THE Dragon Boat Festival is over, but the fragrance of bamboo leaves still lingers in the city and offers a lot of thought-provoking food.

Expats also took the opportunity to glimpse the traditional Chinese festival, which many young Chinese people might have forgotten.

"People are living in a global village, so we can also share festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival. I know it is about an ancient Chinese poet," said an Israeli at a Zongzi tasting event to mark the festival in Jingshan Villas.

The festival is in commemoration of ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who drowned in a river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. He was admired by people for fighting rampant corruption. People threw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water, so the fish would eat the rice rather than the poet. Competing teams took to boats to rescue the poet. Later, they turned to the custom of eating rice dumplings and holding dragon boat races.

"I only know every fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival, I don't know anything more than that," said a young lady surnamed Liu.

"What is the Dragon Boat Festival?" asked a 5-year-old boy, with his mother buying rice dumpling at a supermarket.

Department stores, supermarkets, and restaurants have all become a dazzling showcase of various Zongzi, the glutinous rice ball with a filling wrapped in corn leaves. With more variety in fillings, new packages and different sizes, food producers have been cashing in on the opportunity to sell their products.

It was reported that Zongzi was selling like hot cakes Tuesday in Shenzhen. The sales volume was expected to be 20 percent higher than last year.

Moon cakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, round dumplings for the Lantern Festival and Zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival. While traditional Chinese festivals have almost turned into a delicacy spectacular, few people know their cultural significance.

For youngsters, Western festivals such as Christmas and Valentine's Day top their festival agendas. Sometimes they can even relate the origins of the festivals, but traditional Chinese festivals have been gradually fading.

"We cannot simply say it's not a good phenomenon. At least it's a good sign that cultural exchanges are widely spread in China especially among the younger generation," said Yi Songguo, dean of the social science department at Shenzhen University.

Traditional Chinese festivals embrace the human spirit typical of China. While the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival focus on the family reunion, the Dragon Boat Festival is the focal point of patriotism.

"In a migrant city like Shenzhen, the family concept and patriotic education is particularly important, because they can make our society more stable and cohesive. Educating people through the festival celebration is more effective and touching," said Professor Yi.

"It's not always necessary to put a new take on the old things. Trying to keep everybody aware of the festival's original implication is enough. I think our government and media should join hands, such as holding activities with one theme annually to strengthen the traditional festive concept."

For those missing the exciting dragon boat race, don't worry. You have another chance. A dragon boat race will be held this weekend at Nan'ao Township in Longgang District.

 
Editor: Wings