How do you plan on celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival this year?

Dragon Boat Festival

This year, the Dragon Boat Festival is held on June 20th. Also known as the Tueng Ng Festival or Duanwu Festival, this celebration is historical and colorful. The festival is held on the fifth day of the traditional lunar calendar’s fifth month each year.

Hong Kong has recognized the festival as a public holiday for more than 2,000 years, however, China did not recognize it as a public holiday until 2008. Now, it is observed in Taiwan and Macau and unofficially observed in many other southeast Asian regions.

The History of the Dragon Boat Festival

Many legends exist about the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival. Among the most popular legends surrounds an elderly minister named Qu Yuan. Legend has it that this man became disillusioned by the Chinese government and drowned himself in the river as a sign of protest in 278 BC. Locals rushed to save him in their boats, banging drums the entire way. Unfortunately, they were not successful. They then began to bring offerings of rice to his spirit. Today, the symbolism of this event is easily seen with the Dragon Boat Carnival Races. 

Another story about the festival’s origins centers on an advisor name Wu Zixu who was ignored by his king, Fuchai. Fuchai forced Wu Zixu to commit suicide, and his body was thrown into the river on the fifth month’s fifth day. According to this legend, this is why we celebrate the Duanwu Festival.

While there are many origin stories for the Dragon Boat Festival, everybody can agree that this is a wonderful time to spend time with loved ones and enjoy the races.

Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival

Seeing the dragon boat races is one of the most popular things to do as part of this joyous celebration. The 2015 Dragon Boat Carnival Races run from July 3 to July 5, during which paddlers race in narrow boats at Victoria Harbour. The Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships are held on June 20th at Stanley Main Beach. These are the most popular races, though there are likely many others. On the same day, the Tai O Dragon Boat Festival races are held at the Tai O waterfront, and the Aberdeen Promenade also has its own festivities.

These dragon boats got their name from their shape, which resembles a traditional Chinese dragon. They are hard to maneuver, requiring an entire team to move them with oars. Another traditional part of the race involves a team member sitting at the front of each boat beating a drum. The drum serves to provide a morale boost and to keep time. According to lore, the team that wins will bring happiness and success to those in their village. Today, races are held not only in Hong Kong and China but also in Japan, Vietnam and the UK.

What celebration would be complete without a delicious meal? The festival-goers enjoy eating zongzi, sticky rice in bamboo, and drinking realgar wine. The sticky rice is symbolic of the rice used to distract fish from Qu Yuan’s body in the river. Different fillings are also available, including jujube and bean paste.

During the celebration, many people also choose to hang up icons representing a guardian figure named Zhong Kui. It is also a traditional part of festivities to take walks and wear perfumed medicine bags, which is said to protect children from evil. Hanging healthy herbs near a home’s entrance is also determined to protect the inhabitants from disease.

During the festival, people may also tie five-colour silk threads to their limbs and neck. Typically performed on children, this process is thought to heal them. After the first rainfall of summer, children can take off the threads and throw them into the river.

Along the same line of thinking, many revelers hang calamus and mugwort leaves outside their homes to fend off diseases. These plants are thought to eliminate flies and mosquitos.

One tradition calls for people to gather together and try to make eggs stand up at exactly noon. According to the game, a person who is able to make the egg stand up on time is going to have good luck in the upcoming year.

Sending Gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival

How do you plan on celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival this year? Perhaps you are thinking about sending your loved ones a gift to wish them well throughout the summer months. A wonderful gift hamper full of delicious treats may not help your loved ones acquire good luck or fend off disease, but it will show that you care. Gift Hampers HK offers festival goodies, including red wine and cookies for the whole family to share.

No matter how you choose to spend the Dragon Boat Festival this year, remember to stop and enjoy the moment. Showing your loved ones a bit of care on this holiday can go a long way.