorated with dragon heads and tails to the beat of a drum. The race is held in honor of the ancient poet and patriot Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest against political corruption.
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Eating Zongzi: Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and stuffed with various fillings such as pork, beans, and egg yolk. People eat zongzi during the festival to commemorate Qu Yuan, who is said to have thrown himself into the river with a bag of rice tied to his chest.
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Drinking Realgar Wine: Realgar wine is a traditional Chinese drink made by soaking realgar, a type of mineral, in rice wine. It is believed to have medicinal properties and can ward off evil spirits and diseases. People drink realgar wine during the festival to protect themselves from harm.
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Hanging Calamus and Wormwood: Calamus and wormwood are two types of aromatic plants that are believed to repel insects and purify the air. People hang them in their homes or wear them as a talisman during the festival to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
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Wearing Fragrant Pouches: Fragrant pouches are small bags filled with fragrant herbs and spices such as lavender, rose, and sandalwood. People wear them around their necks or attach them to their clothes during the festival to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
Overall, the Dragon Boat Festival is a lively and colorful event that celebrates Chinese culture and tradition.
Dates
Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated in China on 2023-06-22, 2024-06-10, 2025-05-31, 2026-06-19, 2027-06-09 in the comming years.
