China News Service Client Beijing, June 25 (Reporter Shangguan Yun) Once a year, the Dragon Boat Festival is here again. Many of its customs are of practical significance. For example, the festival theme of "avoiding plague health" reminds people to pay attention to hygiene and prevent diseases.
In addition to traditional customs, the idea of passing the Dragon Boat Festival online is "flying into ordinary people's homes." This year, in line with the needs of epidemic prevention and control, Beijing has launched eight online events, including the “Most is a good time for the world” Dragon Boat Festival recitation; the 2020 Dragon Boat Festival in Quyuan, the hometown of Zigui County, Hubei Province, has also moved many events online.
What is the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival?
In China, the Dragon Boat Festival is a very important traditional festival. There are many different opinions about its origin.
Data picture: The statue of Qu Yuan standing on Le Ping. Photo by Wang Kangming
A widely-spread statement is that the Dragon Boat Festival originated from the memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. After he bouldered and cast off the Miluo River, the people of Chu state were very sad and came to the riverside to hang him in various ways. Slowly, on the fifth day of May every year, there are customs of dragon boat racing, eating dumplings and drinking realgar wine.
However, some people think that the Dragon Boat Festival originates from the "Summer Solstice". For example, "The Chronicles of Jingchu" mentioned the festival custom of eating dumplings on the fifth day of May, but wrote the dumplings in the summer solstice festival; 》The ferry ride is classified as a summer solstice entertainment.
In addition, the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is also commemorated by Wu Zixu and Cao E. Some people think that it is related to the blue orchid bath of the Zhou Dynasty.
"Avoiding plague health" is the earliest holiday theme
The Dragon Boat Festival is in summer, the weather is hot and humid, mosquitoes and flies are breeding, the ancient material conditions and hygienic habits are relatively poor, and the epidemic is more prevalent.
When people discover this situation, they consciously choose a time node and hold some activities to remind everyone to pay attention to disease prevention. The Dragon Boat Festival has gradually become this suitable time node, and "anti-plague health care" has become the earliest holiday theme.
Data Map: People are buying calamus. Photo by Tan Kaixing
For example, at this time there will be a lot of "avoidance" means: drinking calamus realgar wine, hanging wormwood to avoid plague, etc. Folklore expert Xiao Fang said that folks will also use wormwood as an adult form, "hanging on the portal" to "have poisonous gas".
In the past, "Lan Tang Bathing" was also popular in some places. There is a saying that it is boiled with syrup, wormwood, pomegranate, peach leaves, etc. into a bath to play a role in health care.
In addition, during the Dragon Boat Festival, there are various customs such as taking noon water, wearing five-color lines, cinnabar realgars, and children wearing vests to prevent "five poisons". Almost all of them have practical life-assistance meanings, so some people once called the Dragon Boat Festival "Hygiene Festival".
Go to the cloud: the festival also "touch the net"
The combination of cold and heat will turn into old. In the long time, the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival are constantly changing. Some customs are no longer so popular, and some new festivals are also being added. In recent years, online Dragon Boat Festival has become very common.
With the extension of the Internet, major dumpling manufacturers have "touched the net" one after another. Zongzi is an indispensable delicacy at this time, and people also enjoy learning and learning various techniques of making zongzi on the Internet.
Data map: The opening of the Dragon Boat Festival in Qu Yuan's hometown in 2020. Zhou Xingliang photo
During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, while taking strict epidemic prevention and control measures, Beijing launched eight “Cloud Blossoming” online activities, including the “Most is the best time in the world” Dragon Boat Festival recitation, “Internet China Festival”, and “Drama Opera” Dragon Boat Festival" and so on.
In addition, Beijing will organize and carry out more than 70 key cultural activities including six major online categories such as "Yun You Dragon Boat Festival", "Yun Tour Dragon Boat Festival", "Yunle Dragon Boat Festival", "Yunyan Dragon Boat Festival", "Yunyan Dragon Boat Festival", and "Cloud Buy Dragon Boat Festival". .
A few days ago, the Dragon Boat Festival Cultural Festival of Qu Yuan's hometown in 2020 opened in Zigui County, Hubei Province. According to the current epidemic prevention and control situation, this year's opening ceremony simplifies the specific process and was held for the first time on the spot + cloud.
In addition to the on-site worship, this cultural festival event was transferred online as a whole, and held the "Dragon Boat Festival on Clouds · Poetic Yichang" 2020 Qu Yuan Hometown Dragon Boat Festival Poems, Qu Yuan Hometown VR Cloud Dragon Boat Festival Customs Museum, Online Collection of Dragon Boat Festival Arts and other series activity.
How do traditional festivals take root in modern society?
From the inheritance of traditional folk customs to the joining of new festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival has also brought people many inspirations beyond the festival.
The key to the development of traditional festivals is to make everyone realize its important role in cultural heritage. When it comes to the Dragon Boat Festival, Xiao Fang once mentioned that first of all, he can vigorously restore his traditional health care practices, such as clean environment.
Data Map: The merchant is making dumplings, and the fast-moving "master" can pack one in ten seconds. Photo by Lu Yang
In fact, in various folklore activities, you can also emphasize the function of uniting the society on the Dragon Boat Festival, and use the collective collaboration and competition methods such as the dragon boat race to give everyone the opportunity to communicate emotionally; or advocate the patriotic love of historical sages such as Qu Yuan The local ethical spirit fosters and promotes people's feelings about home and country.
Eating rice dumplings or online festivals, festivals should return to people’s lives. Xiao Fang believes that it is necessary to use modern media to do appropriate social service work on the concepts of creating a festive environment and sharing festive culture, and to make traditional festivals a cultural enjoyment and lifestyle for modern Chinese people. Modern society takes root. (Finish)