I went to a Dragon Boat Festival race and got hit by a zongzi.
My friend from Germany was in Hangzhou during Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). He heard there was a boat race on West Lake.He went. He stood on the shore. He watched the boats.
Then someone threw a zongzi (粽子) at him.
What is Dragon Boat Festival?
Duanwu Festival, held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (usually June). It commemorates the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in protest 2,300 years ago.
Traditions:
• Dragon boat races
• Eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves)
• Hanging mugwort and calamus to ward off evil
• Drinking realgar wine
The zongzi incident:
During the race, spectators throw zongzi into the water as offerings to Qu Yuan's spirit. Some also throw them at friends and strangers for fun.
My friend didn't know this. A zongzi hit him in the shoulder. It was warm, heavy, and wrapped in bamboo leaves.
The thrower — an old man — laughed and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Good luck!"
My friend peeled the bamboo leaves. Inside: sticky rice with pork and salted egg yolk. It was actually delicious.
Zongzi varieties:
Sweet:
• Red bean paste
• Jujube (红枣)
• Plain with sugar
• Purple rice
Savory:
• Pork belly with salted egg yolk (most popular)
• Mushroom and chicken
• Chestnut and pork
• Scallop and shrimp (premium)
Regional styles:
• Northern China: sweet, triangular, smaller
• Southern China: savory, pyramidal, larger
• Cantonese: wrapped in lotus leaves instead of bamboo
Tips for experiencing Dragon Boat Festival:
Where to see races:
• Hangzhou: West Lake and Xixi Wetland
• Suzhou: Jinji Lake
• Guangzhou: Pearl River
• Hong Kong: Victoria Harbour (most famous international race)
How to eat zongzi:
• Unwrap the bamboo/lotus leaves
• Dip in sugar (for sweet) or soy sauce (for savory)
• Eat with chopsticks or hands
• They're dense. One is a full meal.
Gift giving:
• Zongzi are given as gifts during the festival
• Premium brands (五芳斋, 真真老老) sell gift boxes
• Supermarkets have them weeks before the festival
My German friend's take: "I got hit by a flying rice dumpling. It was the most unexpected food experience of my life. And it was delicious. China has a way of feeding you even when you're not hungry."
Anyone else experienced Dragon Boat Festival? Sweet or savory zongzi?
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