What traditional activities are experienced during the Dragon Boat Festival in China?
Grab the zongzi, the angular rice ball, the realgar wine, the Zhong Kui or Chung Kuei figure, the mugwort or calamus, an egg to stand at noon and jump into a dragon boat for the big race, it's the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
The Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise known Duanwu, Duan Yang or Solar Maximus Festival, occurs on May 28, 2009 and on June 16, 2010. But why the difference in dates? Dragon Boat Festival dashes into the Chinese calender (which follows the Luna calender) on the fifth day of the fifth month each year resulting in date flexibility. Another title used for this day is the Double Fifth.
Note: Duanwu is also spelled Duan Wu.
Traditional Activities:
Zongzi - - A traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings as it is wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. This traditional Dragon Boat Festival delight can be steamed or boiled. Zongzi is also spelled zong zi.
Most Chinese people call zongzi rice dumplings, however, Japan has another name for it, chimaki. The Western world calls this treat a Chinese tamale. All in all, this Chinese food tradition is shared during the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
The Zongzi Legend:
278 BC - - Qu Yuan had passion when warning the kingdom of Chu of their neighboring Qin Dynasty. Unfortunately this patriot and poet had been ignored or not enough to make a change as this resulted in Qu Yuan committing suicide by way of drowning in the Miluo river.
Sounds fishy to me as the story behind the legend remains that people spread rice in the waters to divert the fish from eating Qu Yuan's lifeless body.
The other legend speaks of the same situation, the same outcome, but a different place with different names. This time the patriot was Wu Zixu and the place was the state of Wu. It was said that king Fuchai forced Wu Zixu to commit suicide by drowning him in the river as the people placed rice into the water to divert the fish from eating Wu's lifeless body.
Reenactments are said to not be conducted within the waters to see if fish do prefer rice over bodies. We have to assume no matter who it was, the fish were diverted by rice in ancient China. However, who it was is important as some celebrate both Qu Yuan and Wu Zixu as a combination of honor rather than honoring just one.
Is zongzi still tossed into rivers? No, zongzi is best eaten by all those celebrating at the Dragon Boat Festival.
Angular Rice Ball - - The angular rice ball also marks the same in tradition surrounding the legend of Qu Yuan where rice was thrown in the water to divert the fish from eating the drowned.
Realgar Wine - - A white spirit or yellow rice wine brewed with ground realgar powder. Realgar wine has always been a tradition in China, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Zhong Kui, Mugwort & Calamus - - Regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings, Zhong Kui is a figure in Chinese mythology. Hanging up icons of Zhong Kui, or the evil nemesis Chung Kuei, measures healthy spirituality against forces unseen in Chinese tradition during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Mugwort and calamus should be hung on a person or placed in front of the door to ward away evil spirits during the Dragon Boat Festival, one of China's traditional activities during the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
Egg at High Noon - - At high noon an egg should stand with the Chinese tradition of spells to ward off evil during Dragon Boat Festival. It was also thought of that anyone whom touched the egg would fall victim to a spell, that is if they are evil in nature.
Most believe that egg at high noon is when you can stand an egg upright at high noon to face luck throughout the year to come.
Dragon Boat Races - - The main event would be the Dragon boat race during the Dragon Boat Festival. The boats are shaped into 20 to 40 meter dragons with oars in rows upon each side to accommodate the speed of the race. The boaters wear traditional Chinese outfits symbolizing their support for this day in celebration. A drumbeat continues as the boat racers continue to the finish line. Not only is it a beautiful sight, it's magnetic in energy, especially when you are pulling for a certain team.
For those witnessing the Dragon Boat Festival, it is an excellent way to honor great Chinese tradition. Each year China offers this sports event with the best in Chinese culture.
Ancient China has opened many doors to Chinese tradition as each Dragon Boat Festival supplies.
Visit ABC News to read of the latest information surrounding the Dragon Boat Festival of 2009.
Source(s):
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=7684535
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duanwu_Festival