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The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four major traditional festivals in China, along with the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The festival is celebrated with: dragon boat races, sticky rice food called Zongzi, aromatic pouches, etc. In September 2009, UNESCO officially approved its inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the first Chinese celebration.
The Origin of the Festival
The Festival commemorates the death of the poet and minister Ku Yuan (340-278 BC) of the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States period of ancient China (circa 600 BC to 200 BC). Ku Yuan, a member of the Chu royal family, held high positions. However, when the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful Qin state, Ku Yuan was exiled for his opposition to the alliance and was even accused of treason.
During his exile, Ku Yuan wrote many poems. Eventually, the Qin State took over the Chu State. In despair, Ku Yuan committed suicide by drowning in the Miluo River. It is said that the locals, who admired him, rushed in their boats to rescue him, or at least to retrieve his body. This is said to have been the beginning of the dragon boat races. When they did not find his body, they threw balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat them instead of Ku Yuan's body. It was also the beginning of Zongzi consumption.
Zongzi
Zongzi is a traditional food for the Festival. It is made of glutinous rice, red dates, bean paste, fresh meat and other ingredients, wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Boating-Dragon Games
The dragon boat is a long, elaborately decorated boat with a dragon carved on the bow. During the race, competitors row together to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.
Binding of five-colour silk threads
"Blue, red, white, red, white, black and yellow" are lucky colors. On this day, children tie five-coloured silk threads on their wrists and ankles to ward off evil spirits. After the day, cutting the five-colored threads and throwing them away means hunting plague and diseases, which will bring good luck for the year.
Wearing scented pouches
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people wear pouches filled with spices and Chinese medicinal materials. The pouches exude fragrance and have the ability to repel mosquitoes and prevent diseases.
Battle with herbs
The shells of boiled eggs were dyed red, placed in colourful nets and hung around the necks of children, as it was said to bring good luck.
