Fifth Moon or Dragon Boat Festival

In Summer, Chinese communities living in coastal and riverine areas throughout the world observe the fifth moon of the lunar calendar with rice dumplings and dragon boat races. 

Known as the Patriotic Poet’s Festival, it honours the statesman-scholar Qu Yuan, who in 278 BC. drowned himself to protest corruption in the government. As a former  minister, he was banished through political intrigue. He wrote two famous odes before jumping into the water. Legend says the fishermen tried to save him to no avail. To prevent fishes from devouring his

corpse, rice was thrown in to feed them. 

This ritual is held every fifth day of the fifth moon in

remembrance of  him. Around 40 BC. fishermen placed rice in bamboo tubes for fear that the river dragon would eat the food meant as homage to the dead poet. 

By the Tang Dynasty (AD 265 – 419), triangular cakes were

made for the mid-summer solstice to commemorate both the first harvest of the year and Qu Yuan’s death.

FESTIVALS OF MALAYSIA

• Fifth Moon • 9 Emperor Gods • Chinese New Year • Mooncake Festival •

• Hungry Ghost Festival • Deepavali • Thaipusam • Pongal • Gawai •

• Kaamatam • Kaul • Fiesta San Pedro   • Christmas • Hari Raya Puasa •