In our tradition most festivals, except for Tomb Sweeping Day, were days for happiness and celebrated with carnivals, Duanwu was no exception.
Parents used colorful threads to make necklaces and bracelets for children, gave them beautiful embroidered bags, painted the Chinese character for "king" (wang) on their foreheads to drive away bad luck, and even taught them how to make bows and arrows as special toys.
The Duanwu Festival was also called "kids festival" in some localities. Spending such happy hours with parents and siblings, young children began to understand the festival as well as the traditions and culture behind it. Repeating the customs annually makes it possible for kids to learn the traditions, accept it and pass it on when they become adults.
When grown-ups no longer take traditions seriously, it is only natural children follow suit.
A random survey by a TV station showed that most people lacked knowledge about Duanwu except for commemorating Qu. While Qu is a respectable figure in our history, he is far from the festival's only significant feature.
To restore the former prominent position of traditional festivals, it is necessary to spread knowledge of their rich significance and adapt it to modern society.
The decision-makers have made a good start by making traditional festivals public holidays. But they can do more than simply allowing people to take one day off work. More promotion of our traditional culture is needed with extensive participation. This will ensure their conservation.
(China Daily June 7, 2008)
