Cultural activity marks upcoming Dragon Boat Festival

By Guo Xiaohong: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, June 17, 2018

A cultural activity was held in Daxing, Beijing, on June 16, to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo by Guo Xiaohong / China.org.cn]

A cultural activity, themed "Dragon Boat Festival showcasing a flavor of China," was held in the House of Culture in Daxing district, Beijing, on June 16, two days before China’s Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.

The event, hosted by the Daxing Cultural Committee, brought together local families and international students in Beijing to join in colorful programs including making zongzi (pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves), painting and making sachets, as well as dragon boat dancing.

As one of the traditional Chinese festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival is observed with such customs as making zongzi, dragon boat racing, hanging calamus and the wearing sachets for good wishes and to drive off evil spirits.

Yu Jinglei, a student from Beijing Normal University, together with her schoolmates, gave a performance Han costumes dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046 BC) stretching to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) for participants at the event.

"I think the activity is quite interesting and important as it helps people, especially young kids, to know more about Chinese tradition and culture," said Yu.

Jack Brayton, a freshman in the Beijing Language and Culture University, is a fan of Chinese culture. "I come here to experience a traditional festival and culture," Brayton told China.org.cn at the event where he managed to make zongzi with the help of a chef from Beijing Hotel.

Brayton, who arrived from Tennessee, U.S. two years ago, revealed that he is also aware of the origin of the festival -- it is in memory of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the period of the Warring States (480-221BC).

At the event, people took part in sports activities including dragon boat dancing, throwing arrows into a pot from a distance and pulling a bow, the latter two being ancient banquet entertainment programs.

The event was supported by cultural volunteers in Daxing and from Beijing Normal University who volunteered their time and effort to spread Chinese culture.