(Jrt)
Festival Dragon Boat
The celebration of Dragon Boat or duān wǔ jíe (端午节) is a Chinese festival marking the entry into the heat of the summer season and epidemics. She held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar (date mobile). The many practices associated with them are intended to ward off the demons of disease by:
* Prophylactic consumption of wine sulphur (xióng huáng jiǔ,雄黄酒) - losing favour today as it was aware it was perhaps as many victims as infectious diseases should avoid it;
* The manufacture of small sachets of fabric (xiāng bāo香包) filled with a powder meant to protect against the diseases the child who bears the neck;
* Decorate the entrance door with protective herbs (chāng pú,菖蒲and sagebrush, ài cǎo,艾草) and the likeness of a god pourfendeur demons, zhōng kuí (钟馗).
Tradition has it that the day when the sun reaches the zenith, energy yang (阳) (the couple's yin-yang, which is associated with heat and light) reaches its peak. It is said to be the only time of year where you can easily do keep an egg standing on its peak Thursday which are carried out with varying degrees of happiness generations of Chinese children. The water drawn from wells at this time would also be endowed with magical virtues.
But the tradition remains the most remarkable racing boat-shaped dragon driven by a team of rowers. The legend which recounts the origin of this custom makes it back well before the empire at the time of the Warring States Period (战国时代). A minister of the king of Chu (楚国), Qu Yuan (屈原), a poet in his spare time (actually known poems attributed to him), would have thrown into the Miluo River (汨罗江) despite see his advice neglected and his dedication to the country in doubt. It would therefore drowned, but to at least recover his body intact, local residents who were in high esteem would have thrown into the water of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves to take in respect fish. It eats today these bamboo leaves stuffed called zongzi (粽子), to celebrate the feast.
It is generally believed to custom racing dragon boats from the south east of the Chang Jiang (长江), and that the legend of Qu Yuan reflects the fact that initially the drowning of one or several participants was required so the rite obtain the desired result.
The Legend of White Snake, recounting the story of a snake had taken human form to marry a young man, is also associated with this holiday as the most dramatic events of the story takes place that day. The performances inspired by this legend are often played on the fifth day of the fifth month.
Read also Chinese New Year Festival
wikipedia
