Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanyang Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Tianzhong Festival, originated from the worship of natural phenomena and evolved from dragon festival in ancient times. On the Mid-Summer Dragon Boat Festival, black dragon spent seven nights in the south of Zhongtian, which was the most "right" position in the whole year, that is, as the fifth slogan in the Book of Changes, Gan Gua said, "The flying dragon is in the sky". Its origin covers the ancient astrological culture, humanistic philosophy and other aspects, and contains profound and rich cultural connotations. In the process of inheritance and development, it has mixed a variety of folk customs into one, and the content of festival customs is rich. Rowing the dragon boat and eating zongzi are two major customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, which have been passed down in China since ancient times.
The customs of the Dragon Boat Festival
1, eat zongzi
Eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival is also an important custom. Zongzi is also called "tube zongzi" and "horn millet". Every household will soak glutinous rice, wash zongzi leaves and wrap zongzi every year on the Dragon Boat Festival. The taste and stuffing of zongzi in different places are different. Zongzi was originally used to worship ancestors and gods, but the day Quyuan threw himself into the river was also the fifth day of May. People couldn't bear to eat Quyuan's body with fish and shrimp in the river, so they threw zongzi into the fish and shrimp in the river. The origin of zongzi was much earlier than that of Qu Yuan. In order to commemorate Qu Yuan, later generations insisted on eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival, and this custom was gradually formed. The custom of eating zongzi is popular all over China, and it is also a memory of the great poet Qu Yuan.
2. Tie five-color silk thread
Traditionally, red, green, yellow, white and black thick silk threads were twisted into colored ropes and tied around children's arms or necks. Since May 5th, it was not until the birthday of "Qi Nian Ma" on Tanabata that they were untied and burned together with Jin Jun.. There is also a saying that on the first rainy day after the Dragon Boat Festival, cutting off colorful threads and throwing them in the rain means that the river will wash away the plague and diseases, which means that it can get rid of evil spirits and stir up disasters, which will bring good luck for a year.
3, wearing sachets
The custom of children wearing sachets on Dragon Boat Festival is said to have the meaning of avoiding evil spirits and expelling plague. In the south, young men and women also express their love through sachets. The sachet is colorful, small and lovely, but it is not just an ornament. The sachets are usually filled with Chinese herbal medicines, fragrant medicines, cinnabar, realgar, etc., which have the efficacy of expelling insects and preventing diseases. The outside is wrapped in silk cloth, then wrapped and fixed with colored silk thread, and finally embroidered with colored silk. The colorful sachets are very dazzling.
4. Drink realgar wine
Realgar wine has the effect of expelling insects and detoxifying, and drinking more can also beautify the face. Drinking realgar wine on Dragon Boat Festival means driving away the disease. People soak in wine, then dip it in the corners of walls, doors and windows, under the bed, etc., and then coat children's ears, nose and navel with wine to drive away poisonous insects. These activities, from the health point of view, are still scientifically justified. Realgar mixed with water and wine can be disinfected and sterilized indoors, and drinking Pu sprinkle is also quite beneficial.
5. Hanging mugwort leaves
A folk proverb says, "Willows are inserted in Qingming Festival, and Ai is inserted in Dragon Boat Festival". Folium Artemisiae Argyi is a medicinal plant. Its leaves contain volatile aromatic oil, which can repel mosquitoes and refresh the mind. On the Dragon Boat Festival, people will clean their homes and put mugwort leaves on the lintel. Folium Artemisiae Argyi represents a blessing, which can make people healthy and play a role in preventing and treating diseases. There is a custom of hanging mugwort leaves on the Dragon Boat Festival in the south and the north, but the difference is different. The south uses mugwort leaves to dispel evil and diseases, while the north avoids drugs and evils. Their pharmacology is similar, which plays a role in sterilization and disease prevention. This is also a Chinese national tradition.
6. Dragon boat race
Dragon boat race is a major custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. As for where the custom of dragon boat race comes from, it still comes from historical allusions. According to ancient legends, after Qu Yuan was wronged and threw himself into the river, Chu people were very sad. They believed that Chu Yuan was a loyal and virtuous minister, so they rowed to save Qu Yuan. However, when they struggled to reach Dongting Lake, there was no trace of Qu Yuan. They were worried that the fish in the lake would eat Qu Yuan's body, so they rowed dragon boats to disperse the fish in the lake. Later, there were dragon boat races every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the custom of dragon boat races prevailed in Wu, Yue and Chu at that time. After that, people prayed for good weather by dragon boat races.
What are the taboos of Dragon Boat Festival?
1, avoid evil day, children "hide in the afternoon"
May is called "evil month" in geomantic custom, which is an unlucky month. The Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of May is also called "the fifth day", which is the most unlucky day in May. Therefore, there is a custom of "hiding in the afternoon" on the Dragon Boat Festival.
2, the most taboo day
There is a common activity in the Dragon Boat Festival, that is, offering sacrifices to ancestors. On this day, it is the custom in many places to throw zongzi into the river. People in some places think that you should not be in a bad mood or depressed during the Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise it will have a bad influence on yourself. Some festive activities, such as moving, taking office, starting construction, etc., are not suitable for this day, but it is most suitable for family reunion.
3, avoid wearing bright red and purple jewelry
Red gems are often very festive, so it is not very timely to remember our ancestors during the Dragon Boat Festival. Red jade jewelry such as tourmaline, ruby, garnet, red stone and southern agate should not be worn as much as possible. In the tradition of China, purple is a very noble color, and it is always regarded as the emperor's spirit, which can shock all directions. From this point of view, usually wearing energy is high, and it is best not to wear purple jewelry when offering sacrifices at the Dragon Boat Festival.
4. The sachet worn by children should not be lost
In northern China, children in some places have the custom of wearing sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival. And for children, if they wear sachets, they can't be lost on this day. There is a folk saying that if a child's sachet disappears that day, it may be a disaster in this year. After the Dragon Boat Festival, children can directly throw their sachets into the river, so as to avoid disasters.