在台老外霧煞煞？ 端午節小知識一次盤點

【看CP學英文】一年一度的端午節又到了！來自外國的朋友們，如果這是你第一次參加端午節，一定要體驗看看以下這些端午習俗，感受佳節的熱鬧氛圍！

If this is your first time celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan, here are just a few things you need to know (and do) to get into the spirit!

端午節濫觴 |The Origin of the Festival

每年農曆五月五日是台灣歡慶的端午節的日子，這一天也是緬懷戰國時期愛國詩人兼政治家——屈原的紀念日，在官場受到打壓的他被皇帝流放邊疆，最抑鬱在汨羅江投河自盡。

Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in Taiwan, the Dragon Boat Festival is held to commemorate Qu Yuan (屈原), a high ranking official as well as a poet that lived during the Warring States period. Qu was exiled by the king and later drowned himself in the Miluo River (汨羅江).

相傳，為防止他的遺體被魚群吞食，人們便在河上划船並投入粽子餵食魚群。於是，就逐漸演變出划龍舟、吃粽子等端午習俗。

To prevent his body from being eaten by the fish, people rowed boats and threw rice dumplings into the river. This then became the setting stone for the tradition of eating sticky rice dumplings (zongzis, 粽子) and racing dragon boats during this holiday.

掛艾草 | Hanging Wormwood

每到端午節，家家戶戶都會在門前掛上艾草。根據傳說，艾草是天中五瑞之首，象徵驅除不祥的寶劍。During the Dragon Boat Festival, it is customary to hang wormwood in front of your house. According to ancient tales, this grass is the sword of the gods.

艾草也被認為具有驅邪避凶、去病的功效，因此大家根據習俗都會在家門前或門把上掛上一綹艾草，一方面驅邪，一方面也達到驅蚊的效果。

Because wormwood is believed to be effective in preventing diseases and driving away evil spirits, people would hang these tufts of grass on their walls or door handles to ward off insects and bad luck.

吃粽子 | Eating Zongzi

粽子是端午節必吃的傳統美食，吃粽子的習俗來自於紀念屈原忌日以及他的愛國情操。

Zongzi is the traditional dish everyone eats during the Dragon Boat Festival. The tradition of eating zongzis is to pay homage to Qu Yuan and his dedication towards the nation.

很多人也認為吃粽子是孝順的象徵，由於粽子的諧音與考試考「中」相似，和很多人在考試的時候也會吃粽子祈求好運。

Many see the act of eating zongzis as a sign of filial piety, and may also eat it when preparing for tests, as zongzis (粽子）sounds similar to “making the cut” (中) in Chinese.

立蛋 | Egg Balancing

另一項端午節習俗是在正中午的時候立蛋，據傳在這個時間能夠讓蛋平衡的佇立在地上。立蛋的秘訣在於保持心平氣和和耐心。

It is said that at noon during the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, anyone can balance an egg on its head. The key to egg balancing is patience and internal peace.

如果想討戰立蛋這項傳統，許多百貨公司和廟宇都有舉辦立蛋比賽，讓你大展身手。

If you would like to take part in this activity, many temples or department stores in Taiwan host egg-balancing contests for all to participate.

划龍舟 | Dragon Boat Rowing

最後，划龍舟是最具代表性的傳統活動，每年端午節在台北都會舉辦划龍舟大賽。
Last but not least, a great activity to participate in is the dragon boat rowing competition that takes place in Taipei.

今年的划龍舟比賽在6/25~6/26於台北大佳河濱公園舉行，雖然報名日期已過，還是可以到場邊觀賽，享受佳節的熱鬧氣氛。

This year, Taipei’s competition will take place on June 25-26 at Dajia Riverside Park. Although the competition signups are closed, you can still attend the festival and watch the competitions from the side.

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