Google Celebrates 2024 Dragon Boat Festival with Special Doodle

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the Chinese calendar, which relates to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar, is when the vivid and historically rich Dragon Boat Festival occurs.

It is June 10, 2024, this year. “Get ready to row with the flow—this Doodle celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival,” announces the Google Doodle, honoring the celebration.

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month has been a holiday for over 2,000 years, earning the name ‘Double Fifth Festival.”

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History of the Dragon Boat Festival

This festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a renowned poet and scholar from China during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

According to legend, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River, devastated by the corruption of his time. Locals raced out in boats to scare off fish so they wouldn’t eat his body, offering rice dumplings into the water as a sacrifice.

The National Library Board of Singapore states that people frequently practiced early worship of the river dragon during the summer sunset.

It was not until the second century that the Dragon Boat Festival was connected to the legend of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a patriotic minister and councilor who thrived in the Chu kingdom during the third century BCE.

Qu Yuan had alerted his ruler, Lord Huai, to the danger that the northern kingdom of Qin presented to the southern Chu during the chaos of this Warring States period. But instead,

Lord Huai banished Qu Yuan due to political machinations. Qu Yuan watched his nation deteriorate helplessly as the ministry was given to corrupt politicians.

What Does the Dragon Boat Festival Mean?

The Dragon Boat Festival is important for many reasons.

People have traditionally celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival as a tribute to Qu Yuan, the nationalistic poet who killed themself.

Patriotism and loyalty: Qu Yuan’s story exemplifies these values and encourages people to be devoted to their nation.

Keeping Evil at Bay: During the fifth lunar month, people practiced traditions like drinking realgar wine and racing to ward off illness and evil spirits.

Celebrating Community: The event brings people together to share cultural traditions, watch dragon boat racing, and eat traditional foods.

Cultural identification: By allowing people to display their heritage via customs like boat racing and silk sashes, the Dragon Boat Festival enhances cultural identification.

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How Take Places the Dragon Boat Festival?

With customs that differ differently depending on the location, the Dragon Boat Festival is a colorful event.

Here are a few main ways that people rejoice:

The main attraction is the Dragon Boat Races! Teams of paddlers in long, elaborately adorned boats compete fiercely to the beat of drums.

Families and friends get together for the Zongzi Feast, which consists of sticky rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves. Sweet red bean paste and savory meats are common fillings.

Other methods to stave against misfortune include hanging pictures of Zhong Kui, the legendary defeater of demons, or donning five-colored silk sashes.

Vibrant operas, lion dances, and dragon dances add a joyous vibe to the festivities.

In certain places, folk tunes and unicorn dances are performed.

“Anywhere with views of the water will be filled with people watching the day’s main event: dragon boat racing,” according to Google Doodle.

Groups of up to ninety people squeeze into long wooden boats decorated to look like vibrant dragons. It’s time to paddle to the beat of a drum and cross the finish line ahead of the other teams after giving the dragon eyes to make it come to life.

In addition to the exciting competition, customs around this day help protect against illnesses and bugs as the summer heat increases their activity.

Children frequently wear five-colored silk threads for protection, and people hang bug-repelling charms in their homes. Many people will break out realgar wine and zongzi, sticky rice dumplings that pay homage to the poetry of the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan when it’s time for a snack, the article continues.