Dragon boat festival - Duan We Jie

On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, last Tuesday, the dragon boat festival is celebrated in China. Even though a national festival, most people have to work on that day. Sadly, so did I. So I was not in the opportunity to watch the races that were held on the Ming Jiang river in Fuzhou.

Supposedly, the origin of the dragon boat festival goes back to times when the protection against diseases was still poor. During the summmer, diseases are spread easily, and to drive away evil spirits and pestilence, dragon boat races were held. Currently, the dragon boat races are not the only main characteristic of the festival.
During the dragon boat festival, the famous Chinese poet from ancient times, Qu Yuan, is honoured. Qu Yuan drowned himself while in exile from a corrupt court. At that time, Qu Yuan was a very much beloved poet, and to protect his body from being eaten by fish, the people threw so called 'Zong zi' in the water for the fish to eat, on the location where Qu Yuan drowned himself. Zong zi are small, pyramid shaped, pieces of filled sticky rice, wrapped in bamboo leaves.

At the moment, there are discussions going on to make the dragon boat festival a holiday, in an attempt to reduce the travelling chaos during the 3 three existing national holidays.
That would be good. Perhaps I can go there next year to experience it myself.