As one of the best-known traditional Chinese activities, Dragon Boat Races always attract large crowds of spectators on the sidelines, and fierce competition on the water.
The 2014 Macau International Dragon Boat Races will take place between May 31 and June 2 on Nam Van Lake, and the organizers believe that this traditional festival event will attract even more local and international spectators than last year, following Macau’s successful bid to host the 11th Asian Dragon Boat Championships.
Since 1979, Macau has held an annual festive tournament during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the event became an international contest in 1982.
A lively atmosphere is expected at this year’s races with a number of strong dragon boat teams in Asia coming to the city to compete, in an event that has in recent years become an truly international sport.
Competitors from Australia, China, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Thailand are expected, together with some international referees joining this year’s preparations.
Each boat has an ornately carved dragon’s head at the bow and tail at the stem and is manned by about 20 paddlers, depending on the category. The boat is painted with scales and the paddles symbolically represent the dragon’s claws.
During the 11th Asian Dragon Boat Championships, food stands and organized entertainment shows will also be a feature, as well as a dragon boat exhibition. The three-day event is guaranteed to give residents and visitors a vibrant festive experience, during one of Asia’s best loved events on the annual calendar.
Time: Around 10 am to 5 pm
Venue: Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre
Admission: Free
Enquiries: (853) 2823 6363
Organizers: Macau Sport Development Board, Macau, China Dragon Boat Association
Drums and Dumplings
The Dragon Boat Festival is a popular event for competitors and spectators alike, however the history of this event is equally rich and dramatic.
Traditional dragon boating has taken place in Southern China for over 2000 years. Originally dragon boats were used for religious purposes as a way to appease the rain gods. Later dragon boats celebrated the life of Qu Yuan, a revered warrior poet.
Qu Yuan was a minister to the Zhou emperor during the Warring States Period (475 – 221 BC). He was a wise man who was strongly opposed to the corruption of the imperial court. Because of his success, he aroused jealousy in his fellow ministers. They plotted against him and convinced the emperor that Qu Yuan was a traitor. He was banished, and returned to his hometown.
During his years of banishment, Qu Yuan collected legends and folk tales, and wrote poetry. He never lost his patriotic love for his emperor, and was greatly concerned about the future of the Zhou dynasty.
Eventually the Qin warriors overthrew the Zhou rulers and proceeded to plunder the country. On the 5th day of May, 278 BC, Qu Yuan learned about the sack of his capital city, and in a fit of despair, committed suicide by throwing himself into the Miluo river.
The townspeople, hearing of his fate, rushed to their boats to try to save him. Since he was much loved, they tried to prevent the fish from eating his body by throwing rice dumplings into the water. They beat drums to keep evil spirits away.
To this day, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month is celebrated by eating rice dumplings (zong zi) and racing dragon boats. It is also a day for wearing talismans to keep away evil spirits. Adults drink Xiong Huang wine, and children wear fragrant silk pouches to guard against evil.
