We're here to help you keep count of the days to or since a date. Just click the button below and enter your chosen date to get started. Also choose the suggested days or search for a special day above #countingthedays
The Dragon Boat Festival, known as Duanwu Jie (端午节) in Chinese, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The festival has ancient origins and is believed to commemorate the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan (circa 340–278 BCE). Qu Yuan was a minister who advocated for reforms in his state of Chu. When he was banished and accused of treason, he wrote poetry expressing his love for his country. Upon learning that his state had been conquered, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The local people, admiring him, raced out in their boats to save him or at least retrieve his body. When they couldn't find him, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat these instead of Qu Yuan's body.
Dragon Boat Racing: The highlight is dragon boat racing. Boats are typically decorated to resemble dragons and teams paddle vigorously to a drumbeat.
Eating Zongzi: People eat zongzi, which are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They come with various fillings such as pork, red bean paste, or salted duck egg yolks.
Hanging Calamus and Wormwood: These plants are hung on doors or windows to repel insects and evil spirits due to their aromatic and medicinal properties.
Wearing Perfume Pouches: Children often wear perfume pouches around their necks or tied to their clothing for good health and protection from evil.
On this day, families gather together to partake in the festivities. Besides watching or participating in dragon boat races and making zongzi, people may also drink realgar wine as a form of protection from disease and bad luck. It's a day filled with cultural significance meant for remembering ancestors while enjoying time with loved ones through traditional customs.
