Dragon Boat Festival: A Vibrant Celebration in Taiwan
Origins and Significance
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Jie, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It commemorates Qu Yuan, a revered poet and statesman who drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BCE to protest against political corruption.
Legends and Customs
According to legend, villagers raced dragon boats to search for Qu Yuan's body, throwing rice balls into the river to distract the river dragons from eating him. This act has evolved into the customs of dragon boat racing and eating zongzi, a type of glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Other traditional activities associated with the festival include:
- Drinking realgar wine, a medicinal liquor believed to ward off evil spirits.
- Hanging wormwood and calamus leaves on doors and windows to repel insects.
- 佩戴香包 (Xiangbao), fragrant pouches worn as protection against evil spirits.
Celebration in Taiwan
In Taiwan, the Dragon Boat Festival is a major holiday with a week-long public vacation. During this time, families gather for feasts, dragon boat races are held in various cities, and traditional cultural performances take place.
National Holiday
In 2023, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on Sunday, June 11th. People in Taiwan will enjoy a three-day national holiday from June 9th to 11th, providing ample opportunity to participate in the festivities.
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