端午节端午節
Duān wǔ jié dyun1 ng5 zit3
- When
- 5th day of the 5th lunar month
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar
Summary
The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in late May or June. It is marked by dragon-boat races and by eating sticky-rice dumplings (粽子) wrapped in bamboo leaves.
History
The best-known story commemorates Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister of the state of Chu who drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC after his kingdom fell. Villagers raced out in boats to save him and threw rice into the water so the fish would spare his body — the origin, by tradition, of the boat races and the dumplings. Other regions tie the day to Wu Zixu or to older summer rites against disease.
What people do
Teams race long, dragon-headed boats to drums; families wrap and steam zongzi, hang aromatic mugwort and calamus on doors, and in some places drink realgar wine and dress children in pouches of herbs to ward off the “poisons” of midsummer.
Festival idioms
- 力争上游力爭上游 lì zhēng shàng yóu lik6 zang1 soeng6 jau4 to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result
- 同舟共济同舟共濟 tóng zhōu gòng jì tung4 zau1 gung6 zai3 cross a river in the same boat (idiom); fig. having common interests
- 风调雨顺風調雨順 fēng tiáo yǔ shùn fung1 tiu4 jyu5 seon6 (idiom) to have good weather for crops
- 众志成城眾志成城 zhòng zhì chéng chéng zung3 zi3 sing4 sing4 unity of will is an impregnable stronghold (idiom)
- 龙腾虎跃龍騰虎躍 lóng téng hǔ yuè lung4 tang4 fu2 joek6 lit. dragon soaring and tiger leaping (idiom)
- 你追我赶你追我趕 nǐ zhuī wǒ gǎn nei5 zeoi1 ngo5 gon2 friendly one-upmanship
- 齐心协力齊心協力 qí xīn xié lì cai4 sam1 hip3 lik6 to work with a common purpose (idiom); to make concerted efforts
- 一鼓作气一鼓作氣 yī gǔ zuò qì jat1 gu2 zok3 hei3 in a spurt of energy
- 勇往直前 yǒng wǎng zhí qián jung5 wong5 zik6 cin4 to advance bravely
Public-holiday status
- Mainland China Public holiday
- Taiwan Public holiday
- Hong Kong Public holiday
- Macau Public holiday
Lunar and Western dates
| Year | Lunar date | Western date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Sat, May 31, 2025 |
| 2026 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 |
| 2027 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Wed, Jun 9, 2027 |
| 2028 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Sun, May 28, 2028 |
| 2029 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Sat, Jun 16, 2029 |
| 2030 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Wed, Jun 5, 2030 |
| 2031 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Tue, Jun 24, 2031 |
| 2032 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Sat, Jun 12, 2032 |
| 2033 | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | Wed, Jun 1, 2033 |
On this site
Further reading
- Dragon Boat Festival — Wikipedia
- Dragon Boat Festival — Encyclopædia Britannica (owner to confirm)