Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional holiday originating from China. The festival now occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar.
In order to celebrate this festival, people will have a dragon boat race on this day. Nowadays even an annual international dragon boat race will be held in Hong Kong. Citizens will watch the show via TV live broadcast or at the competition site. This is utterly famous in the world.
What are the other traditions that people do on this day? They will enjoy some festive food – rice dumplings. It is a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo, reed, or other large flat leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling.
A popular belief amongst the Chinese of eating rice dumplings involved commemorating the death of a famous Chinese poet. Known for his patriotism, he tried unsuccessfully to warn his king and countrymen against the expansionism of their neighbors. At last, he drowned himself in a river. It was said that people threw the dumplings into the river to stop the fish from eating his dead body. Together they beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles on their fish boats in order to keep the fish and evil spirits away. And that is the dragon boat nowadays.
After that, Dragon Boat Festival becomes a Chinese tradition that we celebrate every year.
Kelvin Liu
SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School
Hey Kelvin! First, those rice dumplings look delicious! Here in Georgia, our dumplings are usually served with chicken and have a soupy consistency. I like the story of the Chinese poet and how it ties into the activities from you Dragon Boat Festival tradition. The Dragon Boats are so intricately designed and painted! I have never seen nor heard of them before, but they are beautiful! I would love to see a race in action. Thanks for sharing!
Hello this is Jordan. One time in Tampa, Florida they had a festival going and they had the Dragon Boat Races. Those things go really fast and look supper cool.
Kelvin Liu. I’m a Valdosta State University student. Studying to become a middle grades educator. I’m originally from Listuguj, Quebec Canada. We have a festival near the end of every summer, usually during the first weekend in August. I’ve attached a YouTube video showing some of the traditional dances and ceremony dress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo8FZ9Tz0ME
Some of our traditional beliefs are to respect all life. Take care of “mother earth” who is the one who sustains life for all the living, like the plants, the animals, and man. Another tradition is show respect to our elders and offer salmon, moose, and deer meat to the elders first then to the community.
Valdosta State University student,
John
Hello it’s Kelly the Dragon Boat Races sound cool i I want to learn more about Hong Kong.
that festival must be fun! i have never been to a festival, nevertheless a hong kong festival. I want to race to =) (smiley face)
I wonder if this is really fun to play since its hot at this time when it takes place.