my country's traditional folk festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, is also known as the "Duanyang Festival". In addition to eating rice dumplings and rowing dragon boats, the Dragon Boat Festival is also a major multi-ethnic festival for all people to prevent and eliminate diseases, avoid plague and poison, and pray for health and longevity. Below are the origins and taboos of the Dragon Boat Festival that I have compiled for you. I hope it will be helpful to you.

The origin of the Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival originated from the worship of celestial phenomena and evolved from the dragon sacrifice in ancient times. During the Dragon Boat Festival in midsummer, Cang Long Qisu ascends to the middle sky due to the south, which is the day when the dragon flies to the sky. Just like the fifth line of the "Book of Changes Qian Gua" says: "The flying dragon is in the sky." On the Dragon Boat Festival, the Dragon Star is both "in the middle" and "in the right direction", which is a sign of good fortune.

The Dragon Boat Festival was originally a festival created by the ancestors of the south to worship the dragon ancestors. Because it is said that Qu Yuan, a poet of the Chu State during the Warring States Period, committed suicide by jumping into the Miluo River on May 5th, later people also regarded the Dragon Boat Festival as a festival to commemorate Qu Yuan; there are also sayings to commemorate Wu Zixu, Cao E and Jie Zitui. Generally speaking, the Dragon Boat Festival originated from the ancient ancestors who chose the auspicious day of "Dragon Ascension" to worship the Dragon Ancestor. It was infused with the summer custom of "curing diseases and preventing epidemics". The Dragon Boat Festival was regarded as an "evil month and evil day". and other commemorative contents of historical figures. The formation of Dragon Boat Festival customs can be said to be the product of the fusion of northern and southern customs.

The word "Dragon Boat Festival" first appeared in "Feng Tu Ji" in the Western Jin Dynasty: "The Midsummer Dragon Boat Festival is called the fifth day of May, and the customs attach great importance to this day, which is the same as the summer solstice." Duan, in ancient Chinese, has the beginning, The initial meaning is called "Duanwu", which is also the "fifth day of the lunar month". "Shuowen Jiezi": "Duan, the title of the birth of things", which means that Duan is the beginning, so the fifth day of May is called the "Duanwu Festival". "Sui Sui Guang Ji" says: "People in the capital city regard the first day of May as Duan Yi, the second day as Duan Er, and counting to five is called Duan Wu." The ancients used to regard the first few days of May as Duan Wu. call. Therefore, the first noon day of the fifth (noon) month is called the Dragon Boat Festival. However, the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival have been around for a long time. For example, the custom of dragon boat racing and sacrifice has been around for a long time.

The ancients used heavenly stems and earthly branches as carriers. Heavenly stems carry the way of heaven, and earthly branches carry the way of earth. The heavenly stems and earthly branches are set up to match the destiny of heaven and earth. The ancients used the heavenly stems and earthly branches to record years, months, days, and times. According to the stem and branch calendar and the order of the twelve earthly branches, the fifth month is the "Wu month", and the noon day of the noon month is called "Chongwu", and the noon day It is also called "Yangchen", so the Dragon Boat Festival is also called "Duanyang".

At first, the Dragon Boat Festival was mainly spread in the Wuyue area in the south, and appeared as a "totem sacrifice". The ancient ancestors took "dragon" as their totem and chose to worship the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival was actually a festival to worship the dragon ancestor at that time.

Taboos of the Dragon Boat Festival

1. Avoid eating rice dumplings from your parents’ family

In ancient times, when a daughter got married and lived in her husband’s house for a long time, it was rare to see her parents. From the Tang Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was a custom of returning to one's parents' home during the Dragon Boat Festival.

However, in Shandong, it is said that a married girl who goes to her natal family does not need to return to her husband's family before the Dragon Boat Festival, that is, she cannot celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at her natal family.

Because as the folk saying goes, "If you eat your mother's family's Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings, your entire family will die."

2. Sexual intercourse is strictly prohibited

The ancients believed that May is the month of the Nine Poisons, and the Dragon Boat Festival is the first day of the Nine Poisons.

When the aura of heaven and earth is not correct, it will inevitably affect people's body and mind. Therefore, if you have sex on the Nine Poison Days, you will definitely be poisoned and harm your body.

Therefore, ancient precepts strictly prohibit sexual intercourse during the Dragon Boat Festival, and stipulate that from the first to the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, women should go to peace and spend time at their parents' homes, and the husband and wife should separate, and this day is designated as the "Gui Ning Day".

3. Avoid poisonous energy attacking the body

As mentioned earlier, the Dragon Boat Festival is a poisonous month. From the perspective of the lunar calendar, it is around the summer solstice, so it is also the time of the year for Yang energy. The most prosperous days.

From the perspective of the five elements, if any of the five elements is too strong or too weak, it will form evil spirits and pose threats and harm to the natural climate or personal health.

Therefore, on the Dragon Boat Festival, it is necessary to insert mugwort, peach, and calamus on the door to drive away ghosts; smoke atractylodes, angelica, and drink realgar wine, etc.

4. Avoid holding festive activities

The most important part of the Dragon Boat Festival is to worship ancestors. Sadness is inevitable during sacrifices, so this day is not suitable to say blessings to others, and it is certainly not suitable to hold and participate in festive activities such as openings, weddings, and celebrations.

In addition, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year. This day is the "annihilation day of Mr. Yang" and must not be chosen to handle important matters such as opening, starting construction, getting married, signing contracts, etc. day.

Do not swim in the river on Dragon Boat Festival. Since May is the "evil month" and Double Five is an unlucky day, swimming is prohibited on this day in some places, especially in places where people have drowned. Because the "drowning ghosts" are the most ferocious on the Dragon Boat Festival and need to find a substitute to "return the sun", there is also the custom of throwing rice dumplings into the river to let them share so that they will not become substitutes.

5. There are many taboos for children

The Dragon Boat Festival is not only one of the Five Evil Days, but also has a great impact on children's physical and mental health. Therefore, there are many taboos for children, such as The day of the Dragon Boat Festival is not suitable for giving birth; babies under one year old should be sent to their grandmother's house to hide from disasters; children should eat two duck eggs on the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, and sprinkle realgar wine on the children to drive away insects and evil spirits, and ensure their health. .

In the north, it is customary for children to wear sachets to ward off evil spirits and bring peace. And the sachets worn by children cannot be lost. Legend has it that if a child loses the sachets he is wearing, there will be a disaster within a year.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, children should throw the sachets they are wearing into the water to avoid fire.

Precautions for the Dragon Boat Festival Diet

1. Drink realgar wine with caution during the Dragon Boat Festival

According to the common knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, realgar tastes bitter, is warm in nature, is slightly pungent, and is toxic. It can be applied externally or taken internally. Among them, the most special thing is that although realgar can be soaked in wine and drunk, because realgar has corrosive power, you must follow the doctor's advice, and only realgar wine prepared according to ancient methods can be drunk.

2. Eat Zongzi Healthy

The Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is also known as the "Duan Yang Festival". In our previous article on the origins and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, we mentioned that during the Dragon Boat Festival, there are folk customs of eating rice dumplings, planting mugwort and calamus, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats. What do you eat during the Dragon Boat Festival? The main thing is to eat rice dumplings. Dietary common sense says that zongzi is a high-calorie, difficult-to-digest food, so you should pay attention to quantity control when eating it.

3. Will eating rice dumplings make you fat?

You will understand after looking at the following data. Take a rice dumpling as an example. If it is filled with pork, mushrooms, raisins, dried shrimps, egg yolks, peanuts and other fillings, it has about 500-650 kcal of calories. A small braised rice dumpling has about 120 kcal of calories. People often like to eat it. The meat rice dumplings contain about 200-250 calories, so the calories of eating one rice dumpling are often much higher than the calories of a bowl of rice. According to healthy eating experts, the main difference in the calories of zongzi lies in whether the filling and rice have been fried in oil. Therefore, friends who are afraid of getting fat should pay enough attention!

It is a must to eat rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. In this regard, health and wellness recommendations include not only paying attention to portion control, but also adopting The method of making healthy rice dumplings is to adjust the ingredients of the rice dumplings and replace them with some cereal rice, which can increase fiber, vitamins and minerals. What issues should be paid attention to in Dragon Boat Festival diet and Dragon Boat Festival health preservation? Who should not eat rice dumplings? Read patiently and you will get all the answers.

1. Nutritionists tell us that it is best to drink tea while eating rice dumplings.

What are the benefits of drinking tea? It can help with swallowing and digestion. It is best to eat less each time, and you can choose mini rice dumplings;

2. Many people will cause gastrointestinal discomfort due to eating too many rice dumplings. This is mainly This is due to neglecting the intake of vegetables and fruits, resulting in insufficient fiber. Therefore, when eating rice dumplings, you should eat them with cold vegetables and fruit salad;

3. The rice dumplings must be fully heated and can be eaten only after they are hot and soft;

4. People with bad gastrointestinal problems can choose white rice dumplings when eating rice dumplings. Don’t stick to sugar and don’t eat them too sweet;

5. Patients with cholecystitis, gallstones and pancreatitis should not eat rice dumplings. Eat meat rice dumplings, egg yolk rice dumplings and other rice dumplings with high fat and protein.

4. Look carefully when purchasing Dragon Boat Festival food

Before the Dragon Boat Festival, seasonal delicacies such as rice dumplings, mung bean cakes, sesame cakes, salted eggs, and preserved eggs have long been lined up on counters in the streets and alleys. Industry experts suggest that citizens should go to large supermarkets to buy products from regular manufacturers in order to eat with confidence. Health Tips: When buying rice dumplings, the first one is frozen rice dumplings. The main advantages are that they maintain the original flavor, are easy to eat, have a long storage time, and have a shelf life of one year when refrigerated below -18°C. Varieties include fresh meat, bean paste, candied dates, peanuts, etc. The other type is fresh-keeping rice dumplings, which are made through high-temperature sterilization and vacuum treatment and can be stored for one month at room temperature. In view of the current situation that some salted eggs on the market are refueled and added with pigments to fake the red heart effect, experts on healthy eating tips specifically remind consumers that the origin and processing quality of salted eggs and preserved eggs in large supermarkets are relatively reliable. In addition, the branded series of mung bean cakes and sesame cakes sold in hypermarkets are of better quality.

5. Planting mugwort can repel mosquitoes

Traditionally on the Dragon Boat Festival, every household will plant mugwort and drink realgar wine, with the purpose of avoiding poison, exorcising evil spirits and keeping fit. Health-preserving methods were indeed of great significance in ancient times when medicine was underdeveloped. Healthy living tips believe that mugwort is a plant with a special smell, so it has a very good repellent effect. It has pungent and warm properties, can purify the air, and has aromatic effects. Smelling it often can make people clear their minds and sharpen their ears. Improves eyesight, enhances memory, and even prevents colds. Common sense in daily life says that due to the pungent and warm properties of mugwort, it is suitable for activating meridians and unblocking muscles. Therefore, in traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort leaves or moxa sticks are often used for acupuncture or fumigation. The smell of mugwort inhaled into the body can unblock the whole body. of Qi and blood, making blood circulation better.

Mugwort leaves are mild in nature, bitter in taste, non-toxic, and fragrant. They can be made into decoctions. They have a hemostatic effect on women with irregular menstruation, vomiting blood, diarrhea, and massive gynecological bleeding. They can both prevent miscarriage and treat infertility. If you boil it in water and take a bath, it can cure common skin diseases on women's genitals. Stewing chicken or pork with mugwort leaves can cure gynecological diseases. However, mugwort is suitable for people with cold diseases, such as hands and feet that are prone to coldness. It is not suitable for people with body constitutions that are prone to getting angry, such as those with frequent dry mouth, bitter mouth, hot face, habitual constipation, broken mouth, hemorrhoids, and yin deficiency. Hyperactivity of yang, irritability, sweating, coughing, vomiting blood, etc. are not suitable to avoid aggravation of the condition.

6. Pairing of staple and non-staple food

In the holiday diet, the dishes are rich, often with too much meat and too greasy. Jian Yanting suggested that during the festival, we should first pay attention to the matching of staple food and non-staple food, and advocate a vegetarian diet with a mix of meat and vegetables. A balanced mix of meat and vegetables can stimulate people's appetite and ensure nutritional balance.

7. Combination of thick and thin grains

It is necessary to eat some coarse grains and crude fiber foods appropriately, and match coarse grains and fine grains to help digestion. However, for patients with chronic gastritis, sweet potatoes and taro Eat as little food as possible that is difficult to digest and prone to flatulence, such as , pumpkin, glutinous rice, soy milk, etc.

8. Drink in moderation

When relatives and friends get together, wine can add to the atmosphere. Experts remind that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can promote blood circulation, but you should not drink it to your heart's content, because drinking a lot of alcohol will not only cause alcoholism, acute gastric mucosal damage, alcoholic hepatitis, etc., but also induce the onset of cholecystitis, pancreatitis and other diseases.

In addition, when people drink, especially when drinking a lot, they often feel full, so they don’t want to eat anymore after drinking. In fact, this is very harmful to the human body.

After drinking, you should eat more vegetables and fruits to supplement important antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E to reduce the harm of alcohol to the human body.

9. Snacks are mainly appetizers

During the Dragon Boat Festival, the rice dumplings themselves are already difficult to digest. Coupled with the sumptuous festival meal, people’s stomachs are generally exhausted. The snacks you choose at this time should be mainly for appetizing, regulating qi, and reducing swelling. Try to eat less high-calorie foods such as peanuts, melon seeds, and candies. For example, you can eat apples, pears, bananas and other fruits in moderation between meals. Plum blossoms, hawthorn slices, mints, etc. can be used as appropriate condiments.