In China's folk traditions, there are certain days that are considered unsuitable for returning to one's parents' home. According to the beliefs of the older generation, returning to one's parents' home on these days is not auspicious. However, there are also some days that are considered very suitable for returning to one's parents' home. Is it necessary to return to one's parents' home on the Dragon Boat Festival? Why do married women return to their parents' home on the Dragon Boat Festival? Let's find out together!

 

Is it necessary to return to one's parents' home on the Dragon Boat Festival? Why should married women return to their parents' home on the Dragon Boat Festival?

In many parts of China, it is believed that the Dragon Boat Festival should be a time to return to one's parents' home.

One of the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival is called "returning to the husband's family", which means returning to one's parents' home. In ancient times, when a daughter got married, she lived with her husband and rarely saw her own parents. The Dragon Boat Festival was an opportunity for her to visit her parents. Therefore, people also call the Dragon Boat Festival the "Daughter's Festival". In many areas of China, on this day, married daughters will return to their parents' home with their husbands to visit their parents. Although they all return to their parents' home, due to different local customs, the way of returning varies. For example, in the old customs of Wuhan, the daughters returned to their parents' home on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, which is one day later than other places.

 

Dragon Boat Festival Traditional Customs

1. Eating Zongzi (steamed sticky rice dumplings)
Zongzi is also a type of medicinal food. Glutinous rice has the effects of invigorating the body, strengthening the spleen, and promoting appetite. The leaves used to wrap zongzi have even more specific requirements. In the north, reed leaves are mostly used, while in the south, bamboo leaves and lotus leaves are commonly used.
2. Hanging Mugwort and Calamus
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the main evil qi is damp heat and filth, so it is necessary to use fragrant herbs to transform dampness and purify the air. The custom of the Dragon Boat Festival always involves fragrance.
3. Drinking Realgar Wine
Realgar is a mineral, commonly known as "chicken comb stone." Its main component is arsenic sulfide and contains mercury, which is toxic. The realgar wine usually consumed is made by adding a small amount of realgar to white wine or homemade yellow rice wine. Realgar wine has the effects of killing bacteria, repelling insects, and detoxifying.