Dragon Boat Festival 2023: All You Need to Know

What is the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duānwǔ Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which is typically in late May or early June. It is a day to commemorate the life and death of the famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan.

When is the Dragon Boat Festival in 2023?

The Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated on Sunday, June 3, 2023.

How is the Dragon Boat Festival celebrated?

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in a variety of ways, but some of the most common activities include:

• Dragon boat races: People race long, narrow boats adorned with dragon heads and tails.
• Eating zongzi: These are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with various ingredients.
• Drinking realgar wine: This is a traditional Chinese wine that is said to ward off evil spirits.
• Hanging calamus and mugwort: These plants are believed to protect people from bad luck.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate Chinese culture and heritage.

What is the significance of the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival has a long and rich history. It is believed to have originated during the Warring States period (475-221 BC) when the poet Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River after his political reforms were rejected by the king.

According to legend, people raced boats to try to save Qu Yuan, but they were unable to reach him in time. To prevent his body from being eaten by fish, people threw rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a day to remember the life and death of Qu Yuan, and to celebrate the Chinese culture and heritage.