Where do people hide the dragon boats after the races?
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Expact's Journal  

端午节的精神
The Spirit of the Dragonboat Festival

比赛结束后，龙舟会被存放在河流的淤泥中。据说这是为了保护它们，使它们保持良好的状况以备比赛。挖掘和清洗龙舟是一项充满仪式感的活动，需要人们花费多日来确保龙舟光亮如新以及适合比赛。龙头和龙尾平时会被供奉在当地的祠堂里，并在起龙仪式后，重新安装到船体内。人们通常会把一些新鲜的绿叶插入龙口，象征着生命力和准备应节食物的时间到了。

After the races, the racing boats are stored in the silty water of the river during the seasons they are not used. This is supposed to preserve them and keep them in good condition for the races. The digging up and cleaning is a ritual event of itself, taking many days to make sure it is shiny and match-fit. The dragon head and tail are usually blessed in at the local temple and ceremonially re-installed on the boat itself after the “dragon boat raising”. Some fresh green leaves are lodged into the dragon’s mouth as a symbol of vitality and time to prepare food. 

当然，在这样一个幅员辽阔的国家里，我遇到的传统也是各不相同——哪怕是在相邻的村庄之间。这也是在中国生活的一大乐趣。当我回到新西兰，家人和朋友问及这里的传统时，我需要不断地解释，我所体验的传统习俗并不一定代表整个国家都这样做。我发现，在这个文化灿烂的国家，很少有传统习俗是普遍一致的。每个传统都有其多样性，发现当中的不同层面也是一种简单的美好。就像一朵莲花绽放，呈现无尽的复杂性。

Of course, in such a large country, I come across many different and varying traditions, even between neighbouring villages. But this is part of the fun of being here. When my family and friends back in New Zealand ask me about traditions. I need to clarify that what I have experienced is not necessarily the definitive style across the country. I have found there are very few things that can be said to be universally Chinese traditions that are the same across such a vast culture.  There is always variety within every tradition and there is a simple beauty of discovering the many layers within. Much like a lotus flower opening up to reveal untold complexity.

我觉得这正是这些节日的精髓所在。不仅仅是活动本身，更是人们聚集在一起，分享经历、美食和欢乐的时光。我耗时数年才逐渐领会这种精神。一开始，你只是作为局外人和活动的旁观者，心想：“好吧，很酷！然后呢？就这样？”你需要融入这些文化和社群，才能感受到那种氛围。当你参加这些活动，随机遇到许多朋友和新相识的人，你才能真正感受到端午节的精神。

I think this is the true essence of these festivals. Not so much the events themselves but the coming together of people and sharing experiences, food and joy. It took many years for me to get into this spirit. At first you attend such events as an outsider and a spectator and think “ok, cool, and then what? Is that it?”. It takes being embedded into the culture and society to get a sense of the atmosphere. When you turn up to these events and randomly bump into many friends and acquaintances, then you really feel the spirit of the Dragonboat festival.

【出品】ZICC中山市海外传播中心 中山英文网
【统筹】陈慧 刘捷
【编导】廖薇 潘晓佳
【视频制作】廖嘉丽 胡超超 林嘉明
【翻译】廖薇 李靖 实习生 汪羽涵
【文字/英文校对】  Donald Kepple
【素材来源】中山市海外传播中心

编辑   李靖  二审  廖薇  三审 陈慧