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Why do people eat rice dumplings during
the Dragon Boat Festival?
粽子
In ancient China, a patriotic statesman,
Qu Yuan, threw himself into the river out of despair when his country fell. To stop the fish from eating his body, the locals threw rice dumplings into the river.
Since then, people would wrap and eat rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Let's take a look at the ingredients that are commonly found in sweet and savoury rice dumplings!
SWEET
RICE DUMPLING
Purple Rice
Glutinous Rice
Green Bean
Red Bean
Millet
Dumpling Leaf
SAVOURY
RICE DUMPLINGS
Chesnut
Glutinous Rice
Salted
Egg Yolk
Pork
Mushroom
Dumpling Leaf
Rice Dumplings
Commonly Found in Singapore
There are many different types of rice dumplings -- the fillings in rice dumplings vary across regions.
Click on the pictures to learn more!
The Significance
Behind Rice Dumplings
"粽" (zòng) and "中" (zhòng) are similar in sound,
hence people believe that eating rice dumplings will allow one to achieve success (功名得中).
"粽" (zòng) 和 "宗" (zōng) have similar pronunciation,
hence people believe that eating rice dumplings (粽子) will bring honour to one's ancestors (光宗耀祖).
Sending others rice dumplings during Dragon Boat Festival
is akin to sending well wishes.
Did You Know?
The glutinous rice is dyed blue using butterfly pea flowers before it is wrapped up.
The colour of the glutinous rice in Nyonya rice dumplings is one of its unique features.
Singapore: Nyonya Rice Dumplings
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Japan:
Japanese Rice Dumplings
Japanese rice dumplings are also known as "Thatamaki" in Japanese.
In Japan, instead of glutinous rice, people put grounded rice flour in their dumplings. Their dumplings are wrapped in a cone shape, different from China's
triangular rice dumplings.
According to a legend, there used to be a rainy season in southern Fujian before
the Dragon Boat Festival.
The folks say that the "Sky God" pierced a hole, which needs to be filled.
The rain stopped after people ate Fried Sesame Balls on Dragon Boat Festival.
People believe that eating Fried Sesame Balls can "fill the sky", and created this food custom.
China:
Fried Sesame Balls
Korea:
Mugwort Steamed Cake
Mugwort Steamed Cake is also known as "Wheel Biscuit" due to it looking like a wheel.
Around the Dragon Boat Festival, Koreans would pluck fresh mugwort leaves, add it into
Japonica rice, before pounding it to become Mugwort Steamed Cake.
It is said that eating this can prevent one from harm and replenish one's strength.
How much have you learnt about rice dumplings after reading this page?
Try out this game to find out!
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