Dragon Boat Races: Duanwu Festival's Competitive Tradition

Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated with dragon boat races and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). Dragon boat racing is a folk custom that has been observed for over 2,000 years in southern China and has now become an international sport. The races are held to commemorate the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC.

Dragon boat racing is a competitive sport that originated over 2,000 years ago in southern China

The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is marked by dragon boat racing and the eating of zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings. The festival is also associated with the myth of Qu Yuan, a poet and high-ranking official of the Warring States Period who was exiled from his state by a corrupt king and subsequently drowned himself out of sorrow.

Dragon boat racing fell out of fashion during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and was banned for a time. However, the sport was revitalized in 1976 when the Hong Kong government began to promote it to boost tourism. Today, dragon boat racing is practised in over sixty countries around the world, with China boasting 50 million dragon boaters.

The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was established in 1991 and governs the sport internationally. Races are typically sprint events of several hundred meters, with 500 meters being the most common distance. Dragon boats vary in size, with medium-sized boats measuring about 38 feet (11.5 meters) and larger boats reaching up to 90 feet (27.4 meters) in length.

Dragon boat racing is a competitive sport with a rich history that dates back over two millennia to southern China. The sport has evolved from a folk ritual to a modern international competition, with teams of paddlers racing furiously to the beat of a drum, providing a spectacular sight for spectators.

Zongzi, traditional Chinese sticky rice dumplings, are eaten during the festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Jie, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. One of the key traditions of the festival is the eating of zongzi, or traditional Chinese sticky rice dumplings.

Zongzi are made with glutinous rice and a variety of sweet or savoury fillings, including dates, egg yolks, and meat. The pyramid-shaped dumplings are wrapped in bamboo leaves, tied with a string, and steamed or boiled.

The tradition of eating zongzi is said to originate from the story of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister in the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States Period (c. 340–278 BC). When Chu was conquered by the Qin state, Qu Yuan, in despair, drowned himself in the Miluo River. Local people, who admired him, raced out in their boats to try and save him, or at least retrieve his body. They also scattered rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat Qu Yuan's body. This is said to be the origin of zongzi. Over time, people began wrapping the rice in leaves to prevent the dragon in the river from eating the rice.

Today, zongzi is a common food, easily found in supermarkets and food stores. However, some families still retain the tradition of making zongzi on the festival day. The custom is not only popular in China, but also in Korea, Japan, and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Calamus and wormwood are hung on doors to repel insects and disease

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. It is one of the four grandest traditional festivals in China and is celebrated with dragon boat races and the eating of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a beloved ancient Chinese poet and minister, and is also a day to ward off evil spirits, diseases, and pests.

One of the traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival is hanging calamus and wormwood leaves on doors and windows. Calamus, also known as sweet flag, has long, narrow leaves that resemble swords. Its leaves are believed to possess supernatural powers to dispel evil and bring health to the family, especially children. Wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, has a strong fragrance and is believed to repel insects and drive away evil spirits. It also has potential health benefits, such as helping with pain, inflammation, parasites, and skin infections.

Hanging calamus and wormwood on doors is done to take advantage of their special fragrances to repel insects, flies, fleas, and moths. In addition, the sword-like shape of calamus leaves is thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good health. This custom is especially common in southern China, while people in northern China prefer to use mugwort leaves for repelling insects and evil spirits.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a time to commemorate Qu Yuan and ward off evil spirits, diseases, and pests. Hanging calamus and wormwood on doors is one of the many traditions associated with the festival, believed to provide protection and promote health for the family.

People wear perfume pouches to ward off evil spirits and disease

The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. It is one of the four grandest traditional festivals in China and is celebrated with dragon boat races and the eating of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese patriotic poet and minister from the Warring States Period who drowned himself in a river.

The Dragon Boat Festival is also a day to ward off evil spirits, diseases, and poisonous animals. One custom associated with the festival is the wearing of perfume pouches. These pouches are filled with Chinese herbal medicines believed to repel pests and other poisonous animals. In modern times, perfume pouches are more commonly worn by children and are made into various shapes, including the traditional zongzi pattern, animals, gourds, pumpkins, and flowers.

The practice of wearing perfume pouches to ward off evil spirits and disease is similar to other cultural practices found around the world. For example, in early New England, people would scratch symbols into the woodwork of their homes to protect themselves from evil spirits, witches, and demons. In some cultures, certain herbs such as aloe vera, lavender, and sage are believed to possess protective qualities and are used to ward off evil spirits.

Realgar wine is drunk to promote health and drive away evil

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. It is a celebration of the ancient Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan (340–278 BC), who committed suicide by drowning himself in a river. The festival is marked by dragon boat races, eating sticky rice dumplings, and drinking realgar wine.

Realgar wine, or Xionghuang wine, is a Chinese alcoholic drink made from huangjiu ("yellow wine") mixed with powdered realgar, a yellow-orange arsenic sulfide mineral. It is traditionally consumed during the Dragon Boat Festival, which coincides with the height of summer in Chinese astronomy. The wine is believed to promote health and ward off evil spirits, diseases, and pests.

The practice of drinking realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival has a long history, but it has come under scrutiny in modern times due to health concerns. Realgar wine contains high levels of arsenic, which is a potent poison and a known carcinogen. Studies have shown that drinking realgar wine can lead to elevated levels of arsenic in the urine, indicating significant absorption by the body. There have been cases of poisoning and acute renal failure associated with realgar ingestion.

Despite the potential health risks, realgar wine is still consumed during the Dragon Boat Festival as part of traditional customs. It is believed to have protective properties and is considered a cure-all by traditional Chinese medicine. Adults drink the wine, while children too young to consume alcohol may have their faces painted with realgar slurry or wear amulets containing realgar for protection.

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