"Dragon Boat Festival"

2020-06-24

"Duanwu" (Dragon Boat Festival) first appeared in the Western Jin's "Fengtu Ji": "Midsummer Duanwu refers to the fifth day of the fifth month; the custom values this day, same as the summer solstice." "Duan" in ancient Chinese means beginning or start, so "Duanwu" also means "the fifth day." "Shuowen Jiezi" says: "Duan is the beginning of things," meaning Duan means beginning, thus the fifth day of the fifth month is called "Duanwu Festival." "Suishi Guangji" says: "In the capital, commoners call the first day of the fifth month Duan One, the second day Duan Two, counting up to the fifth day called Duan Five." The ancients habitually named the first few days of the fifth month with Duan. Therefore, the first Wu day of the fifth month is called Duanwu.

The Dragon Boat Festival combines various folk customs such as warding off evil and preventing epidemics, leading later generations to believe it originated as a festival for "warding off evil and preventing epidemics." Chinese culture is profound and extensive; ancient festivals are important carriers of traditional culture. The formation of ancient festivals contains deep cultural connotations, emphasizing ancestor and deity worship, which is the core of ancient traditional festivals. It is not simply choosing a day to ward off evil and epidemics that makes it a lasting folk festival. The idea that the Dragon Boat Festival originated from ancient "warding off evil and preventing epidemics" is a misunderstanding of the cultural connotations of the ancient festival. Ancestor worship encompasses all ancient traditional Chinese festivals and remains the eternal theme of Chinese folk festivals. Regarding Dragon Boat Festival blessings, most folklorists believe the festival existed first, and then legendary historical figures were attached to it, giving the festival additional meanings, but these meanings are only part of the festival. Many ancient poems depict the joyous atmosphere of the Dragon Boat Festival. Since ancient times, it has been a festive day for eating zongzi and dragon boat racing. The lively dragon boat performances and joyful feasts during the ancient Dragon Boat Festival are expressions of celebration; happiness during the festival is the tradition. Duanwu is a good day. According to "Jingchu Suishi Ji": because midsummer involves climbing high and following the yang energy, the fifth month is midsummer, and its first Wu day is a good day for climbing high and following the yang energy with good weather.

Among traditional festivals, in terms of the complexity and variety of folk customs, only the Dragon Boat Festival and the Spring Festival can compare. Both festivals have themes of praying for blessings and dispelling disasters, expressing people's wishes for good fortune and protection from evil and disasters. The Dragon Boat Festival has evolved by blending various folk customs into one, with many customs, diverse forms, and rich content, lively and festive. Due to regional cultural differences, customs vary in content or details across the country. Main Dragon Boat customs include dragon boat racing, dragon worship, herb gathering, hanging mugwort and calamus, worshiping gods and ancestors, washing with herbal water, collecting noon water, soaking dragon boats, eating zongzi, flying kites, watching dragon boats, tying five-colored silk threads, fumigating with Atractylodes, wearing sachets, and more. Dragon boat racing is very popular in southern coastal China and has become internationally loved and formed international competitions after spreading abroad. The custom of eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival has been popular throughout China since ancient times and has become one of the most influential and widespread folk food customs of the Chinese nation. Through traditional folk activities during the Dragon Boat Festival, people's spiritual and cultural life is enriched, and traditional culture is well inherited and promoted. Dragon Boat culture, as an important part of Chinese traditional culture, reflects the profound and extensive nature of Chinese culture. Dragon Boat culture has a wide influence worldwide, and some countries and regions also celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Said Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. wishes all employees and customers a happy holiday!