TheDragonBoatFestival-CelebratingtheLegendofQuYuan
TheDragonBoatFestival,alsoknownasDuanwuFestival,isatraditionalChineseholidaythatfallsonthefifthdayofthefifthlunarmonth.ItiscelebratedtocommemoratethelifeanddeathofQuYuan,afamouspoetandministerfromthestateofChuduringtheWarringStatesperiod.
Accordingtolegend,QuYuanwasaloyalandpatrioticofficialwhowasbanishedfromhisownstateduetopoliticalintrigue.HespenthisexilewritingpoetryandadvocatingfortheunityoftheChinesestatesagainstthepowerfulQindynasty.However,whentheQinarmyconqueredChu,QuYuanwassodevastatedthathethrewhimselfintotheMiluoRiveranddrowned.
ThelocalpeoplewhoadmiredQuYuanracedoutintheirboatstotryandsavehim,butitwastoolate.Theybeatdrumsandsplashedtheiroarsinthewatertoscareawaythefishandevilspiritsthatmightharmhisbody.Theyalsothrewricedumplings,knownaszongzi,intotherivertofeedthefishandpreventthemfromeatingQuYuan'sremains.
Today,theDragonBoatFestivaliscelebratedinmanypartsoftheworld,especiallyinChina,Taiwan,HongKong,andSingapore.ItisatimeforpeopletorememberQuYuanandhiscontributionstoChineseculture,aswellastoenjoytraditionalactivitiesandfood.
OneofthemostpopularactivitiesduringtheDragonBoatFestivalisdragonboatracing.Teamsofrowerscompeteinlong,narrowboatsdecoratedwithdragonheadsandtails.Theracesareaccompaniedbythebeatingofdrumsandthecheeringofspectators.
Anotherimportantaspectofthefestivalistheconsumptionofzongzi.Thesearepyramid-shapeddumplingsmadeofglutinousricewrappedinbambooleaves.Theycanbefilledwithavarietyofingredients,suchaspork,beans,oreggyolk,andareofteneatenasasnackormealduringthefestival.
Inadditiontodragonboatracingandzongzi,therearemanyothercustomsandtraditionsassociatedwiththeDragonBoatFestival.Theseincludehangingcalamusandwormwoodleavesondoorsandwindowstowardoffevilspirits,wearingfragrantsachetstorepelinsects,anddrinkingrealgarwinetopreventillness.
TheDragonBoatFestivalisalsoatimeforfamiliestocometogetherandspendtimewithoneanother.Manypeopletravellongdistancestovisittheirrelativesandshareamealorparticipateinthefestivities.
Inrecentyears,theDragonBoatFestivalhasgainedpopularityoutsideofChinaaswell.Manycitiesaroundtheworldnowholddragonboatracesandotherculturaleventstocelebratetheholiday.
Inconclusion,theDragonBoatFestivalisasignificantholidayinChineseculturethathonorsthelifeandlegacyofQuYuan.Itisatimeforpeopletocometogether,enjoytraditionalactivitiesandfood,andremembertheimportanceofloyalty,patriotism,andunity.
WhetheryouareinChinaorabroad,theDragonBoatFestivalisawonderfulopportunitytolearnmoreaboutChinesecultureandhistory,andtocelebratethespiritofthisancientfestivalwithfriendsandfamily.
Sowhynottrymakingsomezongzi,watchingadragonboatrace,orparticipatinginotherDragonBoatFestivalactivitiesthisyear?Youmightjustdiscoveranewtraditionthatyouwillwanttocontinueforyearstocome!
Images:
1.Dragonboatracing:https://www.google.com/search?q=dragon+boat+racing&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS832US832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY5J6Z5J_iAhXOyDgGHQJzDQMQ_AUIEigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=_
2.Zongzi:https://www.google.com/search?q=zongzi&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS832US832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY5J6Z5J_iAhXOyDgGHQJzDQMQ_AUIEigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=_
3.Calamusandwormwoodleaves:https://www.google.com/search?q=calamus+and+wormwood+leaves&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS832US832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY5J6Z5J_iAhXOyDgGHQJzDQMQ_AUIEigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=_
4.Fragrantsachets:https://www.google.com/search?q=fragrant+sachets&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS832US832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY5J6Z5J_iAhXOyDgGHQJzDQMQ_AUIEigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=_
5.Realgarwine:https://www.google.com/search?q=realgar+wine&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS832US832&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY5J6Z5J_iAhXOyDgGHQJzDQMQ_AUIEigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=_
