Awakening the Dragon: The Dragon Boat Festival

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most colourful of Chinese
traditions. Some say that it originated as an offering to the River
Dragon to ensure the right amount of rain. Others believe it began in
memory of Qu Yuang, a beloved poet. What is undisputed is that the
festival has given rise to many fascinating customs and traditions.

Held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year, the Dragon
Boat Festival is also known as the Festival of the Double Fifth, and is
considered to be one of the unluckiest days of the year. Consequently,
many of the customs, such as hanging garlic above doorways, displaying
images of the demon slayer, and wearing five-coloured “threads of
life” bracelets or hair ribbons, are designed to ward off misfortune
and evil spirits, bringing good luck instead. Another tradition involves
“awakening” the dragon boats with chants and a blessing, and dotting
the eyes of the dragons with red paint.

Chan, herself a dragon boat racer, describes in detail the rigorous
training, conditioning, and preparation required for dragon boat racing.
She effectively conveys the thrill and excitement of the race itself,
leaving no doubt as to why dragon boat racing has, in recent years,
become a sport popular the world over.

Colourful, meticulously detailed illustrations by Song Nan Zhang
accompany the text. The cameo miniatures, which introduce each section,
and the dust jacket, which reverses into a poster perfect for display
purposes, are especially noteworthy. Awakening the Dragon is highly
recommended.