The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, has a history of over 2000 years. As a commemoration of Qu Yuan, the famous Chinese poet, dragon boat races are held every year across China, which is the best-known activity for this festival. In addition to that, with customs ranging from food to dressing and decoration carrying people’s good wishes for health, the Dragon Boat Festival is a special time for disease prevention. In the following sections, we will share a few traditional customs and how those practices can help us reinforce health.

 

 

Eating rice dumplings

As the weather turns hot and damp around the festival, people will have rice dumplings made of glutinous rice and wrapped using reed leaves to boost appetite. In view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the glutinous rice, sweet in taste and warm in nature, influences our spleen, stomach and lung. Cooked thoroughly, the rice turns rather tender and benefits the spleen and stomach when taken in a moderate amount. Moreover, the reed leaves help with detoxification and clear the heat. Boiled together for more than an hour, the nutrition of the wrap blends with that of the stuff, amplifying the nourishing effect.

 

Spraying realgar wine

The realgar wine is made by mixing yellow or white rice wine with realgar powder (a kind of mineral containing arsenic sulfide). Since arsenic sulfide can be used for disinfection, we usually spray the realgar wine at the corners of the room or under the bed to prevent insects and bacteria. It’s also used to treat skin diseases. However, as the realgar wine is slightly poisonous, avoid drinking it directly.

 

Wearing scented sachets

Scented sachet was a traditional accessory in the ancient time celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. They are filled with various herbs such as Pericarpium Zanthoxyli, Hierochloe Odorata, Flos Magnoliae, clove, Dahurian Angelica Root and wormwood, believed to drive diseases and evils away.

 

Hanging or smoking wormwood

To prevent diseases transmitted by emerging mosquitoes and flies due to the hot weather, the Chinese people are used to hanging a bunch of wormwood on the door or window to repel the insects. Smoking the herb will increase the effect.

 

 

References:

https://www.chinaeducationaltours.com/guide/dragon-boat-festival.htm

http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-06/26/c_1126161746.htm