Dragon Boat Festival

China is celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, a traditional holiday that falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

The festival has a history of over 2,000 years, and it commemorates the ancient patriot and poet Qu Yuan. He lived during the Warring States period in ancient China and drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest against corrupt leaders and offer himself as a sacrifice to the river spirits.

The festival's main activity is the dragon boat race, where teams of rowers paddle in sync to reach the finish line. The races symbolize the search for Qu Yuan's body and the rescue attempt by the villagers who rode the boats.

Apart from the dragon boat race, the festival is also a time for families to come together and enjoy traditional food, such as zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves with various fillings, including pork, egg yolk, and red beans.

In addition, many people hang herbs, such as artemisia and calamus, on their doors to ward off evil spirits and diseases.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people across China have been celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival following the necessary precautions and guidelines to ensure everyone's safety.