Talk of the town : The Dragon Boat Festival
【明報專訊】The Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar, falls on the end of May in 2025. Celebrated in many parts of Asia, this traditional festival is the first Chinese festival designated as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Every year, the fierce dragon boat races on the Shing Mun River at Shatin on that day will catch everyone's eye, while some will go beach swimming during the Festival to attract good luck.
The Festival Food: Zongzi
Zongzi, a traditional delicacy enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival, is a pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves. But why do we eat zongzi, you may ask?
Legend has it that these rice dumplings are eaten in honor of Qu Yuan (屈原), a patriotic poet and statesman who drowned himself in the Miluo River (汨羅江) as a form of protest against corruption. People threw zongzi into the river to prevent fish from eating his body.
There are various types of zongzi, such as Cantonese zong and Jianshui zong (鹼水糉), each with its own unique flavors and ingredients. For example, the popular Cantonese zong in Hong Kong consists of pork belly, mung bean paste and salted egg yolk, and people enjoy it with sugar or soy sauce. As times change, some companies may also incorporate luxurious food ingredients into zongzi, such as black truffle and abalone.
Beware of heat stroke!
As the festival marks the arrival of summer, it's crucial for everyone, especially young ones like you, to always pay attention to weather warnings issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, and stay hydrated and cool to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat stroke (中暑). Remember to drink plenty of water, wear light and breathable clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of the day. Let's enjoy the Festival and your upcoming holiday while staying safe and healthy!
■Gear up
(Answers on next text)
1. In 2025, the Dragon Boat Festival will be on the 30th of May. (True/False)
Fill in the blanks with the glossary below.
2. The ________ competition among the top athletes pushed them to their limits, resulting in record-breaking performance.
3. The generous host ensured that there was ___________ of food and drinks for all the guests at the party.
■Grammar booster
Legend has it
Used when you are reporting what people say or what a story says.
E.g. Legend has it that a hidden treasure lies buried beneath the old oak tree at the edge of the village.
■Game
(Answer on next text)
Help the zongzi find a way out! (See the picture 2)
■Glossary
fierce (adj) 激烈的
wrap (v) 包裹
luxurious (v) 奢華的
plenty (pronoun) 大量的
■(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view of rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第443期]
