There are lots of wonderful memories associated with Duan Wu. My grandmother used to hang moxa stick and calamus on the door, and as a kid, I got the incense bag to hang around my neck. Sometimes, we got an egg, which was put into a nicely knited little bag made of 5 colour silk threads. I still remember my childhood friends who proudly hang it on their neck...
The Auspicious LeavesDuan comes in 5th, May, Lunar month. Because the gem, insect, fly, mosquito, and pest are active in this summer month and people is easy to catch infectious disease. On the Dragon Boat Day, Chinese hang moxa stick and calamus leaves on the doors or windows to repel insect, fly, and moth away from the house. Those leaves have anti-poison function and can
prevent an epidemic.
prevent an epidemic.The incense bag
The incense bags are made by hand. We put the powder of Moxa and Artemisia with some other fragrance stuff into different kind of sewing bags. Therefore it can prevent an epidemic.
The Standup Egg
The Standup Egg
The Dragon Boat Day is usually in June, which is Horse month. Horse hour in astrology is from 11:00 AM to 13:00 PM. It's said that you will be lucky for the coming year if you can make an egg standing up during Horse hour on the Dragon Boat Day. Parents like to let their children to try to make the egg standing up on the Dragon Boat Day. Certainly, the standing up egg competition will be held at noon in many places. It's said that it's will be easier to make a standing up egg at noon.
Wow, what a rich and intricate tradition! It reminds me of some things in Hindu culture. There are so many traditions and so many symbols there that I don't understand. They all have their roots in folklore, history, nature, and the seasons. Undoubtedly Chinese culture and celebrations are like that too.
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