It's possible that the practice of dragon boat racing started out as a way to worship an ancient dragon god. Established in 1979, the celebration is the first and oldest dragon boat festival in North America. Youll find them for sale at a Dragon Boat Festival, as well as throughout Chinatown. Perfume pouches are made using hand-sewn bags containing powders of calamus, wormwood, realgar, and other fragrant items. The other three are Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Qingming Festival. Other traditions of this festival are hanging icons of the mythic guardian figure, Zhong Kui, hanging Mugworth and Calamus, going on walks, creating spells, and wearing scented medicine bags. The last day of the Spring Festival is a special celebration called the Lantern Festival. Hungry Ghost Festival in China History, Tradition, Celebration, & More. Here is a collection of easy activities, recipes and crafts with step-by-step directions to help your family celebrate an ancient Chinese holiday thats become a modern international phenomenon. But why is the dragon boat festival so important? Typically, the festival brings in thousands of visitors along the Charles River and is . Read More , The Chinese have raced dragon boats for centuries, as an appeal to the water gods during the sweltering summer months. [citation needed] Calamus is believed to be able to remove evil spirits because of its sword-like shape and strong garlic smell. Have unparalleled In modern times, the most popular story explaining the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival concerns the death of Qu Yuan (, Q Yun), a poet of the Warring States period (approx. Many Chinese families make their own, and pre-made versions also suddenly become available at most corner convenience stores. This festival is commemorated every fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The Dano festival is the Korean equivalent of the Duanwu Festival, better known internationally as the Dragon Boat Festival,(Fig.4) which is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. . Join this year's Dragon Boat Festival celebration on June 25, 2020! Each year, we encourage our next generation to express their thoughts and ideas in their own creative writing. Hence the "Tuen Ng Festival" in Hong Kong[11] Tun Ng (Festividade do Barco-Drago in Portuguese) in Macao.[12][13]. Read More , Dragon boat racing has become an international sports phenomenon in the last 40 years. EPIC MOROCCO BY CULTURE TRIP In some regions of China, parents braid silk threads of 5 colors and put them on their children's wrists, on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. Over the years, dragon boat racing has developed into a sport with a variety of rules and regulations. The Story Behind Denver's Annual Dragon Boat Festival. Celebrate Ancient Asian Traditions at Dragon Boat Festivals Around the U.S. 2021 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival Canceled, Dragon Boat Regatta Comes to Riverdale Regional Park. The reason why the Chinese eat zongziat the festival has many explanations. With our expert travel guides, you can be sure to make the most of your trip. He was slandered by jealous government officials and banished by the king. In ancient times, people believed that realgar was an antidote for all poisons, and effective for killing insects and driving away evil spirits. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. What started out as an occasion to remember legendary heroes has now become a ritualistic festival where people pay tribute to their ancestors, particularly water spirits and dragons. Fortunately, theyre also really fun to make at home with eager kids. It was adopted during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) in ancient Korea. The Dragon Boat Festival ( or Dunwji in pnyn) is an official public holiday in Mainland China. Contact us via WeChat: chinahighlightstour, the story behind the Dragon Boat Festival, The Hong Kong Tuen Ng Dragon Boat Festival 2023. Why Is Dragon Boat Festival So Important? It originated traditionally to remember the patriot poet Qu Yuan ( ( c. 340-278 BC)), who drowned himself in the Milou River more than 2000 years ago. This item is available in full to subscribers. share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected Office of the Chief Executive. Dragon boat festival is a traditional festival celebrated by the Chinese. The Dragon Boat Race has become an important sporting event in Germany. For many people, no visit to the island would be complete without seeing this event. The first international dragon boat races were held in 1976 in this city. The event, which was revived after the pandemic stymied in-person efforts for two years, drew . The view of Qu's social idealism and unbending patriotism became canonical under the People's Republic of China after 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. Eating bamboo-wrapped rice dumplings is popular during the Dragon Boat Festival. 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. Qu Yuan: Chinese Poet in the Dragon Boat Festival Story, 4-Day Shanghai and Its Neighbors Tour by High Speed Train, 3-Day Zhongwei Desert Tour with Winery Experience. Have unparalleled flexibility, which is impossible on a group tour. Join Colorado's annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the US! [15] A cadet member of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. HT: Photos by Worldwide Insure, Museums of Ohio and the Oakland Renegades Facebook page. Dragon boat festival is an important Chinese traditional holiday. Dragon boat racing has a rich history of ancient ceremonial and ritualistic traditions, which originated in southern central China more than 2500 years ago. This year the celebration falls on June 25. Getting there: Take MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit G) and walk east for about 15 minutes. Made from glutinous rice flour and water, they are boiled together until a dough forms. The festival is celebrated all over Asia, but most notably in China. The distance covered by racers can vary from 100 to 2,000 meters (328 to 6,562 feet). What is the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival () and how is it celebrated? The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Thus it is also the birthplace of the Dragon Boat Racing Match and eating zongzi during the festival, which serves as a good spot to enjoy Dragon Boat Festival during the period. It takes place every year between May 27 and June 25 on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. 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.. The origin of the festival is said to be when locals paddled out on boats to scare the fish away and retrieve Qu Yuan's body (the patriotic poet who drowned himself in the Miluo River when the Chu State fell in 278 BC).See the story behind the Dragon Boat Festival. [citation needed], Three of the most widespread activities conducted during the Dragon Boat Festival are eating (and preparing) zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.[21]. It is celebrated to commemorate the life and death of Qu Yuan, a renowned scholar from ancient China. We base in Guilin, with over 20 years of different styles of travel and tour service experience. Eating sticky rice dumplings is one of the most popular things to do during the Dragon Boat Festival. From then on, dragon boat races were held every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to commemorate Qu's death. One such tradition that has survived to this day and is still incorporated into modern Dragon Boat Festival celebrations is the custom of hanging mugwort and calamus branches on ones door to ward off evil spirits. The entrance fee is free. You can use festival quotes and poems to inspire others or brighten their day. See how you can make a beautiful boat with just some colorful paper, a few common items from around the house and our printable template. 1998-2023 China Highlights Discovery Your Way! We can help you plan your itinerary, book your accommodation, and even provide local tips and advice. Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated in China for over 2000 years and is believed to start at the same time as the Olympic Games. 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. Or take MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit P1). It was later renamed Children's Day in 1948. Zongziare made differently in different areas of China.People in the north enjoy zongziwith dates, while people in the south prefer mixed ingredients, such as meat, sausages, and eggs.This custom is not only very popular in China, it is also practiced in Korea, Japan, and other countries in Southeast Asia. Date. Fortunately, Ive found five that do a good job of introducing the holiday, as well as the sport of dragon boat racing. Your tour will be tailor-made by your personal travel advisor a destination expert. Sometimes if Mid-Autumn Festival is near National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival may be in the golden week. Explore destinations at your own pace. their way. People living in small communities where local races are held usually know most or all of the members of the dragon boat teams. Your tour will be tailor-made by your personal travel advisor a destination Realgar wine or Xiong Huang wine is a Chinese alcoholic drink that is made from Chinese yellow wine dosed with powdered realgar, a yellow-orange arsenic sulfide mineral also known as "rice wine". including the traditional annual Dragon Boat Festival, which is . The date was chosen as it was the day that patriotic Qu Yuan jumped into the river after learning of the defeat of his beloved Chu state. A popular origin story is again about Qu Yuan. During this traditional, annual event, boats in the form of dragons are raced down the river. These days, the most well-known aspect of the Dragon Boat Festival is the tradition of racing dragon boats (, silngzhu). The sun, like the Chinese dragon, traditionally represents masculine energy, whereas the moon, like the phoenix, traditionally represents feminine energy. Names. What is the Chinese summer solstice () and how is it celebrated? Popular in Southern China, the Dragon Boat Festival is an international event drawing a score of locals and tourists alike. It is a day off for the general population. The dragon boat festival is observed throughout China, and in Chinese communities around the world. Thanks so much for your kind words. Here are some traditional ways to celebrate the Dragon boat festival in China. Lanterns were lit in honor of Buddha. stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights! Learn Chinese in China or on Zoom and gain fluency in Chinese! 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