Enjoy Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The exact date varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, it occurred on June 22th.The festival has a history of over 2,000 years and is believed to have originated from a legend about the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan.The festival was long marked as a cultural festival in China, the government, however, did not officially recognize Duanwu as a public holiday until 2008.

The festival is celebrated with various activities including dragon boat racing, eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and wearing perfume pouches. Dragon boat racing is a major highlight of the festival, where people compete in teams to race dragon-shaped boats. The races are accompanied by the sound of drums beating in unison, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere.

Zongzi is a traditional food eaten during festivals. The main ingredient of zongzi is glutinous rice, and then different fillings such as pork, bean paste, egg yolk and salted meat are added according to regional and personal preferences. To make zongzi, glutinous rice and fillings are tied into triangles or rectangles with bamboo leaves, lotus leaves or corn or reed leaves, then the ends of the zongzi are tied tightly with a thin rope and the zongzi are steamed in a pot or boiled in water. The unique aroma, soft taste, delicious filling and rich nutrition of zongzi make them a popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival. Nowadays, zongzi has also become a very popular snack, and different flavors of zongzi are available in various supermarkets and restaurants.

In addition to these activities, people also hang Chinese mugwort and calamus, wear five-color silk thread, and carry fragrant sachets to repel evil spirits and promote good health.

Overall, the Dragon Boat Festival is a time to celebrate Chinese culture and heritage, share traditional foods, and enjoy time with family and friends.Our spice rack and kitchen storage products can also come in handy at this time of year.