The Dragon Boat Festival's vibrant traditions have paddled across borders this year, with nations in Europe, North America and South Asia embracing the ancient Chinese holiday with spirited dragon boat races and cultural exchanges.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival fell on May 31 this year.
During the festival, people take part in dragon boat races and eat the traditional holiday fare of Zongzi -- sticky rice dumplings wrapped in broad bamboo leaves.
In Budapest, around 40,000 people attended workshops and interactive exhibits during the city's Dragon Boat Festival celebrations over the weekend.
"Mutual cultural understanding between Hungarians and Chinese is essential. As we learn about each other's traditions, with Hungarians understanding Chinese culture and Chinese friends learning ours, we build the foundation for coexistence, cooperation and mutual reliance. That's why organizing such cultural events is so valuable. They help us properly appreciate China's festivals and traditions," said Robert Kovacs, Mayor of Budapest's 10th district.
The Greek city of Marathon hosted its first-ever dragon boat competition at the Schinias Olympic Center on Sunday. Six teams, including four from China and two from Greece, raced across the Aegean waters, with Greece's "Dragon Friends" team emerging victorious after an intense championship round.
The event combined athletic competition with cultural experiences, including traditional Chinese dances and Zongzi tastings that introduced Greek spectators to authentic festival customs.
On Saturday, 125 teams from diverse regions and age groups braved rain and low temperatures to take part in a dragon boat race in Vancouver, Canada. Sri Lanka continued its growing embrace of the tradition, holding its third annual dragon boat races outside Colombo.
The event, featuring five newly donated competition boats from China, blended sporting excitement with cultural education, a testament to the festival's expanding global appeal.
As drumbeats echoed across the globe, these international celebrations demonstrated how an ancient Chinese tradition has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon, connecting cultures through shared joy and friendly competition.
Global celebrations bring Dragon Boat Festival traditions to life worldwide
