While many of us are familiar with the Dragon Boat Festival traditions, its long and fascinating history isn’t as commonly known – it is in fact one of the oldest cultural celebrations in the world, dating back to between 770 and 476 BCE.
It’s no wonder that so many of its customs – the preparation and more enjoyable eating of hearty rice dumplings, dragon boat races, and the wearing of perfume pouches among them – have had their true, historical origins lost to time.
Thankfully, the Wan Qing Dragon Boat Festival 2024 – hosted by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall – is upon us, meaning you’ll have a chance to rediscover the roots behind the ancient Chinese festival while learning a little more about its historic customs.
Expect two days of activities from Jun 8 to 9 detailing the intricacies of the Dragon Boat Festival beyond the familiar, including the age-old practice of hanging calamus leaves and pungent mugwort to ward off evil spirits.
There’ll be a chance to get hands-on with parent-child workshops to craft quinoa-laden rice dumplings, candle-making workshops that play on the Duanwu tradition of hanging mugwort for its insect-repelling properties, and even the opportunity to make your own elastic-powered mini dragon boat, perfume sachets and five-colour bracelets.
If all that excitement isn’t enough for you and your loved ones, you can always head to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s lawn for a host of live cultural performances, ranging from Chinese drums and a traditional orchestra performance to a high-octane lion and dragon dance.
Thereafter, remember to refuel and recharge with a hearty bounty of traditional rice dumplings and herbal tea (available for free in limited quantities), or any of the other participating food booths on-site.
Just remember to leave some energy (and stomach space) for the big day itself on Jun 10!
For more information, visit www.sysnmh.org.sg/en. To buy tickets to the workshops, visit wanqingyuan.peatix.com.
All photos courtesy of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall unless indicated.
