All about Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is a special celebration in Taoism that tells the story of a poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan loved his country and tried to help his people, but the king did not listen to his advice. Feeling sad and disappointed, Qu Yuan wrote beautiful poems about his love for his country.

One day, Qu Yuan was so heartbroken that he jumped into a river and drowned. The people who loved him felt sad and wanted to protect his body from the fish in the river, so they raced in their boats to find him. They also threw rice dumplings into the river to feed the fish and keep them away from Qu Yuan's body.

To remember Qu Yuan and show their respect, people now celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival by racing dragon boats on rivers, eating delicious rice dumplings, and hanging up colorful decorations. The festival is a time to remember the importance of loyalty, friendship, and helping others.

So, during the Dragon Boat Festival, people come together to have fun, enjoy yummy food, and remember the story of Qu Yuan and the values he believed in.

  1. Why did Qu Yuan jump into the river?
  2. What did people do to protect Qu Yuan's body from the fish in the river?
  3. How do people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?
  4. Explain the values of loyalty, friendship, and helping others in relation to the festival.
  5. If you were to create a new tradition for the Dragon Boat Festival, what would it be and why?

Symbols and Traditions

The Dragon Boat Festival is a fun and exciting celebration in Taoism that happens every year. One important symbol of this festival is the dragon boat, which is a long, colorful boat that looks like a dragon. People race these boats on rivers and lakes to honor the memory of a poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a wise man who loved his country very much, but when he felt sad about his country's troubles, he jumped into a river and drowned himself.

To remember Qu Yuan's bravery and loyalty, people also eat a special food called zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival. Zongzi is a yummy treat made from sticky rice and different fillings like meat, beans, or fruit, all wrapped up in bamboo leaves. Another tradition of the festival is hanging up pictures of Zhong Kui, a brave and loyal Taoist deity who is believed to protect people from evil spirits.

So during the Dragon Boat Festival, people have fun racing dragon boats, eating delicious zongzi, and honoring the memory of Qu Yuan and Zhong Kui. It's a joyful time to celebrate bravery, loyalty, and good luck!

  1. Why is the dragon boat a significant symbol during the Dragon Boat Festival?
  2. Who is Qu Yuan, and why is he remembered during this festival?
  3. What is the traditional food eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival, and why is it significant?
  4. Explain the significance of hanging up pictures of Zhong Kui during this festival.
  5. How do the symbols and traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival reflect values like bravery and loyalty?

My Family and Dragon Boat Festival

Hi, my name is Ben and I'm 8 years old. I want to tell you about how my family celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is a fun and exciting celebration in Taoism that happens every year. One important symbol of this festival is the dragon boat, which is a long, colorful boat that looks like a dragon. People race these boats on rivers and lakes to honor the memory of a poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a wise man who loved his country very much, but when he felt sad about his country's troubles, he jumped into a river and drowned himself.

To remember Qu Yuan's bravery and loyalty, people also eat a special food called zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival. Zongzi is a yummy treat made from sticky rice and different fillings like meat, beans, or fruit, all wrapped up in bamboo leaves. Another tradition of the festival is hanging up pictures of Zhong Kui, a brave and loyal Taoist deity who is believed to protect people from evil spirits.

So during the Dragon Boat Festival, people have fun racing dragon boats, eating delicious zongzi, and honoring the memory of Qu Yuan and Zhong Kui. It's a joyful time to celebrate bravery, loyalty, and good luck!

  1. Why do people race dragon boats during the Dragon Boat Festival?
  2. What is zongzi and why is it eaten during the festival?
  3. Who is Qu Yuan and why is he remembered during the festival?
  4. What is the significance of hanging up pictures of Zhong Kui during the festival?
  5. How do people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival to honor bravery and loyalty?

Comparing Dragon Boat Festival to another Festival

After learning all about Dragon Boat Festival, is there another festival that you celebrate or that you know that is similar in any way? Make a project comparing the similarities and differences between this festival and Dragon Boat Festivaland think about what symbols and traditions that are part of it. Think about the story of the festival, if it has one, where it is mainly celebrated - whether it is one country or all over the world. You can produce the project using any medium whether it's paper or on a laptop.

Slideshow - Dragon Boat Festival
A full set of teaching plans for Dragon Boat Festivalteaching.