What is the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival?

Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday with a history of over 2,000 years. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on a different date each year on the Gregorian calendar. The festival has a rich cultural significance and is associated with several legends and customs.

Why is the Dragon Boat Festival called Duanwu Festival?

The festival is known as Duanwu Festival in Chinese, with "Duanwu" meaning "double fifth." This name is derived from the fact that the festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The traditional Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and the fifth month is always a time of abundant rainfall and the beginning of summer.

What are the historical origins of the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival has its roots in several ancient Chinese traditions and legends. One of the most popular stories is the commemoration of the poet and minister Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan was a loyal and patriotic official who drowned himself in the Miluo River as a form of protest against the corrupt government. In an attempt to save him, locals threw lumps of rice into the river to prevent the fish from eating his body.

How is the legend of Qu Yuan related to the Dragon Boat Festival?

As the legend goes, the locals raced out in their boats to save Qu Yuan or retrieve his body. To keep the fish from consuming his body, they also threw bamboo leaves filled with rice into the river. This practice is said to be the origin of dragon boat racing and the tradition of eating zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, during the festival. The event also gave rise to the custom of hanging up icons of Zhong Kui, a mythological guardian figure, and using moxa to repel evil spirits.

What are some other customs and traditions associated with the Dragon Boat Festival?

In addition to dragon boat racing and eating zongzi, the festival is also marked by various other customs and traditions. These may include wearing a perfume pouch, drinking realgar wine, and hanging up iris leaves and calamus. The festival has also been designated as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, further recognizing its significance and the need to preserve its traditions.