再憶粽香飄

06/07/2008 Saturday Cloudy

年年歲歲端午節，
歲歲年年人不同。
且把溫馨藏心裏，
粽葉飄香故園情。

我住的小城，中國人少的可憐，隻有三戶中國人家，大家都很忙碌，難得在一起說中國話聊天。每當中國節日到來的時候，我無法感到節日的氣氛。然而，我一登陸《文學城》，可就大不一樣了。每當節日來臨的時候，《文學城》的網友們就不時互祝節日快樂，讓我感到了溫馨的友誼和節日的快樂。我喜歡《文學城》，有《文學城》真好，它慰藉了我的鄉愁，我可以和網友用中英文交流，一段文字，一首樂曲，產生著共鳴，是一種精神的愉悅。

明天（2008年6月8日）就是中國傳統的端午節，農曆為五月初五，端午節的第一個意義就是紀念曆史上偉大的民族詩人屈原。端午節是我國二千多年的舊習俗，每到這一天，家家戶戶都懸鍾馗像，掛艾葉菖蒲，賽龍舟，吃粽子，飲雄黃酒，遊百病，佩香囊，備牲醴，充滿了節日的氣氛。

每次讀著網友們真誠的節日問候，看到網友們精美的帖子，甜美的粽子，聆聽著動聽的音樂。我的思緒就飄回了故鄉，母親在家裏包粽子的情景，就出現在我的眼前了，曆曆如昨。每到端午節前夕，母親就買來粽葉，為我們包各方式各樣的粽子，母親包的粽子精巧好看，鮮美可口。現在自己做了母親，就開始佩服母親的能幹，開朗，大度，母親能做各種各樣的美味佳肴，讓我難以忘懷。

遺憾的是，我以前在家時，很少跟母親學作飯菜。如今，在美國的家中，不論我如何嚐試，也達不到母親的水平了。所以，我對的孩子們說：“你們喜歡的佳肴，一定要學會做。等你們離家的時候，想吃家中的飯菜，就可以自己動手做了。”孩子們真聽話，他們在不停地學。Cisco的廚藝目前是突飛猛進，成為家中頗受歡迎的“小廚師”了。Tony's Rice Crisp, Daniel's Omelette, Ivana and Becky's cup cakes are also delicious.

端午節除了吃母親包的粽子以外，和家人去故鄉的小河看龍舟比賽也別有一番情趣。參賽的人都係上五彩帶，祈禱好運氣，他們使勁地劃槳，渴望著奪冠。觀看的人不停地在喊：加油，加油。好不熱鬧，興奮異常。難忘在故鄉度過的童年歲月，綿綿故鄉情，再憶粽香飄。

Here is an article from China Daily for you all to enjoy regarding Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

Do you know who is "Qu Yuan"? What type of "Zongzi" do you like most? Have you ever joined a dragon boat competition? All these are related to the Dragon Boat Festival.

Do you know the origin of this festival? Read the following essay and you will have a clear picture of the Dragon Boat Festival.

The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people. The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China.

This festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named Qu Yuan.

The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. People have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi (dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.

　Spice Bag

It's believed that if you carry the small spice bag around with you, it not only drives away evil spirits but also brings fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made by local craftsmen. They're made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines.

　Dragon Boat Race

The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.

　The Culture of Zongzi

Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day. Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating Zong Zi.

　Realgar Wine

It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival to you all.