Origins, Ancestral Rites, and Traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is a cherished traditional festival among Chinese communities. On this day, families gather to make rice dumplings and watch dragon boat races, festivities filled with joy and rich in historical and cultural significance.
Origins of the Dragon Boat Festival

Also known as Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most important traditional celebrations among Chinese communities. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month—May 31st (Saturday) in 2025.
Legend of Qu Yuan
The most widely known origin of the festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and statesman from the Warring States period. Loyal and visionary, Qu Yuan served the state of Chu and advocated for political reform. However, he was exiled due to false accusations. When Chu’s capital was conquered by the Qin army, Qu Yuan, overwhelmed with grief, threw himself into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month.
Devastated by his death, the local people raced out in boats to search for his body and dropped rice dumplings into the river to prevent fish from consuming it. These acts gradually evolved into today's traditions of dragon boat racing and eating rice dumplings (zongzi).
Other Origins and Regional Legends
While Qu Yuan’s story is the most popular, other regional legends also contribute to the festival’s origins:
Wu Zixu, a loyal minister of the state of Wu, was unjustly executed. People began honoring him during the festival.
Cao E, a filial daughter from the Eastern Han dynasty, drowned while trying to retrieve her father’s body from a river. She became a symbol of filial piety and was later commemorated during Duanwu.
In ancient times, May was considered an unlucky month, and the fifth day an especially ominous one. To ward off evil spirits and disease, people would hang mugwort and calamus at their doors and wear sachets filled with aromatic herbs
How Is Ancestral Worship Practiced During the Dragon Boat Festival?
端午节如何祭祖 How to worship during Dumpling Festival
Besides eating rice dumplings and watching dragon boat races, ancestral worship is another meaningful yet often overlooked tradition during the Dragon Boat Festival. This ritual is not only a way to honor family heritage but also a prayer for blessings, harmony, and prosperity.
Setting Up the Altar
Choose a clean and well-lit area at home, usually in front of the ancestral tablet or shrine. Set up a tidy and respectful offering table.
Preparing the Offerings
Traditional offerings typically include:
Cooked three types of meat::commonly chicken, pork, and fish
Zongzi (rice dumplings): a festive essential
Fruits: such as apples, bananas, and longans.
Six dishes: usually home-cooked meals.
Three cups each of tea and liquor: symbolizing respect and sharing festive drinks
Joss paper (gold and silver foil): offerings for the spirits of ancestors
Offering Incense
After arranging the offerings neatly, light a stick of incense and bow with joined palms while making a silent prayer for ancestral blessings. When the incense burns about a quarter of the way, take the joss paper, bow three times, and burn it as a gesture of filial piety.Prayers and Blessings
During the ritual, express gratitude for ancestral virtue and pray for peace at home, career success, and good health. After the ceremony, the family shares the food together, symbolizing unity and connection with past generations.
Dragon Boat Festival Traditions
The Dragon Boat Festival is a time-honored celebration rich in folk culture and ritual activities. With its multiple meanings of praying for good fortune, honoring ancestors, and warding off evil and disease, the festival has developed many iconic customs that continue to deeply influence the Chinese community worldwide.
Eating Zongzi (Rice Dumplings)

Zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, are the most representative festive food of the Dragon Boat Festival. They are filled with ingredients such as red beans, salted egg yolk, pork, or chestnuts and are typically shaped into triangles. This custom originated from the ancient practice of throwing zongzi into the river to honor the poet Qu Yuan, eventually evolving into the traditional festival delicacy.
Dragon Boat Racing

Dragon boat racing is one of the most thrilling and visually captivating activities during the festival. Participants paddle in unison on boats shaped like dragons, commemorating Qu Yuan’s sacrifice. The races symbolize courage, unity, and perseverance. Today, dragon boat competitions have become major events that bring together Chinese communities worldwide in lively celebrations.
Hanging Mugwort and Calamus
In ancient times, the fifth lunar month was considered a “dangerous month” prone to epidemics and bad luck. On the Dragon Boat Festival, people hang mugwort and calamus on doorways or windows. These plants have special fragrances and medicinal properties, believed to ward off evil spirits and prevent illness, bringing peace and health to households.
Wearing Fragrant Sachets
Fragrant sachets are sewn from colorful fabric and filled with aromatic herbs such as mugwort, mint, and clove. Often intricately decorated and worn as pendants on the chest or waist, these sachets not only help repel disease and evil but also serve as beautiful tokens of blessings. They are especially popular among children.
Where to Watch Dragon Boat Races in Malaysia
Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, several locations in Malaysia host exciting dragon boat races, which have become key festive celebrations. In 2025, Malacca and Penang will each hold grand dragon boat events, bringing vibrant and lively atmospheres to the holiday.
Melaka Dragon Boat Festival
From May to June, Malacca will host the 40th Dragon Boat Cultural Festival, featuring a rich variety of activities including traditional dragon boat races, Dragon Boat Festival folk performances, and family-friendly interactive experiences. The competition includes short-distance sprints and, for the first time, an 8-kilometer marathon dragon boat race, attracting numerous local and international teams. Visitors can enjoy not only thrilling races but also a deep immersion into the vibrant culture of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta

At the end of November, the Penang Straits Quay will host the International Dragon Boat Race, attracting teams from around the world. The event features a variety of races, including exciting 250-meter and 400-meter sprints, as well as a fun-filled tug-of-war competition. Whether you’re a participant or a spectator, you’ll experience the thrilling blend of teamwork, competitive spirit, and rich cultural traditions.
Whether you choose Malacca or Penang, these dragon boat festivals offer a perfect chance to immerse yourself in the traditional culture and sporting spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival. Step outside, feel the pounding drums, the rhythm of paddles, and the cheers of the crowd, and celebrate the unique charm of the Dragon Boat Festival in Malaysia.