The Dragon Boat Festival has always been a wonderful holiday for the entire nation to ward off pestilence and evil, and to pray for health. As one of the four major traditional festivals in China, it boasts a long history of several thousand years. From ancient times to the present, the Dragon Boat Festival has always been highly valued. Today, let us explore the ancient traditions behind the Dragon Boat Festival together. What exactly does the Dragon Boat Festival emphasize on the “One Inhale, Two Eat, Three Friends” tradition refer to!

Inhale the “Chen Qi” (morning air with auspicious energy)

On the Dragon Boat Festival, it’s customary to take a walk around one’s neighborhood to inhale the so-called “Chen Qi” (morning air believed to carry auspicious energy). Ancient people believed that the earth’s qi (energy) was particularly strong on this day, which was known as the “Five Poisons Day”. The earth’s qi was believed to be vigorous and the magnetic field intense, making it a period of peak yang energy in the year. Therefore, going out for a walk and taking deep breaths of fresh air on this day was believed to ward off illnesses and evil spirits. This is not only a tradition but also carries symbolic meaning. It reminds us that life has its ups and downs, and when we find ourselves in a low point, we should not be discouraged but take proactive actions to seek opportunities for a turnaround. So, on the Dragon Boat Festival, don’t just stay in an air-conditioned room. Instead, take a walk near rivers, seasides, or in forests. Sweating more can invigorate the body’s qi and blood circulation. Inhaling a breath of fresh air can bring a good mood.

One of the Two Delicacies to Eat: Zongzi

When it comes to the Dragon Boat Festival, the custom of eating zongzi is naturally indispensable. However, there are also rules for eating zongzi: it should be in odd numbers. According to traditional culture, odd numbers are considered yang (positive), while even numbers are yin (negative). Therefore, eating one or three zongzi aligns more with the yang attributes of the Dragon Boat Festival. If you wish to offer zongzi to deceased ancestors, you may consider using an even number.

Besides being particular about the quantity of zongzi consumed, it is also customary to enjoy them with “tea”.

If you are eating plain glutinous rice zongzi without any fillings, you can pair it with rose tea. The subtle fragrance of the tea can also regulate blood circulation and is very pleasant!

If you are eating particularly sweet zongzi, such as those filled with jujube paste or red bean paste, you might want to try pairing them with a light green tea or mint tea. Both teas are cold in nature and suitable for the dry and hot sweetness of zongzi. Light green tea and mint tea can enhance glucose metabolism and prevent excessive sugar from staying in the body.

If you are eating particularly oily meat-filled zongzi, such as those with fresh meat, ham, or sausage, the appropriate teas to pair with them are Pu’er tea and chrysanthemum tea. They can effectively remove the greasy feeling in the mouth, especially Pu’er tea, which is definitely a superior choice because it is sweet and cold in nature and has an excellent effect on removing fat; chrysanthemum tea can reduce the heatiness caused by eating zongzi and is also a good option.

Semi-fermented Oolong tea is a “perfect match” for savory-sweet zongzi such as those filled with salted pepper and egg yolk! The warm and smooth taste of the tea complements the profound savory-sweet flavor of the zongzi!

The second of the two treasures to eat: eat eggs

On the Dragon Boat Festival, it is also customary to eat tea-flavored eggs or garlic-flavored eggs. The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the most toxic day of the “Five Poisons Month,” where “hundreds of insects emerge.” To avoid bites, people will eat tea-flavored eggs or garlic-flavored eggs. Garlic has a pungent odor that insects avoid, so eating garlic-flavored eggs is also a way to ensure safety. Tea-flavored eggs, containing tea leaves, have the effect of refreshing the mind and keeping people energetic, helping them stay alert and not feel dull during the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Three Friends: Mugwort, Sachet, and Realgar Wine are known as the “Three Friends of the Dragon Boat Festival”

Mugwort and Calamus, the “Two Friends” of the Dragon Boat Festival, drive away poison and plague.

The folk saying goes, “Plant willow on Tomb-Sweeping Day and mugwort on Dragon Boat Festival.” During the Dragon Boat Festival, every household would insert calamus and mugwort branches above their doorframes and hang them in the halls. Some people even boil water with mugwort and calamus leaves to bathe and spray around their houses.

Sachets, one of the “Three Friends” of the Dragon Boat Festival, dispel wind and cold.

“Carry a scented pouch and you won’t fear the five pests.” As early as more than two thousand years ago, there was a folk custom in China of wearing scented pouches to ward off evil smells and impurities, which was also a method of preventing infectious diseases.

Realgar Wine, one of the “Three Friends” of the Dragon Boat Festival, is used to kill insects and detoxify.

The saying goes, “Drinking realgar wine drives away all illnesses.” It is a custom in many regions across China to drink realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival for health preservation and epidemic prevention. However, from a modern medical perspective, drinking realgar wine is extremely harmful to the human body. Even if not consumed, applying realgar wine on children’s heads or bodies is also not advisable. The main chemical component of realgar is toxic arsenic disulfide, which chemically reacts to become arsenic trioxide, commonly known as arsenic, when heated. If realgar wine must be used to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, it can be sprayed on the corners of walls to repel summer insects.

The inheritance and practice of these traditional customs not only allow us to experience the extensive and profound culture of the Chinese nation but also bring a sense of tranquility and peace to our busy modern lives. May each of us draw strength from these traditions, find solace in our hearts, maintain a sense of peace and joy in our busy lives, and jointly embrace a brighter future.

Let us carry the wisdom of tradition as we walk on the path of the times, never forgetting our original intentions, and continuously inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

Regarding GSBIO

Founded in July 2012 and located at No. 35, Huitai Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, GSBIO  is a high-tech enterprise in Jiangsu Province that specializes in the research and development, production, and sales of in vitro diagnostic testing consumables and IVD automation equipment.

The company possesses over 3,000 square meters of Class 100,000 cleanrooms, equipped with more than 30 internationally advanced injection molding machines and auxiliary equipment, making production fully automated. The product line covers consumables for gene sequencing, reagent extraction, chemiluminescent immunoassay, and more. Production utilizes high-end medical-grade raw materials from Europe, and the production process strictly follows ISO13485 standards to ensure product uniformity and stability. The company’s mature production processes, professional production equipment, and experienced management team have received high praise from all sectors of society.

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GSBIO adheres to the enterprise spirit of “facing difficulties bravely and daring to innovate”, and will continue to dedicate itself to providing high-quality (medical) laboratory consumables and customized equipment solutions for customers both domestically and internationally.