Dragon Boat Festival Lecture Notes

Chinese people traditionally hang certain plants to drive away mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs.
This is because summer brings a lot of insects and active animals due to the high temperature.
Rationale: People dislike flies, poisonous things, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rats.
The function is to drive away evil spirits.
The plants serve as a symbol and image to ward off evil.

People carry small, fragrant sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Tradition: Standing outside at 12:12 PM on the day of the festival brings good luck for the whole year.

Unlike other festivals where we wish people "happy birthday," "Merry Christmas," or "Happy New Year," the Dragon Boat Festival has a different tone.
Explanation: The Dragon Boat Festival's origin is a sad story related to a loyal officer and poet who drowned himself to advise a bad emperor. The advice was not heeded.
Therefore, it's inappropriate to say "happy Dragon Boat Festival."
Instead, wish people "peace and safety" and "health." (Chinese: $安康$ )

Dragon Boat Festival events have cheerleaders, including some from the USA.
These events take place internationally, such as in Vietnam, and feature university students.

A story related to the Dragon Boat Festival involves a man named Xu Xian and a woman named Bai Su Zhen.
Xu Xian opened a medicine shop but was sold rotten herbs by a resentful former employer.
A plague struck the city, and Bai Su Zhen used the rotten herbs to create a remedy that cured everyone.
A monk warned Xu Xian that Bai Su Zhen was a demon and advised him to serve her realgar wine on the fifth day of the fifth month.
Xu Xian followed the advice, and Bai Su Zhen transformed into a giant white serpent, shocking Xu Xian, who died.
Bai Su Zhen, an immortal snake, sought an herb to revive Xu Xian.
She went to the Quinlan Mountains and obtained the herb from the old man of the South Pole.
She revived Xu Xian, who was initially terrified but then happy to see her, demon or not.