Modern festivals that have emerged in recent times are mostly related to the environment and human culture, starting from a small group of people advocating them and later becoming widely spread. What should be avoided on the Dragon Boat Festival? Follow Huayi Network to learn more about the Dragon Boat Festival.
Dragon Boat Festival Ten Taboos
Taboo One of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Swimming
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, swimming is forbidden, especially avoiding swimming in places where someone has drowned before. Because Qu Yuan, who died by jumping into the river on this day, people fear encountering something unclean, so it's not allowed to swim in rivers on this day. Moreover, on the Dragon Boat Festival, "the ghost of drowning" is most fierce and seeks a replacement to "come back to life". Therefore, there is a custom of throwing zongzi into the river for it to share and avoid being made into a zongzi.
Taboo Two of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Eating Zongzi from the Mother's House
In fact, the tradition of returning to one's mother's house has existed since ancient times during the Dragon Boat Festival, but it is strictly forbidden to eat zongzi from the mother's house, as it may bring bad luck. In the past, when resources were scarce, people often struggled with hunger and coldness. Eating zongzi at the mother's house during the Dragon Boat Festival would increase economic pressure. Later, it evolved into the custom that married daughters should not return to their mother's house to eat zongzi, which serves two purposes: preventing the mother's family from becoming poorer and avoiding taking away the family's blessings, thus affecting the family's fortune.
Taboo Three of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Disturbing the Five Toxins
The Five Toxins refer to scorpions, centipedes, spiders, toads, and snakes. It is said that on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the extreme heat combined with humidity causes insects, snakes, and other creatures to come out in full force. At this time, the Five Toxins are just emerging, and their toxicity is particularly strong. We should tell children not to disturb these venomous creatures. If they encounter the "Five Toxins," they should quickly leave and not approach or tease them.
Taboo Four of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Going to Dark and Terrifying Places
Hospitals, cemeteries, and similar places are considered dark and terrifying. People believe that going to such places can lead to encountering bad things and getting sick. Therefore, on the Dragon Boat Festival, it is best to avoid such places, especially for infants under one year old. Since May is known as the "poisonous month," disasters may occur. Hence, there is a saying of "escaping the noon" on the Dragon Boat Festival, where children should be sent to their grandmother's house to avoid misfortune.
Taboo Five of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Losing the Scented Pouch
In some northern regions, young children wear scented pouches. The scented pouches worn by children must not be lost. According to legend, if a child loses the scented pouch they wear, they will face great misfortune within a year. After the Dragon Boat Festival, children should throw the scented pouches into water to prevent fires.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, swimming is forbidden, especially avoiding swimming in places where someone has drowned before. Because Qu Yuan, who died by jumping into the river on this day, people fear encountering something unclean, so it's not allowed to swim in rivers on this day. Moreover, on the Dragon Boat Festival, "the ghost of drowning" is most fierce and seeks a replacement to "come back to life". Therefore, there is a custom of throwing zongzi into the river for it to share and avoid being made into a zongzi.
Taboo Two of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Eating Zongzi from the Mother's House
In fact, the tradition of returning to one's mother's house has existed since ancient times during the Dragon Boat Festival, but it is strictly forbidden to eat zongzi from the mother's house, as it may bring bad luck. In the past, when resources were scarce, people often struggled with hunger and coldness. Eating zongzi at the mother's house during the Dragon Boat Festival would increase economic pressure. Later, it evolved into the custom that married daughters should not return to their mother's house to eat zongzi, which serves two purposes: preventing the mother's family from becoming poorer and avoiding taking away the family's blessings, thus affecting the family's fortune.
Taboo Three of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Disturbing the Five Toxins
The Five Toxins refer to scorpions, centipedes, spiders, toads, and snakes. It is said that on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the extreme heat combined with humidity causes insects, snakes, and other creatures to come out in full force. At this time, the Five Toxins are just emerging, and their toxicity is particularly strong. We should tell children not to disturb these venomous creatures. If they encounter the "Five Toxins," they should quickly leave and not approach or tease them.
Taboo Four of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Going to Dark and Terrifying Places
Hospitals, cemeteries, and similar places are considered dark and terrifying. People believe that going to such places can lead to encountering bad things and getting sick. Therefore, on the Dragon Boat Festival, it is best to avoid such places, especially for infants under one year old. Since May is known as the "poisonous month," disasters may occur. Hence, there is a saying of "escaping the noon" on the Dragon Boat Festival, where children should be sent to their grandmother's house to avoid misfortune.
Taboo Five of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Losing the Scented Pouch
In some northern regions, young children wear scented pouches. The scented pouches worn by children must not be lost. According to legend, if a child loses the scented pouch they wear, they will face great misfortune within a year. After the Dragon Boat Festival, children should throw the scented pouches into water to prevent fires.
Taboo Six of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Wearing Red Clothes
The Dragon Boat Festival originally was a festival to drive away epidemics and worship the dragon in summer, later evolving into a festival to pay respects to ancestors and commemorate sages. After Qu Yuan committed suicide by jumping into the Miluo River on this day, the Dragon Boat Festival became a festival to honor Qu Yuan. Whether paying respects to ancestors or honoring Qu Yuan, people feel sorrowful, so it is not appropriate to wear red clothes.
Taboo Seven of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Sexual Activities
May is the "Nine Poison Months," and the Dragon Boat Festival is the first day of the nine poison months. During this time, poison gas attacks the body, and evil energy is strong. It is also said to be a day when heaven and earth are in harmony, making it unsuitable for sexual activities. This is not a belief but a natural scientific reason. When the energy field of heaven and earth is abnormal, it inevitably affects people's physical and mental health. Therefore, it is best to avoid sexual activities on the Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise, it could harm the body.
Taboo Eight of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Killing Living Beings
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival for worshipping gods, paying respects to ancestors, and praying for blessings and warding off evils. Many people like to release animals for blessings during such traditional festivals. Therefore, it is not suitable to kill living beings on this day. If you need meat, you can prepare it in advance, and try to avoid killing on the day of the festival to maintain the festive atmosphere. Bloodstains are also considered unlucky.
Taboo Nine of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Haircuts
Some places have the custom of avoiding haircuts on the Dragon Boat Festival. Locals believe that cutting hair on this day allows ghosts to "cut" your head and use the cut hair to strangle you and then wrap you up in a zongzi to eat. Actually, it is because the soft spot on a child's head has not completely closed yet, and there are many wind pathogens around the Dragon Boat Festival. Cutting hair during this period makes it easy for external pathogens to invade, so it is not advisable to give children haircuts.
Taboo Ten of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Traveling Far Away
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival, is one of the thirteen "Yang Gong Forbidden Days." Yang Gong Forbidden Days are days when "traveling is not advisable, and any action taken will be unfavorable." In fact, avoiding long trips on the Dragon Boat Festival has its basis. First, summer is prone to sudden storms, making long-distance travel inconvenient. Second, the yang energy is strong, and harmful organisms and bacteria are active, which can easily harm people. In ancient times, the Dragon Boat Festival was also called the "Poisonous Month," so it is better not to travel far.
The Dragon Boat Festival originally was a festival to drive away epidemics and worship the dragon in summer, later evolving into a festival to pay respects to ancestors and commemorate sages. After Qu Yuan committed suicide by jumping into the Miluo River on this day, the Dragon Boat Festival became a festival to honor Qu Yuan. Whether paying respects to ancestors or honoring Qu Yuan, people feel sorrowful, so it is not appropriate to wear red clothes.
Taboo Seven of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Sexual Activities
May is the "Nine Poison Months," and the Dragon Boat Festival is the first day of the nine poison months. During this time, poison gas attacks the body, and evil energy is strong. It is also said to be a day when heaven and earth are in harmony, making it unsuitable for sexual activities. This is not a belief but a natural scientific reason. When the energy field of heaven and earth is abnormal, it inevitably affects people's physical and mental health. Therefore, it is best to avoid sexual activities on the Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise, it could harm the body.
Taboo Eight of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Killing Living Beings
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional festival for worshipping gods, paying respects to ancestors, and praying for blessings and warding off evils. Many people like to release animals for blessings during such traditional festivals. Therefore, it is not suitable to kill living beings on this day. If you need meat, you can prepare it in advance, and try to avoid killing on the day of the festival to maintain the festive atmosphere. Bloodstains are also considered unlucky.
Taboo Nine of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Haircuts
Some places have the custom of avoiding haircuts on the Dragon Boat Festival. Locals believe that cutting hair on this day allows ghosts to "cut" your head and use the cut hair to strangle you and then wrap you up in a zongzi to eat. Actually, it is because the soft spot on a child's head has not completely closed yet, and there are many wind pathogens around the Dragon Boat Festival. Cutting hair during this period makes it easy for external pathogens to invade, so it is not advisable to give children haircuts.
Taboo Ten of the Dragon Boat Festival: Avoid Traveling Far Away
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival, is one of the thirteen "Yang Gong Forbidden Days." Yang Gong Forbidden Days are days when "traveling is not advisable, and any action taken will be unfavorable." In fact, avoiding long trips on the Dragon Boat Festival has its basis. First, summer is prone to sudden storms, making long-distance travel inconvenient. Second, the yang energy is strong, and harmful organisms and bacteria are active, which can easily harm people. In ancient times, the Dragon Boat Festival was also called the "Poisonous Month," so it is better not to travel far.
