Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan

Date: The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.

History: The festival has ancient origins and is believed to commemorate the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in a river as a protest against corruption during the Warring States period.

Traditions:

• Dragon Boat Racing: The most iconic activity associated with the festival. In Taiwan, teams paddle elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of heavy drums. This symbolizes the local communities' attempt to rescue and recover Qu Yuan's body from the river.

• Eating Zongzi: A traditional food, zongzi are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. They are filled with various ingredients like pork, peanuts, or egg yolk, depending on regional variations.

• Hanging Calamus and Wormwood: These aromatic plants are hung on doors or windows to ward off evil spirits and promote health and well-being.

Activities on the Day:

• Families gather to watch or participate in dragon boat races.
• People prepare and enjoy zongzi with family members.
• Various rituals are performed for protection and health, such as wearing perfume pouches or tying five-colored silk threads around wrists.
• Some people may take part in other activities like egg standing contests, which are believed to bring good luck.