Dragon Boat Festival-Activities

    In ancient times, the major ritual performed on this day was bathing. From ancient times to the modern day the 5th month of the lunar has been considered an evil month. This is because it falls in a humid summer, when lizards fleas; bugs and snakes all come out of their hiding places. Ancient books once advised people to put some herbal plants into their bath water in order to clean themselves and ward off dirty things. So this festival was a time when all people were urged to drive away epidemics and improve their health.

    Many health exercises have become blended with Chinese Folk Festivals. Even today, many of the customs associated with the Dragon Boat Festival are related to warding off insects and animals.

    Now we want to introduce to you some important customs and decorative items associated with this Festival. Pu Jie is a kind of plant, which ancient people believed could drive away ghosts and could enable people to become immortal.. Ai Hu is lalso a kind of plant, whose yellow leaves could be eaten raw, and whose old leaves could be made into a kind of acupuncture tool. Gulik heads are attached to Pu Jie, and are placed outside the house to ward off evil. Perfume sachets are a kind of purse made of colorful 1acy cloth, which contain balm. They are usually worn by children.

    Sulfuric wine is a kind of wine containing certain minerals. According to tradition, the mineral powder should be wrapped on the foreheads of small children along with the wine. Drinking the wine was supposed to be good for one's health,and able to combat poisonous substances.

    At the mention of the sulfuric wine one remembers the popular White Snake legend.

    In this legend the white lady, who was originally a snake once, revealed her original shape after drinking sulfuric wine during the 5th day of the 5th month. It was generally believed that the tradition of drinking this wine originated from this legend.

    Whenever this festival is celebrated, people will perform the legend of the white snake in either Chinese opera, or other local operas.

    At th time of the Dragon Boat Festival, every household hangs a picture with an image of Zhong Wei, to try to keep away evil. This tradition was probably related to the lack of sanitation facilities and knowledge in ancient times. To prevent diseases from occurring, many believed that with Zhong Wei around they could drive away the ghosts of diseases. This superstition later became a custom observed by the common folk.

    The Dragon Boat race is another custom associated with this festival. No one knows exactly when this custom began. Some say it was for the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, but others say it was to commemorate the filial daughter Cao Er, still others say it was for the worship of Wu Zi Xu, an ancient statesman.

    Qu Yuan was from the royal family in the Kingdom of Chu, during the Warring States period. He sincerely loved, and was ready to dedicate his life, to his country, but the King did not pay attention to him. In despair, he wrote the verse of departure, which depicted a patriotic intellectual who worried about his country. This poem is a masterpiece of Chinese classical literature. Later, he also composed 'The Fishermen Father', to demonstrate his patriotism and loyalty to his country and his ruler. One day in desperation, he killed himself by jumping into the river Mi Luo. That was on the 5th day of the 5th month.

    Cao Er was a 14 year-old girl, who lived in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). One day, her father was drowned. The sad daughter looked for her father's body along the river for 17 days. Having failed to locate it after this time, She jumped into the river and killed herself. This was also on the 5th day of the 5th month. Several days later, the body of Cao Er was found embracing the corpse of her father. This explains why, in some places, a Statue in her image is mounted at the head of Dragon Boats to commemorate her.

    Wu Zi Xu, was a national of the Kingdom of Chu, he later sought refuge in the Kingdom of Wu, and achieved great accomplishments for that Kingdom. However, the younger King of Wu later believed rumors spread by some people, and ordered Wu Zi Xu to be put to death. The King, later, even ordered that his body be thrown into the Ching Tang River. It was in his memory that the people of Wu, rode boats on the river.

    However, most scholars believe that regardless of whether the Dragon Boat Race was meant to commemorate Qu Yuan, Cao Er, of Wu Zi Xu, the intention was meant to be good. Furthermore, boat racing is good exercise, which is worth promoting. This is why the race has continued until today.

    Eating rice tamales during the festival is an old custom, which dates back to the Warring States period. Zhong Zi, or rice tamales, were called Jiao Shu in ancient China. A saying has it that after eating rice tamales, it is time to put away the winter clothes, or without eating the tamales, no one dares to put away the winter clothes. This means that when Zhong Zi appear, it is summertime and people should start to adjust their living to the season. Thus, Zhong Zi seems to be a trademark, or a sign for summer, and not just a kind of food.

    As to why glutinous rice and bamboo leaves are used to make and prepare the tamales, no explanation is found in official documents. However, the common folk believe that the leaves and rice can ward off evil. Besides, if the tamales were thrown into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat the body of Qu Yuan, it would be better to prepare them with glutinous rice, because it lasts longer.

    China has always been famous for gourmet food. Thus, there is a great variety of tamales, such as: the Lu Dou tamale from Chung Shan in Guang Dong; the Guo Zhen tamale from Jia Chen in Guang Dong; the Hu Zhou tamale of Zhou Jiang; Jiang Li, and the small date tamales of Peking; Jian, bean and wheat tamales from center Fu Jian, etc.. Even today, tamales are still a favorite snack for Chinese.

    This festival is not only exemplified by concern for health, but also, by its emphasis on filial and patriotic virtue, which, in fact, constitute the efforts of Chinese culture.