Before the Dragon Boat Festival, my grandma made dozens of zongzi made up of reed leaves, polished glutinous rice and meat. My grandma makes delicious zongzi every year. I don’t know how to make it. The Dragon Boat Festival came silently. On the morning, my mom lit incense in every room. Then she made buns as a dish of breakfast and lunch. My grandma hung mugwort on the gates to drive away evil. My parents occupied themselves with making dishes for lunch while my grandma was applying realgar wine to children’s legs so as to prevent insects. Then my family got together to have a big meal. We talked about small household affairs delightedly on the table. After I returned my school, I shared zongzi with my classmates to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.
Dragon Boat Festival can date back to the Spring and Autumn Period,which has a long history. The origins of Dragon Boat Festival have been variously explained since ancient times. One of the well-known origins is to memorize Qu Yuan. The festival has been endowed with many cultural connotations in its inheritance and development. The cultural connotations and festival customs of Dragon Boat Festival express people’s abundant cultural feelings and profound feelings of family and country,and carry people's many good wishes. I deeply feel culture charm of the Dragon Boat Festival on this day.
I find a legend about calamus and mugwort impressive. During Tang Dynasty,Huang Chao led troops to rebel and killed numerous people. Once having heard Huang Chao has arrived,villagers all fled one after another. When Huang Chao was surveying terrain,he found a woman was escaping with a boy in hand.The woman didn't recognize Huang Chao. After he heard what the woman said, he showed sympathy to her and told her that if she hang calamus and mugwort on the gate,Huang Chao's troop won't harm her family. The woman told the news to villagers in a city. On May 5th,Huang Chao's troop attacked the city,but he found every house hung calamus and mugout. He had to withdraw troops in order to keep his promise. Thus the whole city survived. To memorize the incident,people will hang calamus and mugwort on the gate on the Dragon Boat Festival.
I enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival because my family reunite and I feel great sense of belonging. Moreover, these traditions and customs make the festival more boisterous. What’s more, we are capable of feeling the cultural connotations behind the festival and expressing our good wishes.