Dragon Boat Festival

The fifth lunar month is a traditional folk festival of China – the Dragon Boat Festival. It is one of the ancient traditional festivals of the Chinese nation. Duanwu also known as the end of five, Duanyang. In addition, the Dragon Boat Festival also has many other names, such as: Midday Festival, weigh five, May Festival, Bathing Lantern Festival, Daughter’s Day, Day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Earth La, Poet Day, Dragon Day and so on. Although the names are different, on the whole, the customs of the people around the country are still different.

Over the Dragon Boat Festival, is the traditional habit of the Chinese people for more than 2,000 years. Due to its vast geographical area, numerous nationalities, and many stories and legends, it has not only produced many different festival names, but also has different customs everywhere. The main contents are: daughter back to her parents’ home, hanging bells like a statue, welcome ghost ships, escape the afternoon, sign post breaks, hang calamus, wormwood, travel sick, sachet, prepared for safaris, dragon boat racing, contest, batting Swinging, giving children a realgar, drinking realgar wine, sirup wine, eating five poisonous cakes, salted eggs, medlars and seasonal fresh fruits, etc., except for the disappearance of activities with superstitious colors, the rest have so far spread to all parts of China and neighboring countries. Some activities, such as dragon boat racing, have achieved new developments, breaking through time and geographical boundaries and becoming international sports events.

There are many arguments about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, such as: commemorating Qu Yuan, commemorating Wu Zixuan, commemorating Cao Yu, beginning with the three-generation Summer Solstice Festival, evil days repelling evil days, and Wu Yueís national totem sacrifice. Each of the above said, its own source. According to scholars Wen Yiduo’s “Dragon Boat Exam” and “The Dragon Boat Festival History Education” listed more than a hundred ancient records and expert archaeological research, the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is a festival of totem sacrifices held by Wu and Yue peoples in the ancient South of China, earlier than Qu Yuan. . However, for thousands of years, Qu Yuanís patriotism and touching poetry have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Therefore, people ìcherish and mourn for the past and use the word to tell the truth.î Therefore, to commemorate the theory of Qu Yuan, the most influential, Occupy the mainstream. In the field of folk culture, the Chinese people linked the dragon boat race on Dragon Boat Festival and eating dumplings to the memorial of Qu Yuan.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is still a very popular celebration event among the Chinese people.

Origin and legend

The Dragon Boat Festival is an ancient traditional festival that began in the Spring, Autumn and Warring States period in China. It has been more than 2,000 years old. The origin and legend of the Dragon Boat Festival are many. Here are only the following four:

Originated from commemorating Qu Yuan

According to “Historical Records”, “Qu Yuan Jia Sheng Biography” records, Qu Yuan, is the Minister of Chu Huai Wang in the Spring and Autumn Period. He advocated the ability to promote talents, rich countries and strong soldiers, and advocated joining forces against the Qin. He was met with strong opposition from nobles such as Zilan. Qu Yuan was reeled from his post and was expelled from the capital and exiled to the Yi and Xiang Rivers. In his exile, he wrote immortal poems such as “Lisao”, “Heaven” and “Nine Songs” that worried about the country and the people. It has unique style and profound influence (thus, the Dragon Boat Festival is also called Poet’s Day). In 278 B.C., the Qin Army conquered the capital of Chu. Qu Yuan saw his countryís invasion of the motherland as heartbroken, but he could not bear to abandon his country. On May 5th, after writing the best book ìHuai Shaî, the bouldering stone was cast and killed by Luo Jiang to his own life. Wrote a magnificent patriotic movement.

Legend has it that after the death of Qu Yuan, the people of Chu were sorrowful that they flocked to the Jurassic River to pay homage to Qu Yuan. The fishermen rowed their boats and salvaged his real body on the river. One fisherman took out rice balls, eggs and other food prepared for Qu Yuan, and threw them into the river in a ìflop, splashî place. He said that if the lobster crabs were eaten, they would not bite the doctor’s body. After people saw it, they followed suit. An old doctor took an altar of yellow wine and poured it into the river. He said that the medicine should be used to faint the dragon, so as not to harm Dr. Qu. Later, for the fear that rice balls were eaten by the dragons, people came up with eucalyptus leaves wrapped in rice, wrapped in colored silk, and developed into browns.

Later, in the fifth and fifth of May every year, there will be dragon boat racing, eating rice dumplings and drinking yellow wine, in order to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.

Originated from the memorial of Wu Ziqi

The second legend of the Dragon Boat Festival was widely spread in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It was Wu Zixuan who commemorated the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC – 476 BC). Wu Zizhao, Chu, and his father and brother were killed by the king. Later, he abandoned the dark cast and went to Wu to help Wu Chuchu. He entered the Chudu city in five battles. At that time, the king of Chuping was dead, and the son excavated the grave and destroyed 300 dead bodies to kill his father and brother. After King Wuís death, his son-in-law was succeeded. Wu Junís morale was high, his battles were victorious, his countryís defeat was great, Yue Wangís practice practiced with him, and his husbandís difference promised him. Zizi suggested that the country should be eliminated completely, the husbandís poor did not listen, the Wu country was slaughtered, and the countryís bribery was cheated. The rumors were plunged into misfortunes. The son is Zhongliang, who looks dead and says to the neighbors before he dies: “After my death, I dig my eyes and hang them on the eastern gate of Wu Jing to see the troops of the Vietnamese troops entering the city and destroy Wu.” Then I die and die. The fury was heard and the body of the child was taken into leather and put into the river on May 5th. Therefore, it is said that the Dragon Boat Festival is also to commemorate the day of Wu Zikai.

Originated from commemorating filial piety Cao Yu

The third legend of the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 23–220) and the filial daughter Cao Yu saved the father and cast the river. Cao Yong was a captain of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His father was squatting in the middle of the river and had not seen the body for several days. At that time, the filial daughter Cao Yongnian was only 14 years old and was crying along the Yangtze River on a day and night. Seventeen days later, Jiang was also voted on May 5 and the fatherís body was taken out after five days. This was passed down as a myth, and it was handed down to the governor of the prefecture, which made it a monument and made his disciples sing praises.

Cao Yu’s tomb of filial daughter, in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, Cao Yu’s monument is said to be Jin Wangyi’s book. Later, in order to commemorate Cao Yuís filial piety, Cao Yumiao was built at the place where Cao Yu made a visit to Jiang. The village she resided in was renamed Cao Yu Town, and Cao Yuís place was named Cao Yujiang.

From ancient Yue nationality totem festival

The large number of unearthed cultural relics and archeological studies in modern times have confirmed that in the vast area of ??the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, in the Neolithic Age, there was a cultural relic that was characterized by geometrical printed pottery. The remains of the ethnic group are, according to experts, inferred to be a tribute to the dragon’s totem —- the history of the Baiyue. The ornamentation and historical legends on the unearthed pottery show that they have the custom of cutting off tattoos and living in a water village, which is a descendant of the dragon. Its production tools, a large number of stone tools, shovels, chisels and other small pieces of bronze. As a pottery jar for daily necessities, the imprinted Tao Ding cooking food is unique to them and is one of the symbols of their ethnic groups. Until the Qin and Han dynasties, there were still Baiyue people, and the Dragon Boat Festival was the festival that they founded for ancestor worship. In the thousands of years of historical development, most of the Baiyue people have been integrated into the Han nationality, and the rest have evolved into many ethnic minorities in the south. Therefore, the Dragon Boat Festival has become a festival for the entire Chinese nation.

Traditional Activities

The Dragon Boat Festival in China is more grand and the celebration activities are also varied. The more common activities are the following:

Dragon Boat Race:

Dragon boat racing is the main custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. Legend has it that in ancient times, the Chu people were reluctant to die, and the Qu Yuan died in the river. Many people rowed to chase and save. They scrambled for fear and found no trace when they went to Dongting Lake. Afterwards, dragon boats are commemorated on May 5 every year. The dragon boat is used to disperse the fish in the river so that the fish do not eat the body of Qu Yuan. The practice of racing is prevalent in Wu, Yue and Chu.

In fact, “Dragon Boat Race” had existed as early as the Warring States Period. The canoe carved into a dragon shape in the sound of drums, as a ferry game to entertain the gods and musicians, is a semi-religious and semi-recreative program in rituals.

Later, in addition to commemorating Qu Yuan, dragon boat racing also paid different meanings to people everywhere.

The dragon boat races in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces also commemorate the significance of the local female modern revolutionary revolutionist Qiu Jin. On the Dragon Boat, the lanterns and lanterns are colored, and the shuttle moves between the water and the water. The scene is moving and has unique taste. The Miao people of Guizhou held the Dragon Boat Festival on May 25 to 28 in the lunar calendar to celebrate the planting victory and wishing the grain harvest. The compatriots of the Yunnan Dai nationality race in the Songkran Festival to commemorate the ancient hero Yan Hong Wo. Different nationalities and different regions have different legends. Until today, in the areas of the rivers, lakes, and seas in the south, the Dragon Boat Race with its own characteristics will be held every year.

Twenty-nine years of Qing Emperor Qianlong (1736), Taiwan began to hold a dragon boat race. At that time, Jiang Yuanjun, the prefect of Taiwan, had hosted a friendly match at the Half Moon Pond at Fahua Temple in Tainan City. Taiwan now holds a dragon boat race on May 5 every year. In Hong Kong, there are also races.

In addition, dragon boats have also been introduced into neighboring countries such as Japan, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. In 1980, Dragon Boat Racing was included in the China National Sports Competition and held the “Qu Yuan Cup” Dragon Boat Race each year. On June 16, 1991 (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), the first International Dragon Boat Festival was held in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, the second hometown of Qu Yuan. Prior to the race, a “faucet festival” was held that preserved traditional rituals and infused new modern elements. “Leader” was carried into Quzi Temple, and after the athlete gave the leader the “Red” (red belt), the ancestors read the confession and “light” (ie, clear) the leader. Then, all the personnel who participated in the sacrifice of the dragon were sent to the dragon boat race. As many as 600,000 people participated in the competition, trade fair and party activities, which is unprecedented. Afterwards, Hunan regularly holds the International Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boat racing will be circulated to the world.

Glutinous Rice Dumplings:

Dragon Boat Festival to eat dumplings, this is another traditional practice of the Chinese people. The crickets are also called “horns” and “tubes.” It has a long history and many kinds of tricks.

According to records, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the use of medlar leaves (Sui Baiye) wrapped glutinous rice into a horn-like, called “horn rake”; sealed with bamboo rice cooked baked, called “tube ?.” In the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, glutinous rice was soaked in grey water of vegetation. Because of the alkali in the water, the glutinous rice dumplings were packed into squares with glutinous rice and cooked to make it become alkaline alfalfa in Guangdong.

Jin Dynasty, dumplings were officially designated as the Dragon Boat Festival food. At this time, in addition to glutinous rice, the raw materials for the dumplings were also added with Chinese medicines, and the cooked dumplings were called “Zhiqi.” At the time of the Zhou Dynasty, “Yueyang Fengjiji” recorded: “Vulgar leaves are wrapped with glutinous rice, … … cook it, and combine it thoroughly. From May 5th to the summer solstice, there is a beggar and a beggar.” During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Miscellaneous. Rice is rich in poultry, chestnut, red dates, and red beans. Zongzi also serves as a gift for engagement.

By the Tang Dynasty, the use of rice for rice dumplings was ìwhite and jadeyî, and its shape appeared to be conical and diamond-shaped. In Japanese literature, there is a record of “Datang Scorpion.” In the Song Dynasty, there was already a “preserved fruit,” that is, fruit was introduced into the pot. The poet Su Dongpo has a poem “When Yu Yu Meets Yang Mei”. At this time, there were also advertisements made of dumplings, towers, pavilions and horses and horses, indicating that it was fashionable to eat rice dumplings in the Song Dynasty. During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the dumplings of Zongzi had been transformed from loquat leaves to loquat leaves, and later appeared reeds wrapped in reed leaves. Appearances of bean paste, pork, pine nuts, dates, walnuts, etc. had appeared in the additive, and the varieties were more colorful.

Until today, every year in early May, Chinese families are required to dip glutinous rice, wash leaves, and wrap rice dumplings. Judging from the fillings, the northern jujube contains many jujubes of Beijing jujube; in the south, there are various fillings such as red bean paste, fresh meat, ham, and egg yolk. Among them, Jiaxing wolfberry in Zhejiang is the representative. The customs of eating dumplings have been flourishing in China for thousands of years and have spread to North Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries.

Sachets:

Dragon Boat Festival children admire sachets, it is said that there is a sense of evil drive, it is actually used to decorate the skull. Inside the sachet there are cinnabar, realgar, and fragrant medicines, which are covered with silk cloth and overflowing with fragrant fragrance. Then they are buckled with five-color silk strings to make a variety of shapes to form a series of various shapes and exquisite and lovely.

Suisan Leaf:

The ballad said: “Chen Ming Qing Liu, Dragon Boat Festival insert Ai.” During the Dragon Boat Festival, people used Ai and Changpu as one of the important contents. Every family sweeps away the courts, inserts irises and moxa sticks in the eyebrows, and hangs them in the church. And use calamus, leaves, flowers, garlic, garlic, dragon boat flowers, made of human or tiger-shaped, known as Ai Ren, Ai Hu; made of garlands, accessories, beautiful fragrance, women dressed in scrambling to drive pipa.

Ai, also known as Ai, Artemisia. Its stems and leaves contain volatile aromatic oils. The fragrant aroma it produces can drive mosquitoes, flies and ants, and purify the air. Chinese medicine uses Alzheimer’s medicine to regulate blood, warm the uterus, and eliminate cold and dampness. The processing of wormwood into “moxa” is an important medicinal material for moxibustion.

Calanus calamus is a perennial aquatic herb. Its narrow and long leaves also contain volatile aromatic oils. It is a medicine that refreshes the body, eliminates bones, and kills insects.

It can be seen that the ancients inserted Ai and Acorus calamus had certain disease-preventing effects. The Dragon Boat Festival is also a Health Festival that has been handed down from ancient times. On this day, people sweep the courtyard, hang Ai Zhi, hang Changpu, sprinkle Xiong Huangshui, drink yangxiong wine, extinguish turbidity, sterilise and prevent diseases. These activities also reflect the fine traditions of the Chinese nation.

English Version:

端午节

农历五月初五，是中国民间的传统节日——端午节，它是中华民族古老的传统节日之一。端午也称端五，端阳。此外，端午节还有许多别称，如：午日节、重五节，五月节、浴兰节、女儿节，天中节、地腊、诗人节、龙日等等。虽然名称不同，但总体上说，各地人民过节的习俗还是同多于异的。

过端午节，是中国人二千多年来的传统习惯，由于地域广大，民族众多，加上许多故事传说，于是不仅产生了众多相异的节名，而且各地也有着不尽相同的习俗。其内容主要有：女儿回娘家，挂钟馗像，迎鬼船、躲午，帖午叶符，悬挂菖蒲、艾草，游百病，佩香囊，备牲醴,赛龙舟，比武，击球，荡秋千，给小孩涂雄黄，饮用雄黄酒、菖蒲酒，吃五毒饼、咸蛋、粽子和时令鲜果等，除了有迷信色彩的活动渐已消失外，其余至今流传中国各地及邻近诸国。有些活动，如赛龙舟等，已得到新的发展，突破了时间、地域界线，成为了国际性的体育赛事。

关于端午节的由来，说法甚多，诸如：纪念屈原说；纪念伍子胥说；纪念曹娥说；起于三代夏至节说；恶月恶日驱避说，吴月民族图腾祭说等等。以上各说，各本其源。据学者闻一多先生的《端午考》和《端午的历史教育》列举的百余条古籍记载及专家考古考证，端午的起源，是中国古代南方吴越民族举行图腾祭的节日，比屈原更早。但千百年来，屈原的爱国精神和感人诗辞，已广泛深入人心，故人们“惜而哀之，世论其辞，以相传焉”，因此，纪念屈原之说，影响最广最深，占据主流地位。在民俗文化领域，中国民众把端午节的龙舟竞渡和吃粽子等，都与纪念屈原联系在一起。

时至今日，端午节仍是中国人民中一个十分盛行的隆重节日。

由来与传说

端午节是古老的传统节日，始于中国的春秋战国时期，至今已有2000多年历史。端午节的由来与传说很多，这里仅介绍以下四种：

源于纪念屈原

据《史记》“屈原贾生列传”记载，屈原，是春秋时期楚怀王的大臣。他倡导举贤授能，富国强兵，力主联齐抗秦，遭到贵族子兰等人的强烈反对，屈原遭馋去职，被赶出都城，流放到沅、湘流域。他在流放中，写下了忧国忧民的《离骚》、《天问》、《九歌》等不朽诗篇，独具风貌，影响深远（因而，端午节也称诗人节）。公元前278年，秦军攻破楚国京都。屈原眼看自己的祖国被侵略，心如刀割，但是始终不忍舍弃自己的祖国，于五月五日，在写下了绝笔作《怀沙》之后，抱石投汨罗江身死，以自己的生命谱写了一曲壮丽的爱国主义乐章。

传说屈原死后，楚国百姓哀痛异常，纷纷涌到汨罗江边去凭吊屈原。渔夫们划起船只，在江上来回打捞他的真身。有位渔夫拿出为屈原准备的饭团、鸡蛋等食物，“扑通、扑通”地丢进江里，说是让鱼龙虾蟹吃饱了，就不会去咬屈大夫的身体了。人们见后纷纷仿效。一位老医师则拿来一坛雄黄酒倒进江里，说是要药晕蛟龙水兽，以免伤害屈大夫。后来为怕饭团为蛟龙所食，人们想出用楝树叶包饭，外缠彩丝，发展成棕子。

以后，在每年的五月初五，就有了龙舟竞渡、吃粽子、喝雄黄酒的风俗；以此来纪念爱国诗人屈原。

源于纪念伍子胥

端午节的第二个传说，在江浙一带流传很广，是纪念春秋时期（公元前770–前476年）的伍子胥。伍子胥名员，楚国人，父兄均为楚王所杀，后来子胥弃暗投明，奔向吴国，助吴伐楚，五战而入楚都郢城。当时楚平王已死，子胥掘墓鞭尸三百，以报杀父兄之仇。吴王阖庐死后，其子夫差继位，吴军士气高昂，百战百胜，越国大败，越王勾践请和，夫差许之。子胥建议，应彻底消灭越国，夫差不听，吴国大宰，受越国贿赂，谗言陷害子胥，夫差信之，赐子胥宝剑，子胥以此死。子胥本为忠良，视死如归，在死前对邻舍人说：“我死后，将我眼睛挖出悬挂在吴京之东门上，以看越国军队入城灭吴”，便自刎而死，夫差闻言大怒，令取子胥之尸体装在皮革里于五月五日投入大江，因此相传端午节亦为纪念伍子胥之日。

源于纪念孝女曹娥

端午节的第三个传说，是为纪念东汉（公元23–220年）孝女曹娥救父投江。曹娥是东汉上虞人，父亲溺于江中，数日不见尸体，当时孝女曹娥年仅十四岁，昼夜沿江号哭。过了十七天，在五月五日也投江，五日后抱出父尸。就此传为神话，继而相传至县府知事，令度尚为之立碑，让他的弟子邯郸淳作诔辞颂扬。

孝女曹娥之墓，在今浙江绍兴，后传曹娥碑为晋王义所书。后人为纪念曹娥的孝节，在曹娥投江之处兴建曹娥庙，她所居住的村镇改名为曹娥镇，曹娥殉父之处定名为曹娥江。

源于古越民族图腾祭

近代大量出土文物和考古研究证实：长江中下游广大地区，在新石器时代，有一种几何印纹陶为特征的文化遗存。该遗存的族属，据专家推断是一个崇拜龙的图腾的部族—-史称百越族。出土陶器上的纹饰和历史传说示明，他们有断发纹身的习俗，生活于水乡，自比是龙的子孙。其生产工具，大量的还是石器，也有铲、凿等小件的青铜器。作为生活用品的坛坛罐罐中，烧煮食物的印纹陶鼎是他们所特有的，是他们族群的标志之一。直到秦汉时代尚有百越人，端午节就是他们创立用于祭祖的节日。在数千年的历史发展中，大部分百越人已经融合到汉族中去了，其余部分则演变为南方许多少数民族，因此，端午节成了全中华民族的节日。

习俗

庆祝的活动也是各种各样，比较普遍的活动有以下种种形式：

赛龙舟：

賽龙舟，是端午节的主要习俗。相传起源于古时楚国人因舍不得贤臣屈原投江死去，许多人划船追赶拯救。他们争先恐后，追至洞庭湖时不见踪迹。之后每年五月五日划龙舟以纪念之。借划龙舟驱散江中之鱼，以免鱼吃掉屈原的身体。竞渡之习，盛行于吴、越、楚。

其实，“龙舟竞渡”早在战国时代就有了。在急鼓声中划刻成龙形的独木舟，做竞渡游戏，以娱神与乐人，是祭仪中半宗教性、半娱乐性的节目。

后来，赛龙舟除纪念屈原之外，在各地人们还付予了不同的寓意。

江浙地区划龙舟，兼有纪念当地出生的近代女民主革命家秋瑾的意义。夜龙船上，张灯结彩，来往穿梭，水上水下，情景动人，别具情趣。贵州苗族人民在农历五月二十五至二十八举行“龙船节”，以庆祝插秧胜利和预祝五谷丰登。云南傣族同胞则在泼水节赛龙舟，纪念古代英雄岩红窝。不同民族、不同地区，划龙舟的传说有所不同。直到今天在南方的不少临江河湖海的地区，每年端节都要举行富有自己特色的龙舟竞赛活动。

清乾隆二十九年（1736年），台湾开始举行龙舟竞渡。当时台湾知府蒋元君曾在台南市法华寺半月池主持友谊赛。现在台湾每年五月五日都举行龙舟竞赛。在香港，也举行竞渡。

此外，划龙舟也先后传入邻国日本、越南等及英国。1980年，赛龙舟被列入中国国家体育比赛项目，并每年举行“屈原杯”龙舟赛。1991年6月16日（农历五月初五），在屈原的第二故乡中国湖南岳阳市，举行首届国际龙舟节。在竞渡前，举行了既保存传统仪式又注入新的现代因素的“龙头祭”。 “龙头”被抬入屈子祠内，由运动员给龙头“上红”（披红带）后，主祭人宣读祭文，并为龙头“开光”（即点晴）。然后，参加祭龙的全体人员三鞠躬，龙头即被抬去汩罗江，奔向龙舟赛场。此次参加比赛、交易会和联欢活动的多达60余万人，可谓盛况空前。尔后，湖南便定期举办国际龙舟节。赛龙舟将盛传于世。

端午食粽

端午节吃粽子，这是中国人民的又一传统习俗。粽子，又叫“角黍”、“筒粽”。其由来已久，花样繁多。

据记载，早在春秋时期，用菰叶（茭白叶）包黍米成牛角状，称“角黍”；用竹筒装米密封烤熟，称“筒粽”。东汉末年，以草木灰水浸泡黍米，因水中含碱，用菰叶包黍米成四角形，煮熟，成为广东碱水粽。

晋代，粽子被正式定为端午节食品。这时，包粽子的原料除糯米外，还添加中药益智仁，煮熟的粽子称“益智粽”。时人周处《岳阳风土记》记载：“俗以菰叶裹黍米，……煮之，合烂熟，于五月五日至夏至啖之，一名粽，一名黍。”南北朝时期，出现杂粽。米中掺杂禽兽肉、板栗、红枣、赤豆等，品种增多。粽子还用作交往的礼品。

到了唐代，粽子的用米，已“白莹如玉”，其形状出现锥形、菱形。日本文献中就记载有“大唐粽子”。宋朝时，已有“蜜饯粽”，即果品入粽。诗人苏东坡有“时于粽里见杨梅”的诗句。这时还出现用粽子堆成楼台亭阁、木车牛马作的广告，说明宋代吃粽子已很时尚。元、明时期，粽子的包裹料已从菰叶变革为箬叶，后来又出现用芦苇叶包的粽子，附加料已出现豆沙、猪肉、松子仁、枣子、胡桃等等，品种更加丰富多彩。

一直到今天，每年五月初，中国百姓家家都要浸糯米、洗粽叶、包粽子，其花色品种更为繁多。从馅料看，北方多包小枣的北京枣粽；南方则有豆沙、鲜肉、火腿、蛋黄等多种馅料，其中以浙江嘉兴粽子为代表。吃粽子的风俗，千百年来，在中国盛行不衰，而且流传到朝鲜、日本及东南亚诸国。