The Explainer is where we explain an aspect of Chinese life. Simple. So now you know.
Dragon Boat Festival, aka Duanwujie 端午节, is a traditional Chinese holiday that commemorates the life and death of the famous scholar and poet Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty in around 300 BC.
The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar every year. This year, it fell on Saturday, May 31, with a public holidfay on Monday, June 2 making it a three-day weekend.
History of Dragon Boat Festival
Image via Wikimedia Commons
According to Chinese folklore, Qu contributed a lot to society, serving in high office. However, he fell out of favor with the emperor, was accused of treason and eventually sent into exile.
During his time in exile, Qu wrote a lot of poetry. Unappreciated and unhappy, after the Qin state captured the Chu capital of Ying, he drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar in 278 BC.
According to legend, the local villagers highly admired Qu. In an attempt to save him, or at least find his body, they raced out onto the river in boats – which is said to be the origin of dragon boat races.
Dragon Boat Races
Image via Hsiung/Flickr
As the name indicates, the centerpiece of Dragon Boat Festival are the dragon boat races, or long zhou sai 龙舟赛. In many cities across China, dragon boat races are still organized to mark the day.
READ MORE: Making and Racing Dragon Boats in the PRD
Zongzi: A Classic Holiday Treat
Image via lrs1108/Flickr
Legend has it that packets of rice were thrown into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu’s body.
Gradually, people took to eating zongzi 粽子 – glutinous rice with different fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves – around this time each year.
Popular fillings include egg yolk and meat, red bean, and jujubes.
Image via Song Zhen/Flickr
A Time to Fend Off Diseases
Image via booknews/Flickr
According to Chinese tradition, people can easily come down with illness around Dragon Boat Festival, a warm season when bacteria and insects are most active.
READ MORE: Watch Out Shanghai, Termite Season is Upon Us
Due to this, many measures are taken to keep diseases at bay. Families often hang ay tsao, a wormwood-like herb with a potent odor, on their door. Some also drink wine as a tonic.
Scented sachets stuffed with fragrant medicinal herbs are also popular.
Image via bangdoll/Flickr
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This post originally appeared on Thatsmags.com in June 2016. It has been updated and republished on May 30, 2025.
[Cover image via Mainland Tour]
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