The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Jie, is one of the four major traditional Chinese festivals, alongside the Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which is why it is also called the “Double Fifth Festival” (Chongwu Jie, 重五节). On the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls in late May or early June.
In addition to Chinese mainland, many other Asian countries and regions also celebrate this festival. In Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Taiwan, China, it is known as Bak Chang Festival (‘Dumpling Festival’). Learn more facts about the Dragon Boat Festival
Why Is Dragon Boat Festival So Important?
Many believe that the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a renowned Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism and profound contributions to classical poetry. He ultimately became a national hero.
However, historical evidence shows that the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival actually predate Qu Yuan’s death. The festival’s earliest roots are tied to the fifth lunar month, which the ancients considered the “month of poison.” As summer began, people were more prone to illness, and epidemics often spread. This made the month seem ominous, prompting ancient communities to adopt various practices to ward off disease and evil spirits.
Thus, the Dragon Boat Festival was originally observed as a traditional health and wellness festival. It was a time for people to carry out rituals and customs aimed at protecting themselves from illness and repelling harmful forces.
Dragon Boat Festival Customs
The customs of the Dragon Boat Festival can generally be divided into two main categories. One centers on honoring dragons and historical heroes—most notably Qu Yuan—while the other focuses on warding off evil spirits and promoting health and well-being.
1. Honoring Heroes and Dragons
a. Eating Sticky Rice Dumplings
Zongzi (粽子, zòngzi) are the most iconic food of the Dragon Boat Festival. According to legend, after the patriotic poet Qu Yuan drowned himself in the river, local people threw lumps of rice into the water to prevent fish from eating his body. This evolved into the custom of making zongzi.
Traditionally, families would prepare and share homemade zongzi. Today, while some older generations still hand-make them, most people buy them from restaurants or bakeries.
Zongzi are made with glutinous rice and often filled with meats, beans, or other ingredients. They are wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves into triangular or rectangular shapes and tied with soaked stalks or colorful silk cords. Flavors and fillings vary widely across different regions of China.
b. Participating or Watching Dragon Boat Races
Dragon boat racing is the most exciting and prominent activity during the festival. The sport is said to have originated from people paddling out in boats to search for Qu Yuan’s body after his tragic death in 278 BCE.
Another theory suggests that the races originated more than 2,000 years ago as a ritual to worship the Dragon God or Water God.
The boats are traditionally carved and painted to resemble dragons. Depending on the region, each boat can carry 30 to 60 paddlers. Teams row in unison to the rhythm of pounding drums, creating a thrilling and energetic spectacle. Winning is believed to bring good luck and happiness for the year ahead.
Some of the most famous races take place in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou.
2. Warding Off Evil and Promoting Health
a. Hanging Chinese Mugwort and Calamus
The festival coincides with the early summer season, a time when illnesses were historically more common. Mugwort and calamus are medicinal herbs used to prevent disease and repel pests. Their strong fragrances are believed to drive away flies, mosquitoes, and negative energies.
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, people clean their homes and hang these herbs on their doors to protect against illness and bring good luck.
b. Drinking Realgar Wine
A traditional saying goes: “Drinking realgar wine drives away disease and evil spirits.” Realgar wine is made from fermented grains and realgar, a red mineral (arsenic sulfide) once believed to be an all-purpose antidote.
Historically, people drank realgar wine to kill insects, detoxify the body, and protect against spiritual harm.
c. Wearing Perfume Pouches
Before the festival, parents prepare small, colorful silk pouches filled with fragrant herbs or perfume for their children. These are either worn around the neck or pinned to clothing as ornaments.
Perfume pouches are believed to offer protection from evil spirits and disease, and are a cherished custom that blends health with artistry.
The Origins of the Dragon Boat Festival
There are many legends about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival. The most popular ones are as follows:
The Death of Qu Yuan
The most widely accepted origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is its commemoration of Qu Yuan (340–278 BCE), a patriotic poet and loyal official of the Chu State during the Warring States Period. When his beloved state fell to the Qin, Qu Yuan, devastated by the loss, drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
Local people, deeply moved by his patriotism, raced out in boats to rescue him or retrieve his body, but their efforts were in vain. To keep fish and evil spirits from disturbing his remains, they beat drums and threw rice dumplings into the river. These traditions evolved into the dragon boat races and the custom of eating zongzi that continue today.
The Unlucky Fifth Month
Another explanation for the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival relates to the traditional Chinese calendar and seasonal beliefs. Since ancient times, the fifth lunar month was considered an unlucky time and was even referred to as the “Month of Poison” (毒月). This was when the “Five Poisonous Creatures” (五毒 wǔ dú)—centipedes, scorpions, snakes, toads, and spiders—began to appear in greater numbers due to the warming weather. Disease, pestilence, and natural disasters were also more prevalent during this period.
The fifth day of the fifth month, or the “Double Fifth,” was seen as especially ominous. To protect themselves, people hung wormwood and calamus on their doorways and wore sachets of fragrant mugwort (xiāng bāo, 香包). The sword-like shape and pungent aroma of calamus were believed to repel both pests and evil spirits. For this reason, the Dragon Boat Festival is also sometimes referred to as the “Calamus Festival” (菖蒲节 Chāngpú Jié).
These rich and varied customs reflect the Dragon Boat Festival’s deep cultural significance, blending ancient health practices with heartfelt traditions of honor, protection, and community celebration.
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Source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/dragon-boat-festival.htm
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