Hanfu Garden Party Celebrates Double Festivals, Adding Fun and Cultural Nourishment to Children

On May 30th, the playground of the Affiliated Primary School of Nanchong No.11 Middle School was filled with continuous laughter and cheers. A unique "Dragon Boat Festival and Children's Day Carnival" garden party kicked off here. All teachers and students dressed in Hanfu celebrated both Children's Day and the Dragon Boat Festival through traditional etiquettes and interesting activities, experiencing the dual charm of the festivals in the process of cultural inheritance.

In the early morning, the event started with a solemn flag-raising ceremony. Under the five-star red flag, all teachers and students sang the national anthem in unison. Young pioneers saluted. Patriotism arose spontaneously among them. Subsequently, the "Ai" (mugwort) Road Red Carpet segment became the focus of the whole event. Hundreds of students dressed in Hanfu stepped onto the red carpet covered with mugwort one by one. As their wide sleeves fluttered and clothes swayed gracefully like flowing paintings, they embodied both the philosophical thinking of "the square-shaped deep robe conceals the universe" and the elegance expressed by "the flowing robes showing gracefulness". Senior students walked slowly holding round fans, while younger children wearing tiger - head hats jumped and cheered joyfully. The traditional costumes and the children's youthful vitality set off each other interestingly.

During the "Face - Painting with Cinnabar and Realgar" segment, teachers gently dotted cinnabar and realgar on the students' foreheads. With every stroke, they conveyed the blessings of "being immune from all poisons and having a smooth and safe life". Wang Yuxin, a fourth - grade student, said excitedly, "The teacher drew a Chinese character 'wang' (meaning king) on my forehead. I felt as mighty as a little tiger!" Then, the "Mugwort - Water Bathing" ceremony was even more poetic. Children washed their hands and sprinkled their shoulders with mugwort - scented water. In the fragrant steam, the ancient wisdom of expelling diseases and eliminating impurities blended quietly with modern health concepts.

The garden party activities pushed the festive atmosphere to its climax. On the "Shooting the Five Poisons" target field, students drew their bows and aimed at the "five - poison" patterns symbolizing diseases; in the "Zongzi Bowling" area, the "bowling balls" wrapped in zongzi leaves rolled and hit the pins, drawing bursts of cheers; in front of the game stalls of traditional cuju (ancient football), hoop - tossing, and bean - picking, children were eager to have a try and experience the elegance of the ancient people. 

In the food area, the fragrance of zongzi and sweets wafted through the air. A wide variety of delicacies such as poached chicken in a bowl, turkey noodles, sandwiches, barbecues, and yogurt parfaits were available. Parent volunteers and teachers made mugwort sachets together. Colorful strings swayed gently on the wrists, conveying the beautiful wish of "longevity".

At the end of the event, Director Xing of the school gave a speech, saying, "I hope the children can understand the patriotism of the Dragon Boat Festival and feel the pure and beautiful nature of Children's Day through joy, and let the seeds of traditional culture take root and sprout in their hearts." This double - festival event that combined Hanfu etiquettes, folk experiences, and children's games not only brought joy to the children but also inherited the genes of Chinese culture in a subtle way, adding an everlasting touch of oriental charm to their childhood memories. (Du Ping)