Dragon Boat Festival originated from the worship of astronomical phenomena and evolved from the ancient Dragon Boat Festival. Originally, it was founded by Baiyue people, the ancestors of Wuyue in the south, to worship the ancestors of the dragon. The word "Dragon Boat Festival" first appeared in the local chronicles of the Western Jin Dynasty. The midsummer Dragon Boat Festival is also called the fifth day of May, which is the same as the summer solstice.
Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanyang Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Zhengyang Festival and Tianzhong Festival, is a traditional folk festival in China. Dragon Boat Festival originated from the worship of astronomical phenomena and evolved from the ancient Dragon Boat Festival. The origin of the Dragon Boat Festival covers the ancient astrological culture, humanistic philosophy and other aspects, and contains profound and rich cultural connotations. In the process of inheritance and development, a variety of folk customs are integrated, and festival customs are rich in content.
The customs of the Dragon Boat Festival
1, eat zongzi. As a sacrifice, Zongzi appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, but it was not until the Jin Dynasty that Zongzi was officially designated as Dragon Boat Festival food. In this period, in addition to glutinous rice, Alpinia oxyphylla was also added as the raw material for making zongzi, and the boiled zongzi was called "educational zongzi".
2, five-color silk thread. In the traditional culture of China, the five colors "blue, red, white, black and yellow" symbolizing the five elements are regarded as auspicious colors. On the Dragon Boat Festival, children should tie colorful silk threads on their wrists and ankles to protect their health.
3. Drink realgar wine. The custom of drinking realgar wine on Dragon Boat Festival was very popular in the ancient Yangtze River basin. As the saying goes, "drinking realgar wine will cure all diseases."
4. Dragon boat race. Dragon boat race is one of the customs of China Dragon Boat Festival, and it is also one of the most important festivals and folk activities. It widely exists in the south of China, and there are also dragon boat races in cities near rivers, lakes and seas in the north, and most of them are held in the form of dragon boat rowing and dragon boat dancing.