Various events have been held in Greece, Peru and Brazil to celebrate the Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
The traditional Chinese festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese calendar, which is Friday this year.
A dragon boat race was held in Marathon, Greece by the Chinese Embassy and local Chinese communities, with eight teams composed of Greeks and Chinese competing.
In Peru, the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University put up activities for participants to experience Chinese culture, including designing Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, making Duanwu-themed artworks, and making zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped with bamboo or reed leaves, attracting a lot of teachers and students.
The institute also held a lecture on the historic origins and cultural meanings of the Duanwu Festival.
"In my artwork, I tried to incorporate various aspects of the Dragon Boat Festival, including the legend of Qu Yuan, activities like the dragon boat race, and traditional food zongzi. Chinese is more than just a language; it carries profound cultural connotations. Therefore, understanding Chinese culture, experiencing it firsthand, and communicating and sharing it with native speakers are also important," said Diana Carolina Gonzalez, a Peruvian student.
In Brazil, the Confucius Institute at Para State University and the Para Science Center and Planetarium jointly held an astronomical activity, displaying a star image in Chinese culture -- the Azure Dragon which is divided into seven mansions that form the image like a dragon.
More than 100 local middle school students experienced Chinese customs in person and observed celestial phenomena like ancient Chinese during the event.
Events held celebrating Duanwu Festival in Greece, Peru, Brazil
Events held celebrating Duanwu Festival in Greece, Peru, Brazil
