How to Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is a spring celebration which began as a way to ward off the spread of disease which accompanies summer. Over time, the festival broadened to honor the death of Qu Yuan, a beloved poet of the Zhou Dynasty. Today, people around the world celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival by engaging in both traditional and modern activities.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Save the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, as this is the day when the Dragon Boat Festival is traditionally celebrated. Of course, modern celebrations occur throughout the month of May and June.

2. Hang herbs, such as Moxa, and a picture of Zhong Kui, on your front door. Zhong Kui is a legendary figure in Chinese Mythology and he is thought to be capable of warding off evil spirits.

3. Prepare Zongzi, which is the most common food associated with this celebration. Zongzi are rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Legend suggests that people threw Zongzi into the river following Qu Yuan's suicide. They hoped that the fish would eat the Zongzi instead of Qu Yuan's body.

4. Drink Xiong Huang Wine as this drink is also thought to ward off evil. This drink is made from the Xiong Huang together with rice wine. Children don't drink this, but adults may put some on their forehead.

5. Wear an herb and spice filled amulet, which is thought to ward off the insects which carry disease.

6. Attend Dragon Boat races in your community. Many communities around the world celebrate the Dragon Boat festival with races.

7. Become a Dragon Boat crew member. There are Dragon Boat associations in various cities around the country. Large associations include: Eastern Dragon Boat Association, American Dragon Boat Association and Pacific Dragon Boat Association.

Tips & Warnings

• It is said that you will have good luck if you can stand an egg on its end at noon on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.