ECNU’s School of Social Development and Changning District’s Folk Culture Center worked together to organize a fascinating fête on the Minhang Campus. It was held on June 17 with the Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu, looming just around the corner.
In China, the 5th day on the 5th month of the lunar year is called the Duan Wu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival. It is an important holiday on which many Chinese pay homage to Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). This year, the festival falls on June 20.
The folk customs team perform traditional dances at the square before Huamin Canteen.
During the event, a group celebrating folk customs paraded throughout the campus, with an accompanying band beating gongs and drums. Members of the folk customs team played the roles of Qu Yuan, Xu Xian, Bai Niangzi, and other legendary figures associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. They started at the Law and Business Building, passed through the library’s south square and the University’s Office Building, and finally arrived at the square in front of Huamin Canteen. Their parade, complete with joyous music and eye-catching costumes, attracted a large number of students and teachers, many of them stopping to take pictures.
Some folk artists teach participants how to make sachets and embroideries.
At the square, the Dragon Dance, Boat Dance, and Yangge Dance were performed by the folk customs team, which provided a great opportunity for students and teachers to appreciate the charm of these traditional dances. The vivid reenactment of a story from Legend of White Snake presented the audience with more background knowledge about the festival. Some folk artists even taught participants how to make sachets on-site. During the Dragon Boat Festival, children usually wear sachets filled with cinnabar, realgar, and aromatics. It is believed that doing so helps to drive away evil spirits and prevent illness. At the same time, many think that kids wearing sachets are simply more adorable.Inside the sachets are cinnabar, realgar and aromatic odor. The shape of the sachet varies, and numerous sachets are strung together on display. In some cities in southern China, young people will also use sachets to express their affection for one other.
Holding a fête to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival has been a tradition at ECNU since thpe University first held such an activity in 2009. According pto Prof. Wu Ruijun, Dean of the School of Social Development, the University will hold the fête annually to pass on traditional cultural heritage.
Some folk artists even taught participants how to make sachets on-site.
