端午節(jié)的由來

李明春

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. It is one of the most important Chinese festivals, the other two being the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year.

The origin of this summer festival centers around a scholarly government official named Chu Yuan. He was a good and respected man, but because of the misdeeds of jealous rivals he eventually fell into disfavor in the emperors court. Unable to regain the respect of the emperor, in his sorrow Chu Yuan threw himself intothe Mi Low river.Because of their admiration for Chu Yuan, the local people living adjacent to the Mi Lo River rushed into their boats to search for him while throwing rice into thewaters to appease the river dragons. Although they were unable to find Chu Yuan, their efforts are still commemorated today during the Dragon Boat Festival.

端午節(jié)，又稱為重五節(jié)，因為端午節(jié)是在農(nóng)歷的五月五日，是三個重要的中國節(jié)慶之一，其他兩個分別是中秋節(jié)和農(nóng)歷新年。

這個節(jié)日的由來是古代中國有一位博學(xué)多聞的官吏屈原，他是一位愛民而且又受到尊崇的官吏，但是因為一位充滿嫉妒的政敵陷害，從此在朝廷中失寵。由于無法獲得皇帝的重視，屈原在憂郁的情況下投汨羅江自盡。出于對屈原的愛戴，汨羅江畔的居民匆忙劃船在江內(nèi)尋找屈原，并且將米飯丟入汨羅江中，讓汨羅江中的蛟龍吃飽（而不吃屈原）。即使他們當(dāng)時并沒有找到屈原，但是他們的行為，直到今天在端午節(jié)的時候，仍然被人們傳頌紀(jì)念。

風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣

Traditions at the center of this festival are the dragon boat races. Competing teams drive theircolorful dragon boats forward to the rhythm of beating drums. These exciting races were inspired by the villager"s valiant attempts to rescue Chu Yuan from the Mi Lo river. This tradition has remained unbroken for centuries.

Zong Zi

A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat festival is Zong Zi. This tasty dish consists of rice dumplings with meat, peanut, egg yolk, or other fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Thetradition of Zong Zi is meant to remind us of the village fishermen scattering rice across the water of the Mi Low river in order to appease the river dragons so that they would notdevour Chu Yuan.

Ai Cao

The time of year of the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth lunar moon, has more significancethan just the story of Chu Yuan. Many Chinese consider this time of year an especiallydangerous time when extra efforts must be made to protect their family from illness. Families will hang various herbs, called Ai Cao, on their door for protection.

賽龍舟

端午節(jié)最重要的活動是龍舟競賽，比賽的隊伍在有節(jié)奏的鼓聲中劃著他們彩色的龍舟前進(jìn)。這項活動的靈感是來自于當(dāng)時汨羅江畔的居民，在江中劃船救屈原，而這個傳統(tǒng)也一直保持了數(shù)個世紀(jì)。

粽子

在端午節(jié)時受歡迎的食物就是粽子，粽子是以飯團(tuán)包著肉、花生、蛋黃及其他材料，再以竹葉包裹。而粽子的傳統(tǒng)則來自于汨羅江邊的漁夫，將飯撒入江中讓江中的蛟龍吃飽，希望它們不要將屈原吃掉。

艾草

農(nóng)歷的五月，也就是端午節(jié)的這個時節(jié)，對中國人而言，除了屈原的故事還有許多其他重要的意義。許多中國人相信五月是一年中容易引發(fā)疾病的危險時節(jié)，因此必須有許多防備家人生病的措施。許多家庭會將一種特別的藥草——艾草掛在門口，作為保護(hù)之用。