Dragon Boat Festival: Races and food
When you hear the word "Dragon Boat Festival" you probably think about dragons and boats. But what does some poet's suicide from over 2000 years ago have to do with all this? And snakes and centipedes? Don't worry, you will find out in a minute. Let's dive into the what, when, and how of Dragon Boat Festival!
When is Dragon Boat Festival?
Dragon Boat Festival, known as Duānwǔjié (端午节/端午節) in Chinese, falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, usually landing in June. In 2024, it will be celebrated on June 10th. This day is a public holiday in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and it's a great spectacle for the whole family.
The origin story
Like many other traditional festivals, Dragon Boat Festival is the result of thousands of years of local traditions, legends, and cultural practices. However, the origin story most commonly associated with it nowadays is that of Qu Yuan.
Qu Yuan served the state of Chu as a trusted advisor during the Warring States period around 2300 years ago. He was strongly opposed to his king forming an alliance with the neighboring state of Qin. As a result, he got accused of treason and was exiled. However, he never stopped loving his country. He spent his days in exile walking around nature, writing some of the finest poetry in Chinese literature, and worrying about his beloved homeland.
Nature lover Qu Yuan. Painted by Chen Hongshou in the 17th century (Source).
Qu Yuans worries became a reality when the state of Chu was eventually conquered by the Qin. Qu Yuan was so heartbroken that he threw himself into the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. The local people raced out in their boats to save him, but they were too late. The only thing they could do was to throw rice dumplings into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body. The boats and dumplings still play a central role in today's Dragon Boat Festival activities.
Dragon Boat Festival activities
The name makes it very obvious that dragon boats are somehow involved. Besides that, there is of course also some special food, or otherwise it wouldn't be a proper Chinese festival. To top it all off, there are various rituals to keep everyone safe and healthy. Let's have a closer look!
Dragon boat racing
The dragon boat races are easily the highlight of the festival. Teams of paddlers, drummers, and steersmen race in long, narrow boats decorated like dragons. These dragon boat races symbolize the boats used to search for Qu Yuan's body in the river. However, dragon boat races have already been held more than 2500 years ago, which makes them roughly as old as the ancient Olympic games. Why dragon boats? Well, dragons in Chinese mythology control all waters, like rivers, lakes, and rain. Racing a boat shaped like a dragon on a river or lake is a great celebration of these mythical creatures.
A dragon boat race around the year 700 (Source)
Dragon boat races are usually held for distances between 500 and 2000 meters. A typical dragon boat crew consists of between 10 and 50 paddlers (depending on the length of the boat), one drummer, and a steerer. The two paddlers sitting in the front determine the stroke pace for all paddlers. The drummer sits in the front of the boat, faces the paddlers, observes the pacers, and relays the rhythm to the other paddlers by hitting the drum at the same speed. Some races place a flag at the finish line that needs to be picked up. In that case, there is an additional person in the front of the boat, lying on the dragon head and leaning forward as far as possible to be the first one to pick up the flag.
A modern dragon boat race (Source)
Dragon boat races have grown into a global phenomenon, with the International Dragon Boat Federation having associations in over 80 countries across the globe. There is a good chance that there is a dragon boat race happening somewhere near you during Dragon Boat Festival, so should definitely have a look.
Zongzi
Another key element of the festival is the preparation and eating of zongzi (粽子). These are pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, filled with all kinds of ingredients like red bean paste, dates, or pork.
A zongzi with a red bean filling (Source)
How to best prepare, fill, and wrap zongzi is an arcane art that varies between regions and even families. For example, northern Chinese zongzi usually have sweet fillings, while southern regions prefer savory fillings. Furthermore, some people like to steam their zongzi, while others prefer boiling them. I am not a foodie, so I can't recommend any zongzi recipes, but if you have one, let me know and I'll link to it here 😉
Protective rituals
The number five has a special significance for Dragon Boat Festival because the "wu" (午) in "Duānwǔjié" has the same pronunciation as the number five (五) and the festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The fifth lunar months is traditionally a time of ill fortune and dangers. Specifically, it's the time when the five poisonous creatures awaken: snakes, centipedes, lizards, toads, and scorpions. Some people put pictures of these animals up and stick needles into them to prevent misfortune.
Furthermore, people hang calamus and mugwort on their doors, wear sachets filled with fragrant herbs, and drink a special kind of wine called realgar wine. These practices protect against disease and evil during the hot summer months. Having to think of all these dangers gives a slightly negative connotation to Dragon Boat Festival and leads to some people not saying "Happy Dragon Boat Festival" (Duānwǔjié kuàilè, 端午节快乐/端午節快樂). Instead, they wish for a "Safe and Healthy Dragon Boat Festival" (Duānwǔjié ānkāng, 端午节安康/端午節安康).
Egg balancing
A Dragon Boat Festival custom that is especially popular in Taiwan is egg balancing. At noon, take an egg and place it on a flat surface such that it stands on its flat end. If you manage to do this, luck will be your friend for a whole year. Good luck!
Balanced eggs (Source)
Closing thoughts
Learning more about the stories behind Chinese festivals like Tomb-Sweeping Day and Dragon Boat Festival made me realize that they pay a lot more attention to the relationships between state officials and their rulers. This feels very different from the festivals celebrated by believers in monotheistic religions, like Christianity. Chinese festivals seem a lot more local in scope compared to events like Christmas and Easter, that proclaim all-encompassing truths for all humans. I am sure there is a lot to uncover about cultural differences in this regard.
Although Dragon Boat Festival has some negative folklore connected to it, for most people nowadays it's just a day off with lots of fun activities and food to enjoy with their families. If you want to celebrate, go check out dragon boat races near you, bring some zongzi with you as rations, and don't get bitten by a snake or centipede.
Until next time! 🙂
