Duan Wu Festival – 10 June 2024

Today the Kingfisher Dragon Boat Club Paynesville celebrated Dragon Boat Festival Day also known as the Duan Wu Festival. This day is celebrated on the 5th Day of the 5th Lunar month and is an important day on the Chinese calendar. Dragon Boat Racing started over 2000 years ago in Southern China and celebrates the life and death of Qu Yuan a highly respected poet and public servant who was accused of corruption and in despair he threw himself into the Mi Lou River in China.

According to legend the fishermen launched their boats and raced to recover his body before it could be eaten by the fish. The splashing of paddles and banging of drums were used to scare off the fish. Dumplings and rice were thrown into the river to also distract the fish.

Today we “Awakened the Dragon” by doting the eyes , blessing the boat with water , providing a spring onion for it to eat after its long sleep , thinking good thoughts and praying for world peace. Zongzi dumplings were then thrown into the water.