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Dragon Boat Festival: Origin, Traditions, Lore and More

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5m ago

Jun 03, 2024 / 8906 Views

Evan Walker

Colourful dragon boat races, lip-smacking sticky rice dumplings and a series of water-splashing activities – the Dragon Boat Festival has finally arrived in Hong Kong. One of the favourite traditional holidays in Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth Lunar month (late May or June). The Dragon Boat Festival 2024 falls on June 10, setting the stage for exciting celebrations to follow. Let’s take you through the ultimate guide to celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong, including its History, traditions as well as festivities. We’ll also give you a rundown of all the Dragon Boat events taking place in Hong Kong this year.

Dragon Boat Festival: History, myth and folklore

Honouring the life and legacy of Chinese poet Qu Yuan

Chinese mythology suggests that the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to honour Qu Yuan, a poet who served as a high-ranking official of the Chu State during the Zhou Dynasty. It is said that Yuan opposed a corrupt decision taken by the ruler of the Chu Kingdom and was then falsely accused of treason and exiled by the king.

The state of Chu eventually came crashing down a few years later. Disillusioned by everything that was happening, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Upon hearing the news of his death, villagers came rushing to rescue his body. They threw rice-dumping into the river to distract fish and other sea creatures from eating up Yuan’s corpse. All this while paddling boats and beating drums to scare the evil spirits away. This explains why the tradition of dragon boat races as well as eating rice dumplings was born.

The central theme of the festival

Looking at the revolutionary story behind the festival’s origin, it is marked to ward off evil spirits as well as keep diseases, drought and pests away. Did you know that in ancient China, people considered the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to be extremely evil? Legend says that people were more prone to get sick on this day. Therefore, the Dragon Boat Festival, with all its rituals and customs, drives away bad luck.

Customs and traditions

Dragon boat races

In Hong Kong, dragon boat races are the most important part of the festival. Did you know that Hong Kong is the birthplace of modern comPetitive dragon boat racing? Yes, that’s the pomp and fervour with which the city folks clock the festivities.

While dragon boat races have been around for more than 1000 years, the modern races that happen today started in Hong Kong almost 50 years ago. The first international dragon boat race was in Hong Kong in 1976, wherein nine local teams got up against a Japanese team. This laid the foundation of the festival, which is now widely celebrated across Southeast Asia as well as the UK, Australia and more.

The annual ‘Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races’ (IDBR) attracts thousands of spectators and international tourists as they enjoy the races, devour scrumptious meals and just immerse themselves in this cultural extravaganza.

What should you know about dragon boat races in Hong Kong?

Dragon boat races happen in two categories: the 500m standard boat races as well as the 200m small boat races. The standard race accommodates 20 paddlers, while the small one has a limit of 12.
The modern dragon boats are usually made of fibreglass than wood. The lighter material allows the boat to be peddled faster, and moreover they don’t gain weight from water absorption like wooden boats. It’s also more environment and cost-friendly
The best chances to witness a dragon boat race are on the very day of the Dragon Boat Festival. This day also happens to be a national holiday in Hong Kong.

Devouring Zongzi aka sticky rice dumplings

The festival is incomplete without relishing the customary zongzi aka sticky rice dumplings. In the past, people made their own zongzi at home and even sent them out as gifts to close ones. However, these days most people prefer buying ready-made ones from restaurants and markets. Check out our guide to eating the best rice dumplings in Hong Kong for your Dragon Boat Festival 2024 celebrations.

There are two versions of zongzi you need to try: the sweet and savoury. In Hong Kong, people eat the Cantonese variety of zongzi, which is usually made from tender pork belly, roasted duck, salted eggs, as well as mushrooms. If you have a sweet tooth, try the zongzi with red bean paste or sweet potatoes. They are usually steamed or boiled and served with soy sauce as well as white sugar.

Apart from rice dumplings, Hongkongers also love fried sesame balls called jiandui. These pastries are made from rice flour, which is fried and coated with sesame seeds. A crispy as well as savoury outside with a burst of sweetness on the inside – these are a must-try.

Where can I watch dragon boat races in Hong Kong in 2024?

Dragon Boat Festival 2024 is on Monday, June 10. In 2024, the dragon boat races are as scheduled:

Aberdeen dragon boat race

Venue: Aberdeen Promenade/Aberdeen West Typhoon Shelter

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 a.m. to approx. 6:00 p.m.

Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships

Venue: Stanley Main Beach

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saikung dragon boat race

Venue: Sai Kung Town Waterfront

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 am to 1:30 pm

Cheung Chau dragon boat race

Venue: Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tai O dragon boat race

Venue: Tai O waterfront

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Sha Tin dragon boat race

Venue: Shing Mun River

Date: June 10

Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Tai Po dragon boat race

Venue: Promenade at Tai Po Waterfront Park in the New Territories

Date: June 10

Time: 8: 30 am to 1:00 pm

Hong Kong International Boat Races

If you miss the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations on June 10, don’t worry. The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races is another major racing event taking place on 15th and 16th June 2024 (Saturday and Sunday). Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced the line-up of the 2024 celebrations, which will be set against the majestic backdrop of Victoria Harbour. Over 170 teams and 4,000 dragon boat athletes from around the world are likely to participate in the water-splashing events

Venue: Off Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade

Date: June 15 and 16

Time: 8 am to 7 pm (Saturday)
8 am to 6 pm (Sunday)

Eastern District dragon boat race

Venue: Chai Wan, Cargo Handling Area, Chai Wan Waterfront.

Date: June 2

Time: 8 am to 5 pm

Tai O Dragon Boat water parade and dragon boat races

Venue: Tai O Creek and Pier (dragon boat parade)

Tai O Promenade (dragon boat race)

Date: June 30

Time: 7 am to 2 pm (dragon boat parade)

10 am to 2 pm (dragon boat race)

Hope this guide makes your Dragon Boat Festival 2024 celebrations more enjoyable!

(Hero image credit: brianmcintyrerealestate/ Instagram)

(Feature image credit: edinburghuniversity/ Instagram)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival honours the Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Every year on this day, people participate in dragon boat races and devour scrumptious sticky rice dumplings.

What type of races are there in the Dragon Boat Festival?

The highlight of the festival is dragon boat races, where crews of people sit in fancy dragon boats and paddle their way to the finish line.

What is the history of the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival pays homage to Qu Yuan, a poet who served as a high-ranking official of the Chu State during the Zhou Dynasty. He drowned to death after witnessing his land being taken away due to the government’s corrupt practices. To rescue his body, villagers threw rice dumplings in the river to distract fish from eating the flesh. They paddled boats and beat drums to ward the evil spirits away. This is how the Dragon Boat Festival was born.