Guests from Hubei province and California unveil the logo for the inaugural California Duanwu Jie celebration during a cultural exchange event in Los Angeles on May 30. [Photo by RENA LI/chinadaily.com.cn]
The fragrance of freshly wrapped zongzi filled the hall as bronze chime music from China's Hubei province echoed through a cultural gathering in Los Angeles, where Chinese and American residents came together to celebrate the traditions of Duanwu Jie, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
Decorated with zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling, traditional sachets filled with herbs for blessings, and other festive symbols, the venue hosted the launch ceremony for The First California Duanwu Jie on May 30. The festival is scheduled to be celebrated on June 19 following a resolution adopted by the California State Assembly that recognizes the fifth day of the fifth lunar month on June 19, as the inaugural Duanwu Jie in California. It describes the holiday as having more than 2,000 years of history and deep cultural significance.
"We traveled from the banks of Yangtze River to Los Angeles, aiming to introduce the traditions and cultural heritage of Hubei province to California through the Dragon Boat Festival celebration," Yu Hui, deputy manager of Hubei Cultural and Tourism Group, told China Daily.
