What are the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival? The 9 most interesting folk customs of the Dragon Boat Festival

What are the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival? The Dragon Boat Festival of 2017 is coming soon. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival in my country. People celebrate the festival in various ways, and different places have different Dragon Boat Festival customs. Friends who are interested, let’s learn about it together.

What are the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival?

Writing talismans and chanting spells

The ancients believed that May 5th was an evil month and an evil day, so on the Dragon Boat Festival, it was necessary to hang talismans to ward off evil spirits and ghosts indoors. There are also some strict rituals for hanging up the ghost-chasing talisman. For example, it must be written at sunrise or noon on the Dragon Boat Festival, the writing material must be raw cinnabar, and saltpeter must be put in the inkstone and in the writer's mouth, etc.

Hanging the Three Friends of Dragon Boat Festival

Mugwort, calamus, and garlic are called the "Three Friends of the Dragon Boat Festival". In ancient times, people believed that diseases were caused by evil spirits. So, on the Dragon Boat Festival, people used calamus as swords, mugwort as whips, and garlic as hammers, which were also called the "three weapons". They were believed to repel snakes, insects, germs, and eliminate demons. From a scientific point of view, mugwort and calamus contain aromatic oils, which have bactericidal effects like garlic.

Drink realgar wine to get rid of ghosts

In addition, there is a belief in ancient times that applying realgar wine on children's foreheads can ward off evil spirits. On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, women would put mugwort on children's ears, put calamus on their heads, and then write the word "王" on their foreheads with realgar wine. It is said that this can scare away all ghosts and ensure longevity.

Hanging colorful thread

The five-colored thread was also called the five-colored longevity thread in ancient times. In traditional Chinese culture, the five colors of blue, red, white, black and yellow, which symbolize the five directions and five elements, are considered auspicious colors. On the Dragon Boat Festival, children tie five-colored silk threads on their wrists and ankles to ensure their health. Ying Shao's "Customs and Customs" records: "On the fifth day of the fifth month, people tie colorful silk on their arms, which is called the long life thread, another name is the life-extending thread, another name is the war-avoiding silk, another name is the five-color thread, and another name is the red rope. It can ward off soldiers and ghosts and prevent people from getting plague."