Talk of the town : Origin of Dragon Boat Festival
【明報專訊】■Game
Colour your dragon boat! (See the picture)
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Tuen Ng Festival, is a vibrant and culturally significant festival celebrated in Hong Kong. This traditional Chinese festival is held on 5th May in lunar calendar, usually falling in late May, early June or mid-June.
Origin
The Dragon Boat Festival has a rich history that dates back over 2000 years. Its origins can be traced to ancient China during the Warring States period. The festival is primarily associated with the commemoration of Qu Yuan(屈原), who was known for his loyalty and patriotism.
Another origin relates the festival with plague. Ancient people regarded 5th May in lunar calendar as the ''evil month and evil day''. They believed it was easier to get sick on this day, so some consider the traditional Dragon Boat Festival rituals and customs are actually meant to drive away bad luck and plagues.
Dragon Boat Race
One of the most captivating features of the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong is the exhilarating dragon boat races held across the city's waterways. Dragon boat races have been around for more than a thousand years. But the modern version of the races actually began in Hong Kong. In 1976, the first international dragon boat race was held in Hong Kong. The competition defined the sport on international level and laid the foundation for the dragon boat races which are so familiar to us today.
Zongzi
Alongside the thrilling dragon boat races, the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong is also synonymous with the consumption of zongzi. These pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumplings are wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with a variety of ingredients, making them a delectable treat. The food originated from Qu Yuan's story, in which villagers cast rice dumplings into the river, hoping that the fish in the river would eat the rice dumplings instead of Qu's body.
In September 2009, UNESCO officially approved Dragon Boat festival in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the first Chinese holiday to be selected. In 2024, this traditional Chinese festival will be celebrated on June 10, so make sure to enjoy the rituals and dragon boat competitions this year!
■Glossary
commemoration (n) 紀念
plague (n) 災禍
synonymous (adj) 等同的
delectable (adj) 美味可口的
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[Smarties' Power English 第412期]
