You probably noticed the main drawing on the Google page.
This is the spiritual and religious celebration of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival, which is celebrated this Monday, June 10, among the Chinese population. It is a celebration that involves racing between dragon-themed boats and eating a traditional dish of the culture.
Being a tradition inherited millennia after millennium, the origin stories of this festival are linked to ancient China. This also adapts to the traditions of each region, but there are customs that have become essential to practice during this date regardless of the region.
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What is the Dragon Boat Festival and why is it celebrated? We explain to you.
Dragon Boat Festival
Also known as the Double Fifth Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is a celebration that takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This 2024, the celebration falls on Monday, June 10.
The festivities of this day vary depending on the regions in which they are celebrated, but the dragon-shaped boat races are the common denominator. In these, rowing teams compete while the drum symphony plays in the background. The boats are normally made up of 20 crew members and a drummer who leads them. These races have become a popular event not only throughout China, but in large US cities with large Chinese populations, such as Chicago and New York.
Another tradition on this date is eating zongzi, a typical dish that consists of rice cakes filled with meat, beans or nuts, wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed.
What is the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival?
The origin of this festival tells the story of Qu Yuan, a poet from the Warring States period of the First Century. Yuan was a government official, but was exiled due to slander caused by another official. The poet dedicated himself to writing after his exile, but his mind was overwhelmed due to the political situation. His desperation led him to commit suicide, drowning in the Miluo River in Hunan Province.
Yuan by then was already a person known to the people. Upon hearing of the poet’s departure, these people rowed down the Miluo River throwing rice balls into the water so that the fish would rather eat the rice than eat Yuan.
It is known that the Dragon Boat Festival is also linked to the superstitions that the fifth month is one of bad luck. Some people said that during this month, the feared five poisonous animals began to emerge from their winter hiding places. They referred to the creatures centipedes, poisonous snakes, scorpions, lizards and toads. Today, due to this belief, the tradition of hanging branches of mugwort and calamus on the doors of homes to ward off evil spirits is maintained.
Contact reporter Paula Soria by email at [email protected].
