Dragon Boat Festival 2024: Chinese Holiday Celebrates Culture and Tradition

Dragon Boat Festival Falls on June 10

The Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday, will take place on June 10, 2024. Chinese citizens will enjoy a three-day holiday from June 8 to 10, known as Duan Wu Jie. The festival is celebrated in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and other Chinese communities worldwide.

A Time for Celebration and Tradition

The Dragon Boat Festival has a rich history and cultural significance. It commemorates the life of Qu Yuan, a renowned poet and statesman from the Warring States period. Legend has it that Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River after being exiled. To prevent his body from being eaten by fish, people beat drums and paddled boats to scare them away. Over time, these customs evolved into the Dragon Boat Festival.

Today, the festival is marked by various traditions and activities, including dragon boat races, eating zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), and displaying colorful decorations. Dragon boat races, where teams compete in long and narrow canoes adorned with dragon heads, are a highlight of the festival and symbolize unity and strength.