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Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-autumn Festival. The Introduction of the Dragon Boat Festival.
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The Introduction of the Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar. This year is on the next Saturday. There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration QuYuan. Today, Dragon Boat Festival in the Chinese people is still a very popular grand festival. Country attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage, May 20, 2006, the State Council approved the inclusion of the folk first batch of national intangible cultural heritage
The origins of Dragon Boat Festival • Qu Yuan, a famous poet, served as minister to the Zhou Emperor. A wise and articulate man, he was loved by the common people. He did much to fight against the rampant corruption that plagued the court-- thereby earning the envy and fear of other officials. Therefore, when he urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin Kingdom, the officials pressured the Emperor to have him removed from service. In exile, he traveled, taught and wrote forseveral years. Hearing that the Zhou had been defeated by the Qin, he fell into despair and threw himself into the Milou River on the fifth day of the fifth month. People were sad over the patriotic poet's death. They tossed rice and meat into the river to feed the fish, which would protect Qu's body.
The introduction of the Mid-autumn Festival Mid-autumn festival celebrations date back more than 2000years.In ancient times, Chinese emperors prayed to heaven for a prosperous year. They chose the morning of the 15th day of the second lunar month to worship the sun and the evening of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to hold a ceremony in praise of the moon
The origins ofMid-autumn Festival Mid-autumn festival celebrations date back more than 2000years.In ancient times,Chinese emperors prayedto heaven for a prosperous year.They chose the morning of the 15th day of the second lunar month to worship the sun and the evening of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to hold a ceremony in praise of the moon
Poem about moon --- 水调歌头 How long will the full moon appear? 明月几时有?Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky. 把酒问青天。But rare is perfect happiness--the moon does wax, the moon does wane, and so men meet and say goodbye. 人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺,此事古难全。I only pray our life be long, 但愿人长久,And our souls together heavenward fly! 千里共蝉娟。
The Contract Between Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-autumn Festival
The Culture of Zongzi An essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival. It is said that people ate them in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Now the fillings are more diversified, including jujube and bean paste, fresh meat, and ham and egg yolk. people will soak glutinous rice, wash reed leaves and wrap up zongzi themselves. Otherwise, they will go to shops to buy whatever stuff they want. The custom of eating zongzi is now popular in North and South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian nations. www.thmemgallery.com
Dragon Boat Race • An indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country • As the gun is fired, people will see racers in dragon-shaped canoes pulling the oars hurriedly, accompanied by rapid drums, speeding toward their destination. • Folk tales say the game originates from the activities of seeking Qu Yuan's body. • Experts conclude that dragon boat racing is a semi-religious, semi-entertaining program from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).
Other activities Hanging Mugwort plant. Wearing perfume pouch. Drinking realgar wine. • Those things can protect people from evil and disease and bring good luck for the rest of the year.
Hanging Calamus and Moxa Hang calamus and moxa (oriental plants) on the front door This is also to ward off evil.
Spice Bag Carry the small spice bag around with you, it not only drives away evil spirits but also brings fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made by local craftsmen. They're made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines.
Realgar Wine • It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. • This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. • In one word, all of the activities are to protect themselves from evil and honor the poet Qu Yuan
Drinking realgar wine • It is said that, on the day of Qu Yuan’s death, an old practitioner of Chinese medicine poured a jar of realgar wine into the Miluo River, supposedly to make drunk the dragon and other aquatic animals which might devour Qu Yuan’s corpse.
Another Chinese Valentine Day Another story says that the Moon God is an old man, called Yue-Laor who is a match-maker. He ties a red thread between a man and a woman to make them a couple, even before they were born. Therefore, youth would like to do a worship ceremony on the festival day to wish the Yue-Laor could arrange the best marriage partners for them. Girls may also beg Chang-E to make them also so beautiful.
Chang E 嫦娥 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsU2l1StNoI&feature=related
Moon cake There is a story about the moon-cake. During the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rules, and tried to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered people to make special cakes. the back of each moon cake was a message about the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebellions successfully attached and overthrew the government. Therefore, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend in our life.
On thisday,Chinese families gettogether.They tell the story about a lady who lived in the moon.They give each other small round moon cake.Some moon cakes have a yellow egg yolk in the middle.The olk looks like a bright,full moon .
reunion Because the Mid-autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are the symbolizes reunion. All family members try to get together on this special day. Those who can not return home maybe feel deep longing for their loved ones.
conventional • Both these two festival are Chinese traditional festival . • They all both popular and important that celebrated by most of people in China
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