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| 2009-6-1 3:11:27 View:2043 |
"I don't know what those young people are thinking," says retired worker Chen Fengying who makes zongzi every year for her family and neighbors. It usually involves simmering and making a thick stew.
"It's our tradition and making it shows my love and care. My homemade zongzi tastes much better than those sold on the street," Chen says.
Besides dragon boat races and eating zongzi, there are other customs, of course, like firecrackers to scare off evil spirits.
Warding off evil is a major theme, but few people give it deep thought.
"I will hang ai ye (mugwort, a herb) on my front door," says Chen. The herbs are intended to ward off evil spirits and illness. Those with sharp leaves, thorns or pungent odor are best to fight off evil and toxins. Typically used are mugwort (wormwood) and sweet flag plant, which has sharp leaves giving the name "dragon-slaying plant." Garlic, too.
"Sounds a bit superstitious? Every year my daughter laughs at my behavior. But I don't mind. The old custom has lasted thousands of years," says Chen.
Many customs and rituals were associated with the Dragon Boat Festival in the old days. The fifth day of the fifth month was considered very unlucky. It falls near the summer solstice, a time of the year when warm weather traditionally brought disease and pestilence. Charms, talismans and potions were used for protection. Previous [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Next
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