The Double Fifth Festival--more commonly known as the
Dragon Boat Festival--is getting some extra attention this
year.
In addition to the popular tradition of dragon boat races, a
variety of activities are planned across the country to celebrate
the festival, held every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar
month. This year, that falls on June 22.
More than 100 noted poets gathered in Beijing for a three-day
seminar, which ends Tuesday. They studied the poems of Qu Yuan, the
patriotic poet of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), in whose
honor the festival is celebrated. The poets also composed their own
verses in memory of the late hero.
The capital city will also host a carnival and a seminar, both
focusing on folk customs during the festival.
“I am excited about the upcoming carnival, because I used to
celebrate the day by simply eating a couple of zongzi,” said
Lu Ying, a 30-something Beijinger. Zongzi are glutinous rice
dumplings, a favorite food associated with the festival.
In Qu Yuan’s hometown--Zigui County of central China’s Hubei
Province--the First National Dragon Boat Cultural Festival will be
held from June 25 to July 2.
Zheng Jiayu, a Zigui County publicity official, said the
festival would feature a traditional dance contest, a poem writing
competition and a series of traditional sacrificial activities in
commemoration of Qu Yuan.
The Dragon Boat Festival has even won favor from websites this
year.
At a number of websites, people can read the story of Qu Yuan,
study his poetry and even send virtual zongzi at
quyuan.netor.com.
“The variety of ways to celebrate the festival is probably
connected with the increasing public awareness about preserving
traditional culture,” said Lu Ying.
Wu Bing’an, vice chairman of the Chinese Folklore Society, said
that the true value of cultural preservation is in maintaining its
original flavor.
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the top three traditional
Chinese festivals, together with the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn
Festival.
According to Zhang Zhongyi, an archaeologist and Qu Yuan
researcher, the festival probably originated from ancient
agricultural practices. Excessive rainfall in the fifth month could
ruin crop seedlings, so farmers offered rice and wine to the God of
Rivers, asking him to bring them a good harvest.
However, today’s traditions are more often connected with Qu
Yuan.
Qu, a poet and official of the state of Chu, was removed from
office and sent into exile by the Duke of Chu. Still loyal to his
nation, when he heard that the country had been invaded Qu picked
up a heavy stone and drowned himself in the Miluo River. It was the
fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
The local folk, who loved and respected Qu, rushed to the scene
in their boats to search for him. Failing to find him, they dropped
dumplings of glutinous rice into the river to prevent the fishes
from eating Qu Yuan’s body.
(China.org.cn, China Daily June 22, 2004)