June 18th marks the 5th day of the 5th month on the lunar calendar: the start of Dragon Boat Festival! Today, communities around Greater China and Southeast Asia celebrate their culture and remember ancient stories and traditions. The festival began as a way to pay tribute to Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet whose acts of patriotism are commemorated by dragon boat races each year.
The ancient tradition of Dragon boat racing has been a part of Asian culture for thousands of years. Participants row canoes shaped like fierce dragons, painted in vibrant colors to pay homage to ancient war canoes. The team of dragon boat sailors row as fast as they can toward a finish line while one team member sits toward the front of the ship and beats a drum to maintain their pace and keep spirits high. Today’s Doodle lets you sit in the back of the boat and become part of the action!
There are ways for everyone to celebrate the festival (even if you aren’t handling an oar). Traditional Dragon Boat festival customs include preparing and eating zongzi, a traditional Chinese food made with rice and filled with various stuffings, and then wrapped in leaves of bamboo, banana, or lotus. Depending on where you’re celebrating, you may enjoy sweet dessert zongzi filled with fruit or nuts, or more savory zongzi stuffed with chicken or pork. These delicious treats are a symbol of luck and an essential part of celebrations.
Check out a few additional variations of today’s Doodle from the artist Cynthia Yuan Cheng. Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
Early concepts of the Doodle below
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-17 21:06:17|Editor: Liangyu
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People take part in a dragon boat race in Donghai County of Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 17, 2018. People enjoy their holiday time during the Dragon Boat Festival. (Xinhua/Geng Yuhe)
ENTEBBE, UGANDA (XINHUA) - As people in China are going to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on Monday (June 18), thousands of miles away in Uganda, the peoples of China and Uganda jointly celebrated the festival on Saturday.
The event, hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China Africa Friendship Association of Uganda, was held in Entebbe city, 40km south of the capital Kampala.
There was fanfare, barbecues and live music on the shores of Lake Victoria as different teams composed of Chinese and Ugandans were racing on the water in the second edition of the Dragon Boat Festival in Uganda.
The athletes were paddling to the utmost following the rhythm of the drummer, as the crowd cheered on.
Revellers feasted on Chinese and Ugandan dishes on the shore. Dumplings and other Chinese dishes were a highlight. Cultural games including kite show, tug rope and acrobatic displays among others were also a highlight at the event.
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, Chinese poet and minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States period between 475 and 221 B.C.
Qu drowned himself in the Miluo River in central China's Hunan Province after he was banished and accused of treason for his well-intended advice to the king.
Legend has it that upon learning of his death, locals raced boats to find his body in the river and dropped rice in the water in the hope that it would distract fish from eating Qu's body. These became traditions observed to this day.
The dragon boat festival not only serves as a competition and gathering, but also deepens the relationship between the two peoples and the two cultures.
Mr Muhamud Nsamu, a 24-year-old law student, is an initial member of a dragon boat team which participated in Saturday's competition. He helped founded the team, "because it (dragon boat racing) is a good sport that is going to bring us Chinese culture to us".
The dragon boat race promotes the relationship between Ugandans and Chinese, as a large number of Chinese and Ugandans are meeting here, he said.
"We want to promote friendship with Chinese people here and we are seeking it," said Mr Ivan Wankayi, the leader of a participating team consisting of 24 fishermen.
At a Chinese food stall set up on the shore, Mr Zhang Xiaofeng from central China's Jiangxi Province was passing a basket of dim sum to a customer.
"The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival of China. It was not celebrated in Uganda, but now Ugandans are joining Chinese to celebrate it," Mr Zhang said, adding that this kind of activity helps enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.
The Ugandan government now is looking at tourism opportunities provided by the festival.
Uganda's tourism department is targeting to make the festival an annual event attracting domestic and foreign tourists, Mr Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi, Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, told Xinhua in an interview.
"The dragon boat festival means a lot to Uganda because it deepens the relationship with the Chinese community. We are very happy, first of all, as a ministry of tourism, because we have many Chinese visitors who are coming, we have many Chinese investors," said Mr Ssubi.
Revellers and rowers gathered at waterways across Hong Kong on Monday morning to soak in the fun and festivities of the Dragon Boat festival.
Amid mild and slightly breezy weather, boat races took place at locations including Stanley, Aberdeen and Sai Kung as part of a ritual that has roots stretching back more than 2,000 years.
“Dragon boat racing has a rich history here and you’ve got to visit this event if you’re a part of Hong Kong,” said local Ray Chan, 38, who turned up at the Sai Kung waterfront, in the eastern New Territories, to catch a glimpse of the celebrations.
A total of 157 teams turned out for this year’s Sai Kung competition, which ranged from corporate races to contests for participants with intellectual disabilities.
For the first time there was a race for teenagers, which organisers said was aimed at training new blood and introducing the traditional pastime to a younger generation.
“The best thing about these events is teamwork,” said Jacky Cheung Yat-leung, executive vice-president of the preparatory committee for the Sai Kung races.
“We can bring the entire district together, from the district council to community NGOs to locals, to work on the same thing with a common goal.”
The atmosphere in Aberdeen on the south side of Hong Kong Island was just as festive.
The former fishing town was due to host a total of 33 races, with 60 teams made up of everyone from local villagers and company employees to university students.
Crystal Kwok Chi-yu, a 32-year-old photographer, arrived just before 7am to secure a spot from which to capture the best shots.
“This is my fourth year here, and it has always been crowded,” she said.
“I love how lively and energised the photos of dragon boat races appear to be.”
Chan Chung, a fisherman in his 60s watching the races from the stands, used to take part in his younger years.
“Back in the old days, every fisherman took part,” Chan said. “The whole village would join the games and then have dinner all together at night.”
He described the events as something akin to a “holy ceremony”.
Nearby at Stanley Main Beach, the Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships got under way at 8am with 264 teams made up of more than 6,000 rowers and 140 companies.
The Stanley races were more of a break with tradition as many dressed up in costume to compete for the Most Outstanding Outfit Award. Pirates, clowns and spectators in face paint and colourful wigs crowded the beach.
