475 to 221 BC). When youre celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, you should also send festival greetings to your loved ones. However, in the weeks leading up to the Dragon Boat Festival, zngzi suddenly become available everywhere. Unable to find him and worried that fish would eat his body, they threw balls of sticky rice into the river in hopes that the fish would choose the rice over Qu Yuan. Tours, Family This is said to be the origin of zongzi.[15]. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival and the Double Fifth Festival, is a folk festival that originates in China. Southern regions in China prefer savory zongzi, with a variety of fillings including marinated pork belly, sausage, and salted duck eggs. Traditionally, the fifth lunar month was considered to be an unlucky time. Copyright 2022 Chinaler| All Rights Reserved, celebrated annually in China on the fifth day, Chinese poet and official who committed suicide by drowning himself in the Yi River as a form of protest against corruption and tyranny by the emperor of China, traditional Chinese event is known as the Dragon Boat Festival, symbolizes noon, but also identifies the fifth month of the traditional Chinese, festival is an important Chinese traditional, Dragon boat racing is the central activity of the festival and is often held in large bodies of water such as rivers or lakes, The third way to celebrate the Dragon boat festival is to hang Chinese, Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth lunar month fifth day. In South Korea, GangneungDanojeFestival is another version of the Dragon Boat Festival. Attendees. Chinese New Year - January 22, 2023. China Highlights tailor-makes China tours to help travelers discover The holiday is one of the three big festivals designated for the living the others are Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival 2023 falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month in Chinese calendar, June 22, 2023, know the festival foods, history and celebration activities . To safeguard themselves during this time, ancient people practiced rituals such as poking pictures of the five poisonous animals with pins, which was believed to render their real-life counterparts harmless. The last day of the Spring Festival is a special celebration called the Lantern Festival. The 2022 Dragon Boat Festival celebration is set to take over the shores and waters of Lake Burley Griffin this Saturday (04 June). It's possible that the practice of dragon boat racing started out as a way to worship an ancient dragon god. During a race, the drummer leads the paddlers by beating rhythmically on a drum. It was adopted during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) in ancient Korea. Epic Trips Mini Trips Sailing Trips . Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3. Two prevailing stories are often cited to explain the origin of this age-old holiday. The Dragon Boat Race has become an important sporting event in Germany. People in certain regions of China believed that during this month, the dreaded five poisonous animals (, wd), started to come out of their winter hiding places. The leaves also give a special aroma and flavor to the sticky rice and fillings. It is celebrated to commemorate Qu Yuan, a famous ancient Chinese scholar who drown himself in a river. Most dragon boat racing teams include a drummer who helps the rowers stay in sync. The festival involves colorful celebration activities. Qu Yuan (340278 BC) was a devoted poet and banished public servant during the Warring States Period of old China. Even before the modern era, dragon boat racing was popular among ethnic Chinese people living throughout Asia. The English language name for the holiday is Dragon Boat Festival,[1] used as the official English translation of the holiday by the People's Republic of China. Dragon boat racing is the central activity of the festival and is often held in large bodies of water such as rivers or lakes. Read about my experience joining the Oakland Renegades to see if its for you. The Shun River was renamed Cao'e River in her honor.[16]. Dunwjinkng)is getting more popularas a greeting. Learning about these traditional festivals is a fun and interesting way to enrich your understanding of Chinese culture. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Zngzi are a type of pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice and stuffed with various sweet or savory fillings. Eating bamboo-wrapped rice dumplings is popular during the Dragon Boat Festival. Despite most of the races for this year's festival being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, paddlers can still compete in cyberspace via the Virtual Dragon Boat Challenge 2020, a charity event organized by Dragon Boat Innovate. River Cruise, Chinese Home Dragon Boat Festival: A Guide To Celebrating It. Other common activities include hanging up icons of Zhong Kui (a mythic guardian figure), hanging mugwort and calamus, taking long walks, and wearing perfumed medicine bags. Popular festival food: Zongzi In mainland China, there are also various informal races organized by local villages and communities. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River. China Tours Chinese people call the Dragon Boat Festival - Dun W Ji | . The five colors green, red, white, black,and yellow were lucky colors in ancient China.People believedthat this wouldhelp keep bad spirits and diseases away. South Korea: The Gangneung Danoje Festival, The Gangneung Danoje Festival, is the biggest and best-known event, which runs for more than 20 days and culminates on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar. The People's Republic of China government established in 1949 did not initially recognize the Dragon Boat Festival as a public holiday but reintroduced it in 2008 alongside two other festivals in a bid to boost traditional culture. SACRAMENTO REGIONAL COALITION FOR TOLERANCE. /VCG. On the annual Dragon Boat Festival, Singaporeans also have the custom of racing dragon boats and eating rice dumplings (bakzhang). The first edition of the Dragon Boat Festival was officially launched in Hamburg in 1989 to mark the 800th anniversary of the city's port. I'm researching Dongzhi for my child's winter holidays festival. He was slandered by jealous government officials and banished by the king. During races, the boats are fitted out with a colorful dragon head and tail. One of my favorites, too! This traditional Chinese event is known as the Dragon Boat Festival, or Longzhou Jie in Chinese, due to its strong ties to dragon boats. Another popular Dragon Boat Festivaltradition is painting kidsforeheads with realgar wine. Every festival has it's own wonderful story, of which you can find out more about on our Taiwan holidays page. It is a month-long festival and a variety of folk activities and events are held, such as brewing sacred liquor, sacrificing to their ancestors, making Dano(Duanwu) fans, swingingon swings, performing traditional mask dances, and washing hair in sweet flag water. A Japanese team was invited to compete alongside nine local teams kickstarting modern-day dragon boat competitions . Often, they are related to many of the crew members by birth or marriage. To commemorate Qu Yuan, people beat drums and paddle out in boats on the river as they once did to keep fish and evil spirits away from their bodies every fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Learn Chinese in China or on Zoom and gain fluency in Chinese! People believe that this will help keep bad spirits and diseases away. Although the size of the boats and their crews can vary, in most cases, the crew consists of 20 paddlers who sit side-by-side in pairs facing the bow. To get rid of the misfortune, people would put calamus, Artemisia, pomegranate flowers, Chinese ixora and garlic above the doors on the fifth day of the fifth month. ~Wes, Your email address will not be published. In 2009, UNESCO designated the dragon boat festival a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.". As the word "calamus" and the phrase meaning "advocate strength" are homophones in the Japanese language, the festival was widely regarded as a festival for boys and celebrated as Boy's Day in Japan. In China, the Dragon Boat Festival is referred to as Duan Wu Jie. Zongzi come in both sweet and savory varieties. The Chinese event has been celebrated for over 2,000 years, believed to prevent disease and invoke good health. These days, the most well-known aspect of the Dragon Boat Festival is the tradition of racing dragon boats (, silngzhu). Join Colorado's annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the US! People may also make sachets filled with plants and hang them around their necks for added protection. /VCG. Wu Zixu was forced to commit suicide by Fuchai, with his body thrown into the river on the fifth day of the fifth month. Ching Ming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day - April 5, 2023. Among them, the local festival named Gangneung Danoje, also known as the Gangneung Danoje Festival, is the biggest and best-known event. Request a custom itinerary today and get one step closer to your personalized trip. He has been training for today all year. Read More , Rice dumplings are parcels of glutinous rice stuffed with different savory or sweet fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. In 2004 the Dragon Boat Festival was elevated to a national holiday in China. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month . Fortunately, Ive found five that do a good job of introducing the holiday, as well as the sport of dragon boat racing. As part of the festival, people eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and race dragon boats. The festival commemorates the end of the Warring States period in 476 BC when Qu Yuan led the people of Chu State in protesting the oppressive rule of the powerful Kingiquan. Read More , The Chinese have raced dragon boats for centuries, as an appeal to the water gods during the sweltering summer months. U.S., Canada and Germany: Dragon boat racing enjoys great popularity, More than a showcase of athleticism and teamwork, dragon boat racing has a legacy that's over 2,500 years old. The focus of most Dragon Boat Festival celebrations involves eating zhongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats. This traditional holiday, also called the Double Fifth festival, is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (called or nngl in Chinese). What is the Chinese summer solstice () and how is it celebrated? After being slandered by another official, however, he was sent into exile. While in fact, Zongzi has been regarded as an oblation for the ancestor even before the Chunqiu period. Schedules, Train App Or take MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit P1). . Eventually, his despair in the face of the political situation drove him to commit suicide by drowning himself in Hunan Provinces Miluo River. Singapore: Virtual dragon boat challenges amid pandemic, Most of the races for this year's festival have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but paddlers can still compete via the Virtual Dragon Boat Challenge 2020, a charity event organized by Dragon Boat Innovate. After all, its the festival of good fortune and luck, and it deserves to be celebrated with family and friends. Its current iteration is an amalgamation of multiple different festivals and traditions. Getting there: Take MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit G) and walk east for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, making a toy dragon boat for the pool or bathtub is a fun substitute, if youre unable to make it out to the races. their way. Since the shape ofcalamus leaves is sword-like, hanging theplantis also believed to dispel eviland bring health to the family,especiallychildren., Many contagious diseases and plagues were said to originate during the fifth lunar month,when the Dragon Boat Festival takes place.The fifth lunar month was considered an unlucky month.. Legend has it that a famous poet named . The festival is a time to reflect on theimportance of loyalty and commitment to the community. Miluo River in Yueyang is a famous river since Qu Yuan committed suicide in it 2,000 years ago. Duan translates to start while wu symbolizes noon, but also identifies the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar (between June 6 July 6), which coincides with the summer solstice. In commemoration of Qu Yuan, people hold dragon boat races yearly on the day of his death according to the legend. The dragon is the center of Chinese New Year, Chinatown street fairs, and any big celebration having to do with Chinese culture. In ancient China, the fifth lunar month was associated with the emergence of five types of poisonous animals. Therefore, during the Dragon Boat Festival, people try to avoid this bad luck. Celebrating Dragon Boat Festival With Kids Some common traditions which would make great education crafts include: Making a Five Colored Bracelet or Ribbon It was once common practice for families to gift ribbons or bracelets made of five colored- thread or silk . This festival is commemorated every fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Singaporeans, much like Chinese, usually eat zongzi and hold dragon boat races to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, as the country has a big population of Chinese migrants. This list highlights the main festivals celebrated in most Taoist temples, organized by lunar month. People believed that natural disasters and illnesses are common in the fifth month. Day. By taking part in the dragon boat festival, people can learn about different civilizations and cultures around the world. Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, is one of the four grandest traditional festivals in China, falling on 5th day of the 5th month in Chinese lunar calendar. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In Cantonese, it is romanized as Tuen1 Ng5 Jit3 in Hong Kong and Tung1 Ng5 Jit3 in Macau. During the festival, people often wear these pouches around their necks or hang them from their clothing. One of China's major traditional festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar for millennia. Sacramento, CA 95822-8306. In the early 20th Century the Dragon Boat Festival was observed from the first to the fifth days of the fifth month, and also known as the To honor this festival, two main activities are conducted: consuming zongzi (rice dumplings) and participating in boat races both of which are connected to dragons. The suicide of Qu Yuan is a popular story used to explain the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival. Boston's annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival returns for an in-person celebration in 2022, complete with racing on the Charles, Asian street food, activities for . Food, Train Stations Dragon Boat Legend. In 143, while presiding over a ceremony commemorating Wu Zixu during the Dragon Boat Festival, Cao Xu accidentally fell into the Shun River. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival, provides the perfect opportunity for family fun. Since the month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in California, OCA Sacramento has selected May to symbolize this great occasion and host our annual signature fundraising event, the Dragon Boat Festival Celebration. It is also referred to in some English sources as Double Fifth Festival which alludes to the date as in the original Chinese name.. Chinese names by region. Popular in Southern China, the Dragon Boat Festival is an international event drawing a score of locals and tourists alike. Dragon Boat . On this day, people typically take part in dragon boat races, enjoy various types of zongzi (sticky rice wrapped in leaves), and hold dragon dances for entertainment. Is it celebrated people hold Dragon Boat race has become an important sporting event in Germany as. People eat zongzi ( sticky rice and fillings the most well-known aspect of the Dragon race... Your loved ones associated with the emergence of five types of poisonous.. 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