Written by
Anthony
A traditional glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves, filled with sweet or savory ingredients.
Traditionally consumed during the festival, believed to ward off evil spirits and harmful creatures.
A mix of yellow-colored foods like fish, cucumber, and salted egg yolk for health and fortune.
A chewy rice cake made by pounding sticky rice with mugwort, popular among the Korean community in China.
A deep-fried pastry made from flour or sweet potato starch, traditionally eaten to symbolize "patching the sky" after heavy rains.
The name “Duanwu” first appeared in the Jin Dynasty text Feng Tu Ji by Zhou Chu, where it was described as “Zhongxia Duanwu, cooking glutinous rice dumplings.”
The term “Duan” means “beginning,” and “Wu” refers to the fifth month in the traditional lunar calendar.
Over time, “Duanwu” evolved from “Duanwu” (fifth day of the fifth month).
Additionally, “Duan” also signifies “upright,” while “Wu” represents “middle,” symbolizing balance and prosperity.
This day aligns with the celestial movement of the dragon star to its central southern position, an auspicious sign deeply tied to ancient Chinese values of harmony and balance.
The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, boasts over 20 alternative names in Chinese tradition, reflecting its rich cultural heritage.
Common aliases include Duanyang Festival (highlighting the festival’s association with the fifth lunar month), Tianzhong Festival (marking the sun’s peak position), and Grass Herb Festival (celebrating the potency of herbal medicine during this time).
Names like Dragon Festival and Bathing Orchid Festival emphasize ancient rituals such as dragon worship and herbal baths.
Each name encapsulates unique regional customs and beliefs, showcasing the diverse ways the festival has been celebrated throughout history.
The origins of Duanwu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, remain debated throughout history.
Its roots are said to date back to the Spring and Autumn Period, formalized as a festival during the Han Dynasty.
Common theories include honoring Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet, or Wu Zixu, a legendary figure turned river deity.
Other explanations connect Duanwu to ancient dragon totem worship, summer solstice celebrations, or superstitions about warding off evil during the “poisonous month” of May.
Each interpretation reflects regional beliefs and cultural evolution, making Duanwu a fascinating and diverse tradition in Chinese history.
The Duanwu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, has a rich history dating back thousands of years.
Archaeological finds like the Hemudu Site show that wooden canoes and oars were used for rituals over 7,000 years ago.
In ancient times, it was a day to worship dragon totems. By the Han Dynasty, traditions like eating zongzi and tying colorful ropes emerged.
The festival evolved through dynasties, gaining new customs like dragon boat races in the Tang and Ming periods.
Today, while some ancient traditions are lost, Duanwu remains a beloved celebration marked by food, culture, and history.
A thrilling event where teams paddle in dragon-shaped boats, competing in speed and coordination.
People hang herbs like mugwort and calamus at doorways, believed to ward off evil spirits.
Small fragrant pouches filled with herbs are worn for health benefits and to ward off bad luck.
Colorful threads are tied around children's wrists to bring good luck and protect against evil.
Participants playfully tug on grass stems, testing the strength of each other's chosen grass.
Bathing in water infused with herbs like calamus and mugwort is believed to bring good health.
Zhong Kui, a deity known to exorcise demons, is hung on doorways to protect the household.
People gather herbs during the festival, believing the herbs have the highest medicinal value.
Consuming yellow foods like yellow fish, cucumber, and yellow wine is believed to boost health and ward off evil.
| Province/Region | Customs |
|---|---|
| Hebei | Avoid fetching well water on Duanwu to prevent “well poison.” Cherry and mulberry fruits are sold and eaten to ward off flies. Special “Five Venom Cakes” with designs of five poisonous creatures are popular. Zhao County organizes poetry gatherings for officials and scholars. |
| Shandong | Drinking wine in the morning to ward off evil. Children wear seven-colored threads or symbols made of wheat straw. In Jimo, morning dew is used for face washing. |
| Shanxi | Wearing mugwort leaves for protection, children wear multicolored cords. Villages perform dragon king rituals and offer gifts to teachers. White wheat cakes and zongzi are exchanged as gifts. |
| Shaanxi | Dragon boat races, “doll play” with silk figurines, and placing mugwort and paper bulls on doors to ward off illness. |
| Gansu | Collecting and preserving roses, gifting scented fans, and “burning high mountains” rituals by shepherds. |
| Jiangsu | Nanjing’s “eye washing” ritual with water and copper coins. Dragon boat races with lit lanterns in Wujin. Children wear duck egg pouches, and the festival involves eating “Twelve Reds.” |
| Sichuan | Chengdu features plum-throwing games and dragon boat races combined with trade fairs. In some areas, “bag noodles” similar to dumplings are eaten. |
| Zhejiang | Children present gifts to teachers. Herbal medicine is collected at noon under the belief of heightened medicinal potency. |
| Jiangxi | Bathing with herbal water to prevent skin issues. Drinking wine infused with realgar or cinnabar. |
| Hubei | Dragon boat races with commemorative rituals for Qu Yuan. Children bathe in sun-heated water for purification. |
| Hunan | Rituals for safe childbirth with offerings placed on dragon boat prows. Grass boats are floated to “send off plagues.” |
| Fujian | Dragon boat races with unique rituals, including offerings to a local deity. Women create symbolic items like sachets for the festival. |
| Guangdong | Washing with blessed water and warding off evil spirits with symbolic gestures. Kite flying by children, symbolizing “releasing misfortune.” |
| Hainan | Dragon boat races on the Nandu River. Washing with “dragon water” and herbal baths. |
| Taiwan | Hanging mugwort and calamus, drinking realgar wine, and children wearing fragrant pouches. Unique food items like “Jian Dui” are enjoyed. Dragon boat races are the highlight of the day. |
| Jiangnan (South China) | Dragon boat races originated as water deity or dragon god worship. The races symbolize patriotism and collective spirit, with variations among different ethnic groups. |
| Country/Region | Customs |
|---|---|
| South Korea | Known as Gangneung Danoje Festival, it was designated as Korea’s 13th Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1967 and recognized by UNESCO in 2005. Activities include shamanistic rituals, mask-making, traditional games like rope jumping, and performances such as mask dances and farmers’ music. |
| Japan | Known as Children’s Day before WWII, it celebrates boys with carp-shaped flags, eating Japanese-style zongzi and Kashiwa Mochi. Mugwort and calamus are placed on rooftops or used in baths to ward off evil. These traditions were introduced from China during the Heian period. |
| Singapore | Celebrated with dragon boat races and eating zongzi. The unique “Nyonya Zong” is made with marinated meat, coriander powder, soy sauce, and sweet winter melon strips, wrapped in glutinous rice. |
| Vietnam | Celebrated with turmeric sticky rice to honor ancestors and pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests. Turmeric is believed to ward off disease, detoxify, and prevent skin ailments. |
| Ethnic Group | Festival Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Manchu | Duanwu Festival | Celebrated by placing mugwort on rooftops to ward off disease and stepping on morning dew for good health. The tradition originates from a story where a heavenly emissary warned people to use mugwort to escape a plague. |
| Shuizu | Duanwu Festival | Known for eating only vegetarian food during the festival, originating from a legend about their ancestors who mourned a patriarch’s accidental death during a family reunion. |
| Naxi | Duanwu Festival | Celebrated by eating sugar date sticky rice, drinking realgar wine, and wearing five-colored threads for protection. Traditional crafts like embroidered sachets and dolls are made, and markets sell various herbal medicines. |
| Dai | Zongbao Festival | Unmarried youths gather under trees, singing love songs. Young men throw rice dumplings to women they admire; if feelings are mutual, the pair retreats for private conversation. |
| Tibetan | Flower Gathering Festival | Held in honor of a girl named Lian Zhi who taught farming and herbal medicine. Celebrations include fetching morning spring water, picking flowers, and dancing. Women wear flower garlands to thank nature, and flowers are shared with villagers as blessings. |
| Yi | Duyang Festival | Adopted from Han traditions, it includes hanging mugwort and calamus on doors, drinking realgar wine, and celebrating in the mountains with races, wrestling, and traditional games. |
| Yi, Gelao, Han | Shenxianpo Festival | Celebrated in Guizhou‘s Nayong and Shuicheng regions, it honors a fair and kind merchant named Muda, who ascended to heaven. Youth gather to sing, play reed pipes, and race horses, remembering his generosity. |
| Yi | Yangmei Festival | Held in areas of Yunnan, celebrating the harvest of yangmei berries. Youth sing duets, dance to reed pipes, and exchange promises of love. It commemorates a Daoist monk who planted berries as a blessing for local villages. |
| Pumi | Mountain-Circling Festival | Celebrated in Ninglang County by honoring the sacred Lion Mountain as a goddess. Activities include singing, dancing, horseback riding, and bathing in waterfalls for blessings. Youth use this festival to find partners, while villagers pray for prosperity and happiness. |
Duanwu Festival has inspired countless literary and artistic creations, including poems, prose, novels, paintings, and films.
Ancient poets captured the essence of the festival in their verses, expressing their admiration for its customs and reflecting the social and cultural atmosphere of their times.
Iconic works like Tang Dynasty’s Duanwu by Wen Xiu and Song Dynasty’s Six Yao Orders: Tianzhong Festival by Su Shi celebrate the festival’s vibrancy. Modern works, like Lao She’s Seven-Character Duanwu Poem, continue this tradition, enriching Duanwu’s cultural legacy through evocative storytelling and vivid imagery.
Duanwu Festival, officially recognized as a national holiday in 2008, offers people across China the opportunity to celebrate its rich traditions.
The holiday typically lasts three days, often including a weekend for extended rest and festivities.
Below are recent holiday arrangements for Duanwu Festival:
| Year | Holiday Schedule |
|---|---|
| 2021 | June 12–14, 3 days |
| 2022 | June 3–5, 3 days |
| 2023 | June 22–24, 3 days, work on June 25 (Sunday) |
| 2024 | June 10, with a weekend for an extended break |
| 2025 | May 31–June 2, 3 days |
Duanwu Festival, rich in traditions and customs, was first listed in China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage catalog in 2006.
On September 30, 2009, it became the first Chinese festival recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In 2022, Guangdong Province added unique customs like Chebei Dragon Boat and White Temple Egg Dragon to its heritage list.
In 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reaffirmed the preservation efforts for this culturally significant festival.
The Dragon Boat Festival originated from ancient practices of dragon worship, cultural astronomy, and regional folklore, later combining various customs like commemorating Qu Yuan and totem worship.
Traditional foods include sticky rice dumplings (zongzi), salted duck eggs, and seasonal fruits. In some regions, people also enjoy drinking realgar wine for its symbolic health benefits.
Hanging wormwood and calamus at doorways is believed to ward off evil spirits and diseases, a practice rooted in ancient medicinal and spiritual traditions.
Dragon boat racing commemorates Qu Yuan’s sacrifice and celebrates teamwork and unity. It also symbolizes ancient dragon worship practices in southern China.
It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 and became a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2009.
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Dumplings are healthy if filled with vegetables and lean meat, boiled instead of fried, and eaten with light dipping sauces in moderation.
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