This year, Dragon Boat Festival (端午節) falls on May 31, 2025. It’s one of the most widely celebrated Chinese holidays, observed on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar. Check out more about 端午節 with Cantonese resources to help you celebrate below.

What is Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival, or 端午節 (dyun1 ng5 zit3), is a traditional Chinese holiday with roots going back over 2,000 years. One of the most popular legends behind the festival honors Qu Yuan (屈原), a poet and minister known for his patriotism and loyalty. After being exiled, Qu Yuan drowned himself in a river as a final protest. According to legend, locals raced out in boats to save him or retrieve his body, and tossed rice dumplings into the river to keep fish away. This is said to be the origin of dragon boat races and “joong” (sticky rice dumplings).

How do you Celebrate 端午節?

Traditionally, 端午節 is celebrated with:

• Eating “joong” (糭子 / zung2 zi2): These sticky rice dumplings are wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with various ingredients depending on the region – sweet red bean, savory pork belly, mung beans, or salted egg yolk are all common. Check out this “joong” recipe on The Woks of Life.
• Watching or participating in dragon boat races: Paddlers row to the beat of drums in long boats shaped like dragons. It’s a symbolic part of the festival.
• Hanging mugwort and calamus (艾草 & 菖蒲): These herbs are said to ward off evil and illness during this summer festival.
• Wearing 五色線 (five-colored threads): Traditionally tied around children’s wrists, these colorful strings are believed to bring health and protection.

Families may also honor ancestors, clean their homes for good luck, and share meals together.

Kid-Friendly Videos in Cantonese

Want to introduce your kids to 端午節 in a fun way? Here are a few great options available online:

• 5 Minute Cantonese Lesson on Dragon Boat Festival
  
• Uncle Calvin’s 5 Things About Dragon Boat Festival in Cantonese
  
• Animated Retelling of Qu Yuan’s Story in Canto
  

Dragon Boat Festival Crafts & Printables

• Make a Little Dragon Boat – instructions in Cantonese
  
• DIY “Joong” out of felt with this creative kids craft
• Coloring pages from Twinkl

Join Our Dragon Boat Festival Event!

We’ll be back in Bergen at Palisades Park Library to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival with you on 6/21 at 11am-1:30pm! We’ll have Cantonese storytime, arts and crafts, and festive games for all ages. No registration required, and it’s FREE to attend! Learn more here.