Dragon Boat Festival - Duān Wǔ Jié 端午节
The Dragon Boat Festival is a famous East Asian holiday that takes place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar. In 2016, it is on June 9th.
What is this holiday also known as?
In China: "Poet's Day" - in honor of Qu Yuan, who is considered China's first poet
" People admire Qu Yuan not only has a poet, but also as a loyal, honest and virtuous officer. This is why boats are raced in the river: to save him or at least to find his body. Moreover people drop sticky rice (zong zi) into the river so that the fish (and the dragons) would eat them instead of Qu Yuan's body" - Beauty in China
What is the focus of this holiday?
• Racing dragon boats on rivers
Cities organize big boat races in the rivers. The boats are usually decorated with dragon heads and colorful banners. The show generally includes other performances along with the race. Schools and universities also organize these events as well.
• Eating zong zi (粽子 - sticky rice dumplings)
粽子 is filled with different ingredients, from meat to vegetables, and they are wrapped in bamboo leaves.
How to Make Zong Zi Click Here
• Drinking realgar wine (雄黃酒 - xiong huang jiu)
雄黃酒 is a kind of sweet yellow wine
Additional Customs
• Wearing a Perfume Pouch and Tying Five Colour Silk Thread
According to folklore, wearing the pouch protects children from evil; therefore, on this day children decorate their clothes with diversely fragranced pouches. The pouch is made of colourful silk cloth stringed with five-color silk thread. Also, the thread can be tied to a child's wrists, ankles, and around their neck. The five-colour thread is thought to contain magical healing properties.
• Hanging Mugwort Leaves and Calamus
The festival is held during summer - a time when all kinds of diseases can prevail, to prevent this people clean their houses and put mugwort leaves and calamus on top of their doors to discourage it. The significance behind this is that the stem and the leaves of these plants discharge a special aroma which can dispel the mosquitos, flies, and purify the air. 
