:: Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival ::

Origins in Ancient China ::

Dragon boat racing is one of the earliest known forms of boat racing and is celebrated at festivals and races throughout the world. This mythical celebration is a symbol of Chinese culture and spirit and is one of the three largest festivals in China. The roots of dragon boat racing go back over 2,000 years to the southern provinces of China. Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a scholar and advisor to the emperor of the Chu Kingdom, jumped into the Mei Lo (Mi Luo) River in despair and protest against government corruption. Local fishermen raced out in their boats to save him. They beat drums and pounded their paddles on the river's waters and threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river to distract the water dragons and keep them from eating from Qu Yuan's body. Dragon boating evolved from the re-enactment of this legend at annual festivals.

Boats and Races::

A dragon boat is a large, canoe-like craft made from wood and fiberglass that is colorfully painted and decorated with a dragon's head on the front and a tail on the back. Size varies, but boats hold between 16 and 24 paddlers with an average of 20 paddlers. Paddlers are seated two per row and paddle continously on the same side for the duration of the race. A drummer and steersperson accompany the paddlers to motivate the crew and keep the boat on track. Paddles are wood, but carbon fiber paddles are beginning to appear. Races are held at various locations around the world, but usually in somewhat sheltered venues as dragon boats are not quite seaworthy. The average race course is 500 meters and can have between 4 and 10 boats.

Impressive Sight

It is easy to see why dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It is truly an impressive sight to see an elaborately adorned dragon boat surging towards the finish line with its engine of 20 paddlers pulling hard with every stroke in perfect unison to the drummer's beat and the calls of the steersperson. Combine the competition and excitement of the races with the fun and atmosphere of the cultural festivities that typically occur at a dragon boat festival, and you have a great event for participants and spectators of all ages.

Rites in Connection with the Festival ::

"Awakening of the Dragon" is where a priest prepares a boat by dotting the protruding eyes of the dragon head in order to end his lumber. After the race, a similar ceremony is required to put him to rest again.

Onlookers played an active role in the race. Fans on riverside would cheer and give gifts of red and green silk to the boat from their region but would greet opposing boats with angry shouts and a hail of stones. It was thought unlucky if at least one drowning did not occur.

Another interesting ritual involves the "five poisonous animals" - the snake, centipede, scorpion, lizard and toad. Red paper is cut into the shapes of these animals, red symbolizing vigor and life, and then placed in a gourd to trap the evil spirits. Such magic is needed to overcome the evil that the fifth of the fifth engenders.