With thriving Chinese communities, Canada's Toronto and Vancouver are famous for their annual dragon boat festivals. As the month of noon is regarded as the middle point of summer, Duanwu Jie is interpreted as the commencement of mid-summer festivities.. Races have even been held in big cities such as New York and Chicago. The event, which was revived after the pandemic stymied in-person efforts for two years, drew . [24], The sun is considered to be at its strongest around the time of summer solstice, as the daylight in the northern hemisphere is the longest. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that has been around in various forms for thousands of years. He served faithfully as a government official in the State of Chu for some time. The fifth of the fifth moon at noon was the most poisonous hour for the poisonous insects, and reptiles such as frogs, lizards, snakes, hide in the mud, for that hour they are paralyzed. Your email address will not be published. For many people, no visit to the island would be complete without seeing this event. Request a custom itinerary today and get one step closer to your personalized trip. . Click to know how to greetpeopleduringDragon Boat Festival, and why. Yue Lan or Hungry Ghost Festival - August 30, 2023. During World War II, Qu Yuan began to be treated in a nationalist way as "China's first patriotic poet". The shape of the dumplings is said to resemble a boat, and they are meant to honor Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet. The sun, like the Chinese dragon, traditionally represents masculine energy, whereas the moon, like the phoenix, traditionally represents feminine energy. Traditionally, mugwort and calamus have been hung around the house or in boats, symbolizing protection from harm. Cao E is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu (; Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang. The Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival, Dunw Ji, Double Fifth, Tuen Ng Jit) is a traditional holiday that commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan (Chu Yuan). The people of China generally receive a three-day break from work in order to celebrate with friends and family. After being slandered by another official, however, he was sent into exile. Eating sticky rice dumplings is one of the most popular things to do during the Dragon Boat Festival. Spring Lantern Festival - February 5, 2023. Realgar wine or xionghuangwine is a Chinese alcoholic drink that is made from Chinese yellow wine dosed with powdered realgar. Explore destinations at your own pace. We're a passionate team of one hundred avid travelers who love to share our To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. During the race,dragon boat teams paddle harmoniously at a pace that is set by the drummer and do their best to win the race through their synchronized efforts. Join Colorado's annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the US! Sunday, June 13. Its also common to eat delicious snacks and desserts during the festival, such as sweet rice balls with red bean paste and steamed puffed yams. Go Inside China's Lively Dragon Boat Festival Celebrations. 15 Chinese Festivals To Celebrate This Year. ~Wes, Your email address will not be published. Qu Yuan spent his exile in a productive manner, writing many works of poetry, but his mind was troubled. 180. We offer community a time to celebrate . Every festival has it's own wonderful story, of which you can find out more about on our Taiwan holidays page. Some are still widely practiced in rural areas, but some are not. It has been around for many centuries now, and its roots go as far back as the Han dynasty. During this traditional, annual event, boats in the form of dragons are raced down the river. The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is BACK! Office of the Chief Executive. Read More , If youre interested in trying dragon boat racing for yourself, its easy. Popular in Southern China, the Dragon Boat Festival is an international event drawing a score of locals and tourists alike. The Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise known as the Duanwu or Tuen Ng Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday whose origins date back to the Warring States era (475 - 221 BC). It is a day off for the general population. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, 3000 Youngfield St., Suite 350, Wheat Ridge, CO, 80215, US, http://cdbf.org. China Travel Restrictions 2023 & Travel Advisory. Tours, Family At Duanwu Festival, people woulddrink realgar wine to drive evil things away and to promote a healthy life. It has been, Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. In the early years of the Republic of China, Duanwu was celebrated as the "Poets' Day" due to Qu Yuan's status as China's first known poet. The most common length for a race, however, is 500 meters (1,640 feet). Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Denver, and other cities hold large-scale dragon boat races regularly. China Tours . Names. Like in any festival, dragon boat festival wishes are a great way to show appreciation for someones well wishes. Since 2001, the dragon boat festival has raised more than $3.9 million to support cancer screening technology, diagnosis and treatment at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL. Dunwjinkng)is getting more popularas a greeting. Vision: To foster trust and a sense of community among Asian-Pacific ethnic communities. Special plants with strong flavors will hang on doors to ward off evil spirits. Desperately, people in that area attempted to rescue Qu Yuan or find his corpse, yet with no success. While ancient dragon boats were made of teak, most modern boats are made of fiberglass. During the festival, people often wear these pouches around their necks or hang them from their clothing. Learn Chinese in China or on Zoom and gain fluency in Chinese! Many Chinese families make their own, and pre-made versions also suddenly become available at most corner convenience stores. Also known as the Tuen Ng Festival, most people immediately associate the celebration with scrumptious rice dumplings and the thousands of paddlers . 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. Our brand has been in the travelling china for 12+ years. Traditionally, the fifth lunar month was considered to be an unlucky time. The Dragon Boat Festivals traditional food, known as zongzi in Mandarin and joong in Cantonese, is a glutinous rice dumpling filled with savory or sweet fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. River Cruise, Chinese Epic Trips Mini Trips Sailing Trips . June 14th 2021 - Dragon Boat Festival. The promotion of these stories might be encouraged by Confucian scholars, seeking to legitimize and strengthen their influence in China. share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Jie (, together with Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most important festivals in China. In addition to the threat posed by the reemergence of poisonous animals, it was also believed that people were more prone to falling ill around this time. Thus, it is also called the Double Fifth Festival. Learn why this specific day is chosen to celebrate the festival. By Natalie Gale. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River. Thank you so much for sharing your time, effort, and knowledge. Made from glutinous rice flour and water, they are boiled together until a dough forms. The stories of both Qu Yuan and Wu Zixu were recorded in Sima Qian's Shiji, completed 187 and 393 years after the events, respectively, because historians wanted to praise both characters. The History and Modern Practice of the Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon Boat Festival Greetings and Wishes: Say Happy or Health? The other three are Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Qingming Festival. 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. Zngzi are a type of pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice and stuffed with various sweet or savory fillings. 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. The Story Behind Denver's Annual Dragon Boat Festival. Because of the close relationships between audience members and participants, the atmosphere during these local races can be particularly exuberant. Fortunately, theyre also really fun to make at home with eager kids. This is because zngzi are thought to resemble the rice dumplings thrown into the water by villagers to stop the fish from eating his body after his suicide. will be within 24 hours. In South Korea, GangneungDanojeFestival is another version of the Dragon Boat Festival. April 4th 2021 & April 5th 2021 - Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Festival. Most U.S. cities host Dragon Boat Festival celebrations featuring brightly decorated boats powered by teams of paddlers and manic drumming. . The festival celebrates tradition and https://chinaler.com/dragon-well-tea/community while providing an opportunity to engage in healthy physical activity and celebrate local culture. Copyright 2023 | Terms & Conditions | FAQ | Learn Chinese in China. 3000 Youngfield Street, Suite 140Wheat Ridge, CO. 80215. Enjoy your personal local guide and ride. Dragon Boat Festival Celebration Activities around the World Influenced by Chinese culture, South Korea, Japan and other countries in Southeast Asia developed their own versions of the Dragon Boat Festival, along with some unique customs. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Parents will prepare a lot of fruits for the children and help their children wear a lucky charm weaved by colorful silk lines. According to this explanation, the custom is thought to have originated in southern Chinas Guangdong Province along the Pearl River Delta. In some areas, people participate in dragon boat races by taking part in other activities like dragon boat drumming or by eating traditional foods like zongzi (a type of dumpling) during the races. The Realgar wine is an important part of the festival, as it is believed that drinking it will bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. In commemoration of Qu Yuan, people hold dragon boat races yearly on the day of his death according to the legend. [14] Big ceremonies and performances developed from these practices in many areas, making the Dragon Boat Festival a day for getting rid of disease and bad luck. In most parts of China, the weather is quite good at this time of year, and people congregate outside on the banks of rivers and lakes to enjoy the fine weather while watching traditional dragon boat races. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The Dragon Boat Festival focuses on the themes of patriotism and sacrifice. 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. Thu to Fri. The fifth month of the lunar calendar was regarded as a bad month and the fifth day of the month a bad day. 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. The Dragon Boat Festival ( or Dunwji in pnyn) is an official public holiday in Mainland China. But scholars say the boats were first used hundreds of years earlier, perhaps for. The Boat festival is celebrated throughout China, but the traditions vary from region to region. [15] A cadet member of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. China's Duanwu Festival and its culture were introduced to Japan after the Heian period (7941185). Read More , The Chinese have raced dragon boats for centuries, as an appeal to the water gods during the sweltering summer months. Choices of fillings vary depending on regions. Required fields are marked *. Fete Dragon Boat Festival with traditional zongzis and a slice of history, Copyright 2020 CGTN. 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. 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 The Dragon Boat Festival is commemorated on the fifth lunar month fifth day. Our family is excited, especially Baba. If you live in Hong Kong or just stop over there for several days in June, you may go to Victory Harbor to enjoy Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. Read More . Read on to discover the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival and learn more about the customs associated with this traditional celebration. A popular origin story is again about Qu Yuan. 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. [11], It is pronounced variously in different Chinese dialects. This Friday is the annual Dragon Boat Festival. During the festival, people hang itfrom theireaves, lay it on roofs, put it under pillows, bathe in sweet flag water,and drink sweet flag wine.People believe this can help chase away plaguesand evil spirits. May 4, 2022. Attending a dragon boat festival outdoors is truly an all-ages experience. People living in small communities where local races are held usually know most or all of the members of the dragon boat teams. The most popular theory of the origin of the festival is that it was derived from the commemoration of a great patriot poet, Qu Yuan. People usually gather with their families and friends to celebrate the festival while wearing traditional Chinese clothes such as red shirts and skirts. What is the Chinese summer solstice () and how is it celebrated? One popular activity during this festival is to wear perfume pouches. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The most popular one is that the holiday is for honoring Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese poet and loyal politician who drowned in the Miluo River on the fifth day of . Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3. Learning about these traditional festivals is a fun and interesting way to enrich your understanding of Chinese culture. While in fact, Zongzi has been regarded as an oblation for the ancestor even before the Chunqiu period. Follow along with this tutorial and learn to make a classic rice dumpling filled with pork, peanuts, sausage and mung beans. Cao E's father Cao Xu () was a shaman who presided over local ceremonies at Shangyu. Often, they are related to many of the crew members by birth or marriage. OCA Sacramento has long celebrated this traditional holiday, also known as the Double Fifth (fifth day of the 5th lunar month) which has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture. and pass them out as gifts, receive them, and eat them. 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. Food, Train Stations Dragon boat racing has a history of over 2,000 years and some scholars believe the practice most likely began as a way to worship the Dragon God. Eight years later, in 151, a temple was built in Shangyu dedicated to the memory of Cao E and her sacrifice for filial piety. Wishing that children grow in strength and health, Japanese households will, on this day, raise the koinobori, which are carp-shaped windsocks that blow like banners in the wind and symbolize hope. China will have 3 days of public holiday from Thursday (June 22) to Saturday (June 24). Enjoy your personal local guide and ride. I hope you have a great time celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival this year with these easy activities, recipes and crafts. Hi! You can use festival quotes and poems to inspire others or brighten their day. Best Childrens Books About the Dragon Boat Festival, For a holiday thats over 2,000 years old, there are surprisingly few childrens books exclusively dedicated to the Dragon Boat Festival. 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. How is the Dragon Boat Festival celebrated around the world? 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. Sometimes if Mid-Autumn Festival is near National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival may be in the golden week. News and Press. Some of the larger festivalse.g. These plants are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck in the coming year. Miluo River in Yueyang is a famous river since Qu Yuan committed suicide in it 2,000 years ago. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and elsewhere around the world. 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. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, "The river in which she jumped was renamed as Cao's River", "The Legends Behind the Dragon Boat Festival", First day-off for China's Dragon Boat Festival helps revive tradition, "Textual Research on the Origin of Zongzi", "Dragon Boat Festival keeps the beast at bay", Dragon Boat Festival: Time to Balance an Egg, Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon, Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, Sir Alexander Mackenzie Canada Sea-to-Sea Bicentennial Expeditions, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dragon_Boat_Festival&oldid=1140465110, Articles with Chinese-language sources (zh), Articles with Portuguese-language sources (pt), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles needing additional references from June 2021, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "The very mid point of the year Festival", This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 05:15. 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