Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is an important traditional Chinese festival celebrated annually on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually in June. Its origins are steeped in Chinese mythology, history, and various cultural traditions.

**Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
1. **Celebration of Poet Qu Yuan:**
One of the most widely accepted origins of the festival is the memory of the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). According to legend, Qu Yuan was a loyal minister to the King of Chu. However, due to political intrigues, he was banished and eventually drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair over the fall of his kingdom.
To commemorate his loyalty and honor his memory, local people launched boats into the river to search for his body. They threw rice into the water to feed the fish and prevent them from attacking Qu Yuan's body. Over time, these actions evolved into the dragon boat races and the eating of zongzi, a traditional sticky rice dumpling, which symbolizes the rice thrown into the river.
2. **Disease Prevention and驱邪:**
Another theory suggests that the festival originated from the need to ward off evil spirits and diseases. It was believed that the 5th day of the 5th lunar month was an auspicious day for驱邪 and evil, so various practices were employed to keep negative forces at bay. Activities like wearing perfume, carrying leeks, and using dragon boat races as a way to invite the dragon deity were all part of the efforts to maintain good health and fortune.
**Customs of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
1. **Dragon Boat Races:**
Dragon boat races are one of the most popular activities associated with the festival. Participants compete in long, narrow boats, which are painted and decorated with dragon motifs. The boat's dragon head and tail are often operated by teams to mimic the movements of a dragon. This tradition symbolizes the search for Qu Yuan's body in the Miluo River.
2. **Eating Zongzi:**
Zongzi, also known as sticky rice dumplings, are another integral part of the festival. They are traditionally made of glutinous rice, wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, and can be filled with various ingredients such as bean paste, sugar, or meat. The eating of zongzi is a symbol of offering to the spirits of water and the gods to ensure their benevolence and to drive away evil.
3. **Wearing Periwinkles:**
Wearing periwinkles or mugwort is another custom during the Dragon Boat Festival. These are thought to ward off illness and evil spirits. They are often tied in a bracelet or worn in the hair.
4. **Hanging Calamus Root and mugwort:**
People hang the leaves of calamus and mugwort around their doors to prevent illness and to honor the gods of the water and the earth.
The Dragon Boat Festival is not only celebrated in China but also in other countries with a significant Chinese population, such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore, where it has become an occasion for the Chinese community to preserve their cultural heritage and share their traditions.
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