event overview
who?
Event benefactors include:
- Windsor Regional Breast Health Centre
- Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation
- Windsor Regional Cancer Centre
- Leamington District Memorial Hospital
- Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital Foundation
- Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
what?
International Dragon Boats Festival for the Cure has donated over $1.3 Million towards local hospitals over the course of 7 years!
where?
Waterfront Park in Tecumseh.
when?
July 9, 10 & 11, 2010
why?
We paddle for the ones we love.
how?
It's all possible thanks to our event sponsors, and of course through the hard work, determination and generosity of our Dragon Boat teams.
about the event
Dragon boat legend
The Ancient Legend:
The Dragon Boat Races are the most popular early summer activity in the Orient, whereever Chinese cultural influences prevails. It is the most important part of the Twan-Wu Festival, the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar.
According to legend, during the Warring States period, 475-222 B.C., the state of Chu had a high-ranking minister of great talent and genius named Chu Yuan. To the west, the state of Chin was determined to seize the state of Chu.
For this reason, feigning a desire for friendly diplomatic ties, the state of Chin invited King Huai to Wukuan, to draw up a treaty. King Huai did not heed Chu Yuan's cautionary advice and consequently was kidnapped by Chin soldiers and died in the state of Chin. King Huai's eldest son, King Hsiang, not only failed to consider avenging his father but also acted obsequiously toward the state of Chin. In addition, he believed a slander advanced against Chu Yuan and banished him.
On the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, Chu Yuan reached the bank of the Mi Luo River. There, the wise, sad hero committed suicide and threw himself in the river. When the people heard this, they feared the fish in the river would eat Chu Yuan's body.
Thronging into boats, they rowed out to the middle of the river and threw great quantities of rice into the water to feed the fish, thus hoping that Chu Yuan's body would be left alone. The search for his body was evolved into present day dragon boat races and the ritual of eating "Tsung Tze", sticky rice cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves. The Twan-Wu Festival also signals the change from spring to summer and can be traced back to the Chou Dynasty as a folk festival.
In the distant past, farmers depended solely on the rain to water their crops. On this festival day, farmers prayed for the "Dragons on the Clouds" to send him rain. They also prayed for the "Dragon of the Seas" to calm the oceans and rivers as floods were common when the mountain snow began to melt. Above the doors of the houses, they hung up long, sword like leaves of the water willow and mallow to disperse evil spirits.
Siung-Huan Powder, arsenic sulphide, was used as a pesticide around the house. The red powder was also used to touch the foreheads of boys and give them protective powers. In Japan, Twan-Wu became boy's day, which appears to be connected to this ancient ritual.
Through the ages, many stories and fairy tales have evolved about this special day, but none surpasses the excitement and fun of the dragon boat races.
Dragon Boat Ancient Legend provided by Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City association