Dragon Boat Festival
( 5th day, 5th Moon )

The day of the Dragon Boat Festival is infused with the colors and the lingering scent of incense and festival foods permeates the hot summer air. this is the day of "Double Fifth", which corresponds to the period around the summer solstice (June 21).

The festival was originally an agricultural festival to appease the dragon god of the river; however, it later became a festival to commenorate Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet.

Today the Dragon Boat Festival is widely celebrated, especially in South anc Central China, with river parades, dragon boat races, and rice offering of Zongzi.

The day of the Double Fifth is characterized by the struggle between the dual force of yin and yang as the waxing yang reaches a culminating point with the arrival of the summer and the yin principle, symbolizing darkness and dampness, comes fully into play. Because the Dragon Boat Festival is in the hottest month of the year, evil vapors abound being considered the most "poisonous." Every attempt is made to harmonized both the yin and yang so that the diseases could be avoided. "Five poisons" and "Five Colors" are considered the most powerful and protective pratices.

Of various images of healers and exorcists that make their annual appearance on the day Double fifth, the most popular are pictures of the monster-scholar Zhong-Kui.

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