Why Do We Eat Rice Dumplings? How To Explain The Dragon Boat Festival To Kids

With June just around the corner, the annual Dragon Boat Festival is quickly approaching. Akin to the previous years, this year's celebration falls in June and it will be taking place on 10th June. With the slew of Chinese festivities in a year, it is not out of the ordinary for even us adults to be unfamiliar with these traditional customs and origins. Here is a comprehensive explanation of the Dragon Boat Festival for your kids (and maybe even you!).

Why is it called the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival, more commonly known as Duan Wu Jie in Mandarin Chinese, originates from Southern China. The Chinese characters of Duan Wu have a dual meaning to it. The literal reading of it would roughly translate to an 'upright sun' while the tonal reading of it would reveal a second meaning of 'double fifth'. These two meanings are actually closely related to the festival itself as the festival not only falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, but also occurs at the start of summer when temperatures start to increase. (Source: National Library Board)

The legend of the river dragon

The dragon, a mythical creature in Chinese legends is often mentioned in traditional tales. Since ancient Chinese times, it was believed that dragons had control over rain and water bodies, thus giving them the ability to bring prosperity or great calamity to a country. This belief led to the practice of worshipping the river dragon, in hopes that a good amount of rain would befall across the country and farmers would enjoy good harvest. Hence, the worshipping of the river dragon would usually take place during the summer solstice when weather conditions are hot and dry, and rainfall is scarce. The front of boats were also carved with the likeness of the dragon to serve as a means to appease river dragons, in a bid to stave off droughts and ensure abundant rainfall for the rice harvest.

The legend of Qu Yuan

The legend of Qu Yuan is perhaps the most well-known story associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. Qu Yuan, a poet and minister of the Zhou dynasty, served as a loyal and patriotic minister in the state of Chu. In a desperate attempt to save his homeland from the corruption of the state of Qin, Qu Yuan fought against the alliance of the state of Chu and Qin. However, his insight was dismissed as treason by his King and he was exiled. Eventually, the Chu State fell. Overcome with sadness, he wrote poetry dictating his love for his homeland and the melancholy of watching it fall to ruins. Months later, on the fifth day of the fifth month, he ended his life in the Mi Luo River. According to the legend, as the local people held him in high regard, they immediately raced out in their dragon boats to save their esteemed minister. Today, to honour Qu Yuan's loyalty an annual dragon boat racing event is held every fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

The origin of zong zi

In another story, it was also said that because of the failed rescue attempt, fishermen began throwing rice stuffed in bamboo stems to prevent fish from eating his body. However, as the river dragon would eat these offerings, these fishermen began tying the rice in chinaberry leaves, binding it with silk threads to prevent it from being snatched away. The iconic triangular-shaped rice dumpling, zong zi then became a symbol of the Dragon Boat Festival and a traditional delicacy eaten during the festival.

Types of zong zi

Originating from Southern China, many dialect groups have their own version of this glutinous treat. As the Dragon Boat Festival nears, the various kinds of zong zi around you may spoil you for choice. Here are a few of the popular variations of zong zi in Singapore and where they originated from. (Source: Visit Singapore)

Hokkien: The most popular kind of zong zi in Singapore is the bak zhang which is unique to the Hokkien dialect group. It is stuffed with pork, water chestnuts, mushrooms and dried shrimps. The use of five spice powder is a key ingredient that gives the rice its distinct taste.

Peranakan: Similar to the Hokkien zong zi, the Peranakan zong zi, otherwise known as nonya zhang also utilizes five scent powder to create its unique aroma. However, it leans towards a sweeter taste profile as it fillings include candied winter melon and braised pork. At the tip of the triangular shaped rice dumpling, you may notice a light blue dye on the white glutinous rice. This feature is unique to the nonya zhang, making it the most recognisable one.

Teochew: A mix between the nonya zhang and ba zhang, the teochew zhang strikes a balance between sweet and savoury. The use of sweet mung bean paste is what sets it apart from the other types of zong zi, and it just might be the one for you if you prefer having the best of both worlds!

Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival with your family!

Dragon Boat Race 2024: Intrigued by the origin of the dragon boat race? Catch one of the oldest dragon boat races in Singapore on 22 and 23 June 2024 at PAssion Wave @Bedok Reservoir Park! Hosting many different categories, the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival (SBDF) is an annual event where dragon boaters will compete in a 500m race. Teams in the standard race will consist of 22 crew members while other categories include a smaller 12-crew boat for the Women and Senior segment. Happening on the last weekend of June, come and be wowed by the impressive strength and coordination of the dragon boaters in Singapore. (Source: SDBA)

Eating zong zi: As part of the traditional customs, celebrate the festival by making zong zi with your family and enjoying the fruits of your labor together! Not keen on the idea of cooking? Get them from these places in Singapore. Look out for new flavors and launches by hotels and restaurants to get your hands on the best zong zi in Singapore.

Dragon Boat Festival 2024: Organised by the Chinatown Business Association (CBA), learn about the origins and traditions of the festival through the various activities available. These include rice dumpling making, cultural performances, rice wine tang yuan making and many others. Head down to Chinatown from 7-9 June 2024 for a chance to win attractive prices! (Source: Chinatown Singapore)