June 10 this year, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is a traditional Chinese festival - Dragon Boat Festival.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanyang Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Chongwu Festival, Chongwu Festival, Tianzhong Festival, etc., is one of the most important festivals in traditional Chinese festivals.
It originated as a dragon sacrifice in ancient times, and gradually evolved into a festival to commemorate historical figures such as Qu Yuan. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year, and people celebrate the festival through various activities and pray for health and safety.
In addition, there are many traditions and customs among the people, the most important of which is "1 don't wear, 2 don't go, 3 don't do, 4 to eat, 5 to drink", this ancient tradition has been passed down to this day, it is worth remembering! What exactly does it mean? Let's follow me to find out!
Don't wear: Don't wear gaudy clothes
On this special day, the Dragon Boat Festival is a little different from many other traditional festivals in China. While most of the other traditional festivals focus on reunion and festivities, one of the most important meanings of the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan. There is also a saying that the Dragon Boat Festival is a day of heavy yin, so avoid wearing red clothes so as not to provoke evil spirits.
Because of this, on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, we should be particular about dressing and try to avoid the colors of the clothes being too bright and eye-catching. It is necessary to know that this is a festival with deep historical emotions and heavy cultural connotations, and we should treat it with a more solemn and restrained attitude, in this way to express our respect and admiration for Qu Yuan and the profound meaning contained in the Dragon Boat Festival.
When we wear relatively simple clothes, it seems that we can better integrate into this commemorative atmosphere and feel the special feelings that belong to the Dragon Boat Festival. And on the Dragon Boat Festival, my family will also say "Dragon Boat Festival is healthy" instead of saying "Happy XX Festival" like other festivals
2. Don't go: Don't go to play in the water
During the Dragon Boat Festival, it is in June, which is the rainy season, and after the rainfall, the water volume of the river will rise sharply, and the water temperature at this time is relatively low. In this case, it is extremely dangerous for us to play in the water. Especially in the lower reaches of the river, if the amount of water is too large and causes a flash flood, the river will collect sediment, tree branches, garbage, and stones and rush down together, and it will be difficult for us to escape at a normal speed.
Not only that, there are often some snakes, insects, rats and ants at the water's edge, which will be injured if you are not careful, especially scorpions and centipedes, which are animals with toxins, once stung, you must seek medical attention immediately, otherwise it is likely to be dangerous.
In addition, the Dragon Boat Festival was originally a festival set up to commemorate Qu Yuan's throwing into the river, so it is generally believed that the riverside is an unlucky place, which is easy to cause evil spirits such as water ghosts and accidental drowning accidents.
Therefore, during the Dragon Boat Festival, we must improve our safety awareness, stay away from dangerous waters, and not let ourselves fall into a dangerous situation due to temporary negligence or playfulness, so as to ensure our own life safety and health.
Three don'ts: don't alarm the five poisons
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival and the most vigorous day of the five poisons. On this special occasion, we should not only celebrate, but also remain vigilant, respect nature, and avoid provoking the five poisons.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, we should avoid turning stones at will. Doing so may disturb poisonous creatures such as snakes and scorpions hiding inside, causing unnecessary danger. During the Dragon Boat Festival, we should avoid teasing or cruelly harming these creatures, so as not to incur the so-called "revenge".
And on this day, adults will also tie a colorful rope on the child's wrist, this colorful rope is five silk threads of different colors, the five-color silk thread is made of blue, red, white, black, yellow five colors of silk thread, rubbing will be mixed with a wormwood in the middle, worn on the arm on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, it is said that there is a meaning to ward off evil spirits and drive away five poisons.
Fourth, you have to eat: eat zongzi
As the iconic food of the Dragon Boat Festival, zongzi originated in the Warring States Period, when Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet of the Chu State, was exiled by King Huai of Chu, and then the Qin State broke through the capital, resulting in the fall of the Chu State. Qu Yuan was so sad and indignant that he threw himself into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. In order to commemorate him, later generations took the Dragon Boat Festival as a festival to commemorate Qu Yuan.
After Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, the people of Chu State wrapped glutinous rice in bamboo leaves and threw it into the river in order to prevent fish and shrimp from invading his body, hoping that the fish and shrimp would eat these foods without harming Qu Yuan's body. Slowly, the custom of eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival was gradually formed. Since then, zongzi has become a symbol of the Dragon Boat Festival, carrying people's sorrow and admiration for Qu Yuan.
The custom of eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival varies throughout China, but its core meaning is to commemorate Qu Yuan, and it also has the meaning of praying for health and warding off evil spirits and epidemics. On this day, every household will make zongzi, and relatives and friends will also give zongzi to each other, in order to express the blessings of the festival and the inheritance of traditional culture.
There are many kinds of zongzi, and the northern zongzi are mainly sweet, and the common ones are bean paste zongzi, red date zongzi, etc., which are soft and glutinous in taste, sweet but not greasy. Southern zongzi are mainly salty, such as salted meat dumplings in Guangdong, ham dumplings in Zhejiang, etc., with rich fillings and diverse flavors. In addition to the traditional sweet and salty tastes, there are also spicy rice dumplings in Sichuan and bamboo tube rice dumplings in Yunnan, which reflect the food characteristics of various places.
Five to drink: drink realgar wine
Drinking realgar wine is a major feature of the Dragon Boat Festival, it is not only a traditional drink, but also a cultural symbol, representing people's wishes for health and warding off evil spirits and epidemics.
The history of realgar wine dates back to ancient times, and it is made by mixing realgar (a sulfide mineral) and wine. In ancient times, people believed that realgar had the effect of driving away evil spirits and avoiding epidemics, so on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people would drink realgar wine for peace.
The most famous legend about realgar wine is the story in "The Legend of the White Snake". According to legend, the White Lady showed her original form because she drank realgar wine, which gave realgar wine a magical power in folklore.
Realgar wine is made in a simple way, usually grinding realgar into a powder, then mixing it with liquor, and leaving it for a while before drinking. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people will sprinkle realgar wine inside and outside the house to expel the five poisons and bless the health of their families.
People are usually cautious when drinking realgar wine, because realgar itself has a certain toxicity, and excessive consumption may cause harm to the human body. Therefore, modern people often use other ways to replace realgar wine, such as drinking rice wine or bayberry wine made from bayberry that has just been put on the market.
The above is the Dragon Boat Festival's 1 do not wear, 2 do not go, 3 do not do, 4 to eat, 5 to drink, in addition to the Dragon Boat Festival There are many other traditional customs.
Dragon boat racing
Dragon boat racing is one of the most famous customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, especially in southern China. This activity originated as a sacrificial activity in ancient times and gradually evolved into a form of athletic competition. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people will gather on the banks of rivers and lakes to watch or participate in dragon boat races. Dragon boat racing is not only a sports activity, but also carries the spirit of unity and cooperation.
Hanging wormwood and calamus
During the Dragon Boat Festival, every household will hang wormwood and calamus on the door. Wormwood and calamus have the effect of repelling insects and evil spirits, and the ancients believed that they could drive away the five poisons and protect the health of the family. The smell of wormwood and calamus repel mosquitoes and also have certain medicinal properties.
Wall clock Kui statue
In some areas, the Dragon Boat Festival has the custom of hanging clocks and statues. Zhong Kui is a god of exorcism in traditional Chinese culture, and it is believed that hanging a portrait of him will ward off evil spirits and bless the safety of his family.
Hang sachets
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people will also make sachets to wear on their bodies. The sachets are usually filled with wormwood, peppermint, cloves and other Chinese herbs that have insect repellent and refreshing effects. The sachet is not only beautiful, but also plays a role in repelling insects and evil spirits.
Hang the Five Poisons Diagram
In some places, the Dragon Boat Festival has the custom of hanging five poison maps. Snakes, scorpions, centipedes, geckos, and toads are often depicted on the five poisons, and it is believed that hanging such a picture will ward off the five poisons and bless the safety of the family.
Fly a kite and pray for blessings
Flying kites during the Dragon Boat Festival is believed to ward off bad luck and bring good luck and health to people. By flying kites, people pray for good fortune and happiness, hoping that all kinds of difficulties and misfortunes in life will be carried away by the wind.
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, we not only revisit the profound cultural heritage of this traditional festival, whether it is tying five-color ropes, eating zongzi, drinking realgar wine, or flying kites to pray for blessings, each custom carries people's good wishes for health, happiness and harmonious life. Here, Gourmet Gewu wishes you a safe and healthy Dragon Boat Festival in advance and all the best.