Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Here's an English summary of the customs, origins, and legends associated with the Duanwu Festival:
**Customs:**
1. **Dragon Boat Racing:** This is the most famous tradition of the Duanwu Festival. People race dragon boats in memory of the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest corruption. The dragon boat symbolizes the dragon, which is considered to be the god of rain in Chinese mythology.
2. **Zongzi (Dumplings):** These are sticky rice dumplings filled with a variety of ingredients, such as red bean, lotus seed, or meat. They are wrapped in bamboo leaves and cooked in water. Eating zongzi is a way to honor Qu Yuan and the festival.
3. **Wearing Periwinkle Leaves:** During the Duanwu Festival, people wear periwinkle leaves or artemisia leaves to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
4. **Applying Chinese Ink on Children's Faces:** This is believed to protect children from evil spirits and to ensure their health.
5. **Hanging Calendula or Lavender Buds:** These are hung in homes to ward off evil and to bring good luck.
**Origins:**
The festival is said to honor the poet Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period of Chinese history. Qu Yuan was a loyal minister who was betrayed and exiled by the king. When he learned of his country's defeat by the Qin state, he drowned himself in the Miluo River in sorrow. The people of his homeland were so distraught by his death that they raced out in boats to search for his body, beating drums to scare away fish and throwing bamboo leaves filled with rice into the river to prevent the fish from eating his body.
**Legends:**
1. **Qu Yuan's Death:** As mentioned, the main legend is about Qu Yuan and his tragic death in the Miluo River.
2. **Dragon:** The dragon boat races are also associated with the dragon, which is a revered creature in Chinese mythology. The dragon is believed to be the bringer of rain and is associated with power and good luck.
3. **Wu Zetian:** Another legend involves the female emperor Wu Zetian, who is said to have started the custom of eating zongzi during the Duanwu Festival to commemorate Qu Yuan.
The Duanwu Festival is not only a time for remembrance but also a celebration of community and the rich tapestry of Chinese tradition.
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