How I spent my Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival is a summer holiday observed across China.  It is celebrated by eating zongzi and racing long heavily decorated dragon boats, accompanied by drummers who beat the rhythm for the rowers and firecrackers because — well, why not have firecrackers if you are going to have a holiday?

The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of poet/prime minister Qu Yuan during the Zhou dynasty.  Tradition holds his city had been captured by opposing forces and in despair, the poet committed suicide by drowning in the river.

The locals rushed out to save him in their long boats.  When his body could not be found, they wanted to stop the fish from eating his remains, so they dropped balls of sticky rice so the fish would eat them instead.

The day is celebrated with the decorated long boats filling the river.  A painted dragon head is attached to the front and up to 70 people paddle the boats up and down the river.

One or two drummers will beat the time for the paddlers to follow as the boats race.

A painted dragon head is attached to the front of the boat.  It’s been removed here by a crew member when his boat race is over.

A man dances on the front of the boat as it leaves the smoke and red paper fragments from a burst of firecrackers.

Many of the boats will have men who put firecrackers in the baskets of these poles.  The smoke and red paper are everywhere.

Boy, these firecrackers are loud!

Half the fun is watching the people.  This man was walking around with his shirt open, but he quickly started to button it when I asked to take his picture.  Ann is holding one of the packages of firecrackers.  Each firecracker is about an inch and a half long and about as big around as an adult finger.  There’s about 100 firecrackers in a package.

Dueling photographers.  This man wanted to take a picture of the meiguoren (Americans) — me.  I took his picture back.

It’s hot outside. Joey eats a popsicle.

Now it’s time to eat some zongzi.  Zongsi is sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf, then steamed.

The zongzi is sticky rice, wrapped in banana leaves.  Inside the rice is a corn and meat mixture.