Not just a race: What Dragon Boat Festival really means

The Dragon Boat Festival is often recognized for its thrilling boat races and sticky rice dumplings (zongzi), but its roots run much deeper. Beyond the splash of paddles and the cheers of spectators lies a festival rich in meaning – one that intertwines ancient legends with timeless practices for wellness and protection.

At its heart is the story of Qu Yuan, the exiled poet whose loyalty and despair gave rise to the dragon boat tradition. Yet the festival also reflects something more practical and universal: the way ancient Chinese communities responded to the challenges of the summer season. The fifth lunar month was once considered the most dangerous time of year – a period when disease, insects, and bad luck seemed to multiply. To protect themselves and their families, people turned to the natural world: hanging mugwort and calamus at their doors, wearing scented sachets, and preparing food not only for taste, but for health.

Today, many of these traditions continue – in different forms, and in different places. From herbal customs to symbolic rituals, the Dragon Boat Festival is a reminder of how collective cultural memory and seasonal wisdom can offer comfort, healing, and a connection to those who came before us.

This is Dragon Boat Festival – not just a race, but a ritual. Not just a memory, but a moment to reconnect with nature, heritage, and ourselves.