About Dragon Boat Festival:
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month in the lunar calendar, which usually falls between late May to early June. This festival celebrates the famous poet and statesman, Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period.
According to legend, Qu Yuan was a loyal minister who struggled tirelessly for the welfare of the people. However, when his advice was rejected by the king, he was banished from the kingdom. In exile, he wrote countless poems expressing his love for his country and his sorrow at its fate. He is said to have thrown himself into the Miluo River to show his loyalty to his country when he was unable to save it from danger. As a result, the people of his kingdom began the tradition of wrapping rice dumplings in leaves and throwing them into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body.
Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by racing dragon boats, eating zongzi, and hanging calamus and wormwood leaves on doors and windows. The dragon boat race is a highly anticipated event, symbolizing the people’s efforts to rescue Qu Yuan. The zongzi is a special dish made of glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves, filled with meat, nuts, or sweet bean paste. It is believed that eating zongzi will bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Lastly, the calamus and wormwood leaves are hung to ward off diseases and evil spirits during this festive season.
In conclusion, the Dragon Boat Festival is a time to honor a great historical figure and to celebrate the spirit of loyalty and selflessness. It is a time for families and friends to gather, enjoy traditional food, and participate in cultural activities. The festival has not only become a yearly cultural event in China, but also has spread to other parts of the world, representing the unique and rich cultural heritage of the Chinese people.