Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Posted by Michelle Ross on 06/28/2007

Today, my students are celebrating a major Chinese holiday—the Dragon Boat Festival.

It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which means according to our Western calendar, it usually falls in June. Since the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in one's life. The festival was later enriched by the legend of the patriot and poet Chu Yuan.

Dragon Boat Festival is highlighted by the dragon boat races, in which competing teams drive their boats forward by rowing to the rhythm of pounding drums. Sadly, Thad and I do not get to see this tradition in action, because our town doesn't have a waterway big enough to handle these boats. We have a "river" but it is more along the lines of a small stream! I wish we had one though, because I have heard the boats are amazing to see.

The festival's significance as a time for warding off evil and disease is symbolized by a number of customary practices such as hanging willow tree branches on the door of your home (or in our students case, in their dorms and outside their classrooms), and pasting up pictures of Chung Kuei, a nemesis of evil spirits. The Children in town are all wearing medallions filled with a scented grass. All of this is said to possess qualities for preventing evil and bringing peace.

The most popular dish during Dragon Boat Festival is tzung tzu. This is glutinous rice wrapped in leaves or bamboo. It is a popular dish to celebrate the holiday with. When I cam home from class today, one of my students was waiting with several of these each for Thad and I. She also had a bag of honey to put on them. She told me, "Mrs. Michelle, the honey goes on the rice, but if you don't like it, just throw it in the rubbish. These are traditional, not very delicious!" Haha! I had to laugh at that. Sometimes my students are brutally honest. I thought it was great that she wanted me to be able to participate in the holiday, even if she personally thought the food was gross!

A few minutes later, my doorbell rang again. When I opened it, I was greeted by the girls from my book club. They stormed into my house and quickly decorated it for the holiday. They had armfuls of the tree branches which they stuck in all of my 6th floor windows, a bracelet for each of my wrists for protection, a medallion for both Thad and I (which they hung around our necks) and more tzung tzu! It was crazy! They were here for only about ten minutes. They had to get back to their afternoon classes, but didn?t me to not have my house decorated properly. I thought it was super sweet of them to sweep through my apartment and get me all set for the day! It is moments like those that make living in China worth all the hard days.

In commemoration of the holiday, our presence has been requested at a banquet tonight. Thad and I had planned to celebrate with some of my students who had invited us to a party in their classroom, but I have to go there this afternoon and cancel. Sadly, when the school leaders beckon, we are required to go, even if we have other plans. While I always feel guilty about bailing on my students at the last minute, they are very used to it. The culture here dictates that leaders' requests take priority, even if they are at the last second. As much as I will enjoy the good banquet food, I think it would be more fun to spend the evening with students.

So, Happy Dragon Boat Festival! I hope you are safe and protected in the year to come!

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This webpage expresses the views of Michelle Ross. It does not express the views of the United States Peace Corps.

Last updated Sep 29 2008