What is a dragon boat

[moon88]

Dear cecil,
What is a dragon boat. Thanks.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
The (Lunar calendar) 5th Day of the 5th month is considered the most dangerous day. 5th month is the dragon month where one has to take extra precaution against sickness and diseases.
The purpose of the Dragon Boat Festival is to ward off evil and to commemorate the start of summer.
Reference: http://www.geomancy.net/calendar/festivals.htm
For this year, the Dragon Boat Festival falls on 6 June 2000.
The story:
Around 300 BC,Qu Yuan who was a trusted counsellor of the King and served him loyally.
Another counsellor Zi Lan was jealous that the King always listened to Qu Yuan but not him.
Later on when the King was taken hostive and died in a prison a few years later, his eldest son becaome King and made Zi Lan the premier. The new premier Zi Lan banised Qu Yuan. Finally, the new King's empire was captured by the enemy.
Qu Yuan was heart broken. He decided to commit suicide.
Many concerned citizens and his daugther were worried that fishes would eat his body.
His daughter suggested that rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves be offered to the many fishes in the river. So that they would not eat her father's body.
Later on, to commemorate counsellor Qu Yuan, dragon boat races were held and eating dumplings on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month was held.
This activity is a yearly event especially in Hong Kong and in Singapore.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 1/26/00 12:16:51 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear cecil,
What is a dragon boat. Thanks.

[Cecil Lee]

25th June 2020 Dragon Boat Festival

and Rice dumplings.

This day is also my mum’s birthday.

[Cecil Lee]

14th June 2021

 

[Cecil Lee]

On 3rd June 2022. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar.