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The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar(阴历). It is one of the three most important of the annual Chinese festivals. The other two are the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year.
The story of this colorful festival concerns a famous Chinese scholar-statesman(政治家) named Chu Yuan(屈原) who, some three centuries before the birth of Christ, served the King of Chu(楚怀王)during the Warring States period. As a loyal minister(大臣), Chu Yuan at first enjoyed the full confidence and respect of his sovereign(君主). Eventually, through the intrigues of his rivals, he was discredited(不足信的, 不名誉的).
Chu Yuan was never able to regain(恢复) the emperor's favor and on the fifth day of the fifth moon in the year 295 B.C.(Before Christ), at the age of 37, Chu Yuan clasped a stone to his chest and plunged into the Milo River(汨罗江) in the Hunan Province(湖南省).
Respecting the minister as an upright(正直的) and honest man, the people who lived in the area jumped into their boats and rushed out in a vain search for him. This unsuccessful rescue attempt is a part of what the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates every year.
Probably the most exciting and interesting aspect of the festival is the racing of the Dragon Boats. These races not only symbolize the people's attempt to save Chu Yuan, they also demonstrate the Chinese virtues(美德) of cooperation and teamwork.
Another activity of the Festival is the making and eating of a kind of dumpling called Tzungtzu (粽子). When it became known that Chu Yuan was gone forever, the people, living along the river, threw cooked rice into the water as a sacrifice(祭品) to their dead hero. They wrapped(包) rice in bamboo leaves(粽叶), and stuffed(填满) it with ham, beans, bean paste(豆沙), salted egg yokes, sausages, nuts, and/or vegetables.
To the Chinese the fifth lunar moon is more than just the Dragon Boat Festival. Since antiquity(古代), they have believed that this month is a pestilential and danger-fraught(瘟疫的及充满危险的) period. Children born in this month are said to be difficult to raise(抚养), and people tend to concentrate their efforts during this time attempting to protect their families from ills and misfortune. The day of the Dragon Boat Festival is customarily the time when cleaning and sanitation(卫生) are stressed(着重, 强调). Most families hang calamus(菖蒲) and artemisia(艾草) above their doors, both as a decoration and as a preventive against pestilence.
Ancient folk medicines(民间药物) such as realgar(雄黄酒)are added to the food eaten on the Festival day. This is believed to prevent disease and to promote a healthy digestive system(消化器官). The drinking of realgar in wine supposedly relieves(解除) the effects of poisons accumulated in human bodies.
The sachets (Hsiang Pao in Chinese香包) are very popular with children and they vie(竞争) with each other to collect as many as possible. Children are not the only ones who collect Hsiang Pao. Older people are often given them as a symbol of respect, and they are highly prized because of the intricate(复杂的) and beautiful embroidery(刺绣) that adorns(装饰) them.
The Dragon Boat Festival is an entertaining and enjoyable event. It gives the observer an opportunity to glimpse a part of the rich Chinese cultural heritage.
The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar(阴历). It is one of the three most important of the annual Chinese festivals. The other two are the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year.
The story of this colorful festival concerns a famous Chinese scholar-statesman(政治家) named Chu Yuan(屈原) who, some three centuries before the birth of Christ, served the King of Chu(楚怀王)during the Warring States period. As a loyal minister(大臣), Chu Yuan at first enjoyed the full confidence and respect of his sovereign(君主). Eventually, through the intrigues of his rivals, he was discredited(不足信的, 不名誉的).
Chu Yuan was never able to regain(恢复) the emperor's favor and on the fifth day of the fifth moon in the year 295 B.C.(Before Christ), at the age of 37, Chu Yuan clasped a stone to his chest and plunged into the Milo River(汨罗江) in the Hunan Province(湖南省).
Respecting the minister as an upright(正直的) and honest man, the people who lived in the area jumped into their boats and rushed out in a vain search for him. This unsuccessful rescue attempt is a part of what the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates every year.
Probably the most exciting and interesting aspect of the festival is the racing of the Dragon Boats. These races not only symbolize the people's attempt to save Chu Yuan, they also demonstrate the Chinese virtues(美德) of cooperation and teamwork.
Another activity of the Festival is the making and eating of a kind of dumpling called Tzungtzu (粽子). When it became known that Chu Yuan was gone forever, the people, living along the river, threw cooked rice into the water as a sacrifice(祭品) to their dead hero. They wrapped(包) rice in bamboo leaves(粽叶), and stuffed(填满) it with ham, beans, bean paste(豆沙), salted egg yokes, sausages, nuts, and/or vegetables.
To the Chinese the fifth lunar moon is more than just the Dragon Boat Festival. Since antiquity(古代), they have believed that this month is a pestilential and danger-fraught(瘟疫的及充满危险的) period. Children born in this month are said to be difficult to raise(抚养), and people tend to concentrate their efforts during this time attempting to protect their families from ills and misfortune. The day of the Dragon Boat Festival is customarily the time when cleaning and sanitation(卫生) are stressed(着重, 强调). Most families hang calamus(菖蒲) and artemisia(艾草) above their doors, both as a decoration and as a preventive against pestilence.
Ancient folk medicines(民间药物) such as realgar(雄黄酒)are added to the food eaten on the Festival day. This is believed to prevent disease and to promote a healthy digestive system(消化器官). The drinking of realgar in wine supposedly relieves(解除) the effects of poisons accumulated in human bodies.
The sachets (Hsiang Pao in Chinese香包) are very popular with children and they vie(竞争) with each other to collect as many as possible. Children are not the only ones who collect Hsiang Pao. Older people are often given them as a symbol of respect, and they are highly prized because of the intricate(复杂的) and beautiful embroidery(刺绣) that adorns(装饰) them.
The Dragon Boat Festival is an entertaining and enjoyable event. It gives the observer an opportunity to glimpse a part of the rich Chinese cultural heritage.
what's your plan for dragon boat festival?
As a chinese, I was really ashamed of having a little knowledge of dragon boat festival. Perhaps I was born in northern city, though my city is nearby sea, it has been built a U port which I can only see cargo ships and cant see the sweeping ocean. So I have never see the dragon boat contest since I was born. So the dragon boat festival is just a holiday for eating Zong Zi. My mother made Zong Zi when I was a child. Because there was no supermarket, we couldnt buy finished product from market. However, now, we can buy anything in supermarket, so my mother didnt make them anymore. The boat festival began to fade out my mind.
In reality, young people began to have a bug to celebrate foreign festivals, such as Christams, Saint Valentines day, April Fools Day, some people also celebrate Easter in church. Talk about Dragon boat festival, its the same as some foreign conventional festivals, such as Witchs Day in Czech. People burned the witchs puppet so as to welcome spring. Some people are willing to celebrate foreign festivals because they like alien culture. And vice versa, foreigners who like China also concern about Chinese traditional culture.
After new holiday regulation, we have three holidays during the dragon boat festival. So many people will choose this time to travel. People who lived in Xiamen are able to visit Xiapu or Wu Yi mountain, these tourist attractions are in Fujian province,which is suit a short tirp. but Id like to stay at home for my decorate painting. I decide to draw two canvases about Christmas, its really a big project. Then Ill hang them on the new house wall. I must start it now, or I cant finish them before Christmas eve. But I preceive its a little difficult to draw them in such a hot season.