MLA, Qin Zifan

• 

  Jason Tutara

• 

  Wang Yu, Chinese Teacher

• 

  Guests

• 

  zòngzi 粽子

On Friday, 30 May, the Confucius Institute in Auckland welcomed friends and colleagues to a festive lunchtime celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔ Jié 端午节) — one of the most cherished traditions in Chinese culture.

The event brought together staff, students, and community members to share food, culture, and conversation in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

A Taste of Tradition

Guests enjoyed sticky rice dumplings (zòngzi 粽子), a classic delicacy of the Dragon Boat Festival. Wrapped in bamboo leaves, these dumplings represent not only delicious flavours but also centuries of cultural history and symbolism.

Special Guests

We were delighted to welcome Jason Tutara, Auckland’s Dragon Boat champion, and Holly Claeys, a passionate dragon boat enthusiast, who joined us to celebrate the festival. Their presence highlighted the strong connection between the traditions of Duānwǔ Jié and the vibrant dragon boat community here in Auckland.

Cultural Performances and Experiences

The celebration featured a vibrant dance performance, filling the room with colour and energy. Participants also had the chance to try their hand at Chinese calligraphy, guided by our talented teachers, and to experience the elegance of an authentic Chinese tea ceremony.

Building Connections

The event was a wonderful opportunity to bring together colleagues and friends in the spirit of cultural exchange. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the celebration such a success.

We look forward to welcoming you to our future events as we continue to share the richness of Chinese language and culture with our community.

About the Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔ Jié 端午节) is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar. It commemorates Qu Yuan (屈原), a patriotic poet of the Warring States period who drowned himself in protest against corruption. According to legend, villagers raced out in boats to save him, beating drums and throwing rice dumplings into the river to keep fish from disturbing his body.

Today, the festival is marked by dragon boat races, a thrilling sport enjoyed around the world, and by eating zòngzi 粽子, which honour Qu Yuan’s memory and symbolise community spirit.