Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival comes alive in these days. It is one of the most ancient Chinese traditional celebrations, in which the custom is to eat “zongzi” (typical rice filled triangles, wrapped in bamboo leaves) and watch one of the Dragon Boat races, once forbidden to women.

There are multiple legendary origins and vary from region to region. However, all legends transmitted from one generation to another, involve some of the most important values of the Chinese culture, such as virtue, spirit, loyalty, honour and love.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, every region claims its own traditions. In Beijing you can find the “Five-Poison Cake”, a rose cake decorated with the images of the five most poisoning creatures.

In Taiwan and in Southern China, on the other hand, it is a common custom to hang stems and absinthe leaves to the windows, to propitiate health to the family, especially to children.