Dragon Boat Festival
Updated: 2007-06-19 08:54 Dragon Boat Festival
Today(June 19 ) is China's traditional festival Duanwujie (Dragon Boat Festival) ,which dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named Qu Yuan.
The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. People have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi (dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.
Zhong Kui
Hanging Pictures of Zhong Kui
Zhong Kui is the exorcist par excellence. His picture, a fierce-looking male brandishing a magic sword, used to be hung up in Chinese houses in order to scare away evil spirits and demons, especially in the time of Dragon Boat Festival.
Hanging Calamus and Moxa
On this day, most of the families would also hang calamus and moxa (oriental plants) on the front door. This is also to ward off evil.
Dragon Boat Race
The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.
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