{"id":32366,"date":"2024-05-15T13:57:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T05:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/?p=32366"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:10:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T08:10:46","slug":"dragon-boat-festival-wishes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/dragon-boat-festival-wishes-post-32366\/","title":{"rendered":"Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie): Traditions & 30 Wishes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Dragon Boat Festival in Chinese is called \u7aef\u5348\u8282 (Du\u0101nw\u01d4 Ji\u00e9)<\/a><\/strong>, also known as the Duanyang Festival or Longzhou Festival. It is one of the four most important traditional festivals in China, celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. In 2026, it falls on June 19 (Friday)<\/strong>, with a 3-day public holiday from June 19 to 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ancient festival has a history of over 2,000 years and was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009. It combines commemoration of historical figures, health-preserving traditions, and festive celebrations. In this guide, we will explain the festival’s origins, traditions, the famous debate about one of it’s greeting, and share 30+ festival wishes with English translations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Origins and Traditions of Dragon Boat Festival<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Legend of Qu Yuan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most widely known origin story honors Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister of the Chu State during the Warring States Period (475\u2013221 BC). When his country fell to enemies and he was exiled by corrupt officials, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month as an act of protest.<\/p>\n

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Local people raced their boats to rescue him and threw rice parcels into the water to prevent fish from eating his body. These actions evolved into the traditions of dragon boat racing and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core Traditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Boat Racing<\/strong>: The most iconic activity. Teams of paddlers race long, narrow boats decorated with dragon heads and tails, following the beat of a drummer. It symbolizes the search for Qu Yuan’s body and promotes teamwork and courage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Eating Zongzi<\/strong>: Pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. Fillings vary by region: sweet options (red dates, bean paste) are popular in northern China, while savory versions (pork, salted egg yolk) dominate the south. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Hanging Mugwort and Calamus<\/strong>: Additionally, families hang these aromatic plants above their doors to repel insects and evil spirits, as the fifth lunar month was traditionally considered the “month of poison” when diseases spread easily. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Wearing Perfume Pouches<\/strong>: Another common practice is giving small cloth bags filled with medicinal herbs. Children wear them to ward off evil and bring good luck. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Drinking Realgar Wine<\/strong>: Lastly, this traditional liquor infused with realgar was once believed to protect against poisons and diseases, though today it is mostly a symbolic tradition.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    \"dragon<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/span>“Happy Dragon Boat Festival” vs “Healthy Dragon Boat Festival”?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In recent years, there has been a lively debate in China about the appropriate greeting for the Dragon Boat Festival. Should you say “Happy Dragon Boat Festival” (\u7aef\u5348\u5feb\u4e50\uff0cDu\u0101nw\u01d4ji\u00e9 Ku\u00e0il\u00e8)<\/strong> or “Healthy Dragon Boat Festival” (\u7aef\u5348\u5b89\u5eb7\uff0cDu\u0101nw\u01d4ji\u00e9 \u0100nk\u0101ng)<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why Some People Prefer “Healthy Dragon Boat Festival”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There are two main reasons for this view:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. The “Month of Poison”<\/strong>: The fifth lunar month is known as the “month of poison” because temperatures rise, and poisonous creatures (snakes, scorpions, centipedes, toads, and geckos) become active. Many of these traditions focus on preventing disease and staying healthy, making “health” a more fitting theme than “happiness”. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Commemoration of Qu Yuan<\/strong>: The day also honors the death of Qu Yuan, a tragic patriotic figure. Some people believe it is inappropriate to express unbridled “happiness” on a day of remembrance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n