The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Here is the English translation of its origins and customs:
**Origins of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
The Dragon Boat Festival has a long history and is associated with several legends. The most famous one is about the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a loyal minister who was falsely accused and exiled by the king. In despair, he drowned himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. The local people, in their sorrow, raced out in boats to search for his body. They threw rice dumplings into the river to feed the fish, hoping they would not eat Qu Yuan's body. The practice of racing dragon boats and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) originated from these events.
Another legend is about the Empress Mother of the South, who was said to have been poisoned by a dragon. The people made dragon-shaped boats and raced them on the river to scare the dragon away. This is why the festival is also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
**Customs of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
1. Dragon Boat Racing: The most famous custom of the Dragon Boat Festival is the dragon boat races. Teams of rowers compete in long boats, decorated with dragon heads and tails, while a drummer and a flag bearer lead the way.
2. Eating Zongzi: Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are a traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival. They are made with glutinous rice, bamboo leaves, and often filled with ingredients like red bean paste, meat, or egg. Zongzi symbolize the rice dumplings thrown into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body.
3. Hanging Calendula: Calendula flowers, also known as mayflowers, are believed to have medicinal properties. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people often hang these flowers around their homes to ward off evil spirits.
4. Wearing Periwinkle: Periwinkle flowers are associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. They are believed to have protective properties, and people often wear them as necklaces or in their hair.
5. Drinking Realgar Wine: Realgar wine, made with realgar (a type of ore), is another traditional custom. It is believed to have medicinal properties and is consumed to ward off evil spirits and prevent illness.
These customs are deeply rooted in Chinese culture and are celebrated with great enthusiasm during the Dragon Boat Festival.
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