Beijing Women's Federation

A group photo of attendees at the celebration event 

Attending children and their parents make decorations in accordance with traditions on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival.

To promote traditional Chinese culture, foster and practice core socialist values, and carry out patriotic education, Xicheng Women's Federation and the Women's Federation of Western Chang'anjie Sub-District Office jointly held a thematic gathering in Dongsongshu Public Service Center on June 8 to mark the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival. The celebration event drew the attendance of over 60 parents and children, who got together to listen to the tale of patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who lived around 340 BC to 278 BC, learn more about the Dragon Boat Festival, and carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture.

It has been a time-honored tradition for the Chinese people to link the Dragon Boat Festival with Qu, boat racing and zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings). The patriotic poet has left a deep impression upon the Chinese people with its elegant poetry, lofty character and firm patriotism.

During the event, attending children and their parents jointly listened to introductions about Qu's tale, recited his poems, grasped a deep understanding of his noble spirit, and conveyed the strong affection of local families toward the Party and the country. Many kids said that the activity allowed them to learn more about the patriotic poet, become inspired by his fine character, and endeavor to devote themselves to the country in the future.

Zongzi was initially used by the Chinese people to honor their ancestors and the divinity. Later, it has become one of traditional Chinese foods with profound historical and cultural deposit. At the gathering, children were guided by on-site teachers and their parents to make their own Zongzi-shaped oil soaps and shared the soaps with family members. Many parents said that it was the first time for them to make such soaps by themselves and that it was a memorable experience for them to get together and share personal understanding of the traditional Chinese festival.

It has been another tradition for the Chinese people to hang several branches of moxa and calamus around the doors of their homes in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival. Attendees said that the thematic activity, together with the making of crafts and moxa decorations, provided them with valuable experience in the understanding of traditional Chinese culture and Qu's strong patriotism.

In the next step, Xicheng Women's Federation will grasp the celebration of traditional Chinese festivals as a carrier and underscore a theme, a cultural class, the experience of a folk experience, a reading activity, a creative craft-making and the production of a poster, in festival celebration. It will make full use of its functions as a bridge linking women with the Party and the government, take family as a forward position in the cultivation and practice of core socialist values, carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture, foster a harmonious family environment in terms of spiritual and cultural aspects, push for patriotism, firm up cultural confidence, and advance the high-quality development of women's and children's affairs with sincere and dedicated attitude.