Dragon Boat Festival 2025

Description

The Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan is a public holiday that honors history and community. People remember a famous poet and minister named Qu Yuan. The day reminds everyone about loyalty and caring for one another.

The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar. That usually lands in late May or June on the regular calendar. The exact date changes each year because it follows the moon.

For Taiwan, the holiday is a time to reflect on cultural roots. Schools, offices, and some businesses close so families and friends can gather. It is also a marker of seasonal change into early summer.

The festival has a long history across many Chinese speaking places. In Taiwan it helps pass stories and values from older generations to younger ones. It keeps a sense of identity and shared memory alive.

Traditions

In Taiwan people gather to watch and join dragon boat races on rivers and harbors. Teams paddle fast to drumbeats. Spectators cheer loudly and throw rice dumplings to winners sometimes to celebrate strength and teamwork.

Families make and eat zongzi wrapped in bamboo leaves. Flavors can be sweet or savory with pork, peanuts, salted egg yolk, or red bean. Markets and home kitchens are busy with people wrapping and steaming these bundles.

Homes hang mugwort and calamus leaves on doors and windows. Children wear colorful scented sachets and five colored strings on their wrists. These practices come with blessing rituals and small offerings to water and ancestors.

Communities hold drum and gong performances and blessing ceremonies by temples. People clean and wash with herbal water for protection. Schools and neighborhoods often have friendly races and public feasts.

Travel Tips

Many shops, banks, and government offices close on the holiday. Expect trains, buses, and highways to be very busy before and after the day. Book tickets and hotels early, and carry cash for small vendors who may not take cards.

Join public dragon boat events in big cities for a safe view. Stay near official event zones, follow police instructions, and use public transport to avoid parking headaches. Try local markets and restaurants that stay open to enjoy food and atmosphere responsibly.