By Greg Hugh
Zongzi (粽子) is a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous (sticky) rice wrapped in bamboo, reed, or other plant leaves and then steamed or boiled. The fillings vary by region and family tradition and may include pork, salted egg yolk, beans, dates, chestnuts, mushrooms, or other ingredients.
Typical ingredients stuffed in zongzi Zongzi being wrapped in bamboo leaves
The food is most closely associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
The legend behind zongzi
According to Chinese tradition, zongzi commemorates Qu Yuan, a respected poet and government official who lived more than 2,000 years ago during the Warring States period. When his state was conquered, legend says he drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair.
Villagers reportedly raced out in boats to search for him and threw packets of rice into the river so that fish would eat the rice instead of his body. Over time, these rice packets evolved into the zongzi eaten today, while the boat search became the dragon boat races that are a hallmark of the festival.
Customs associated with the festival
During the Dragon Boat Festival, many Chinese families:
- Make and eat zongzi together.
- Watch or participate in dragon boat races.
- Hang mugwort and calamus plants at home, traditionally believed to ward off illness and bad luck.
- Wear colorful silk threads or protective charms, especially for children.
- Gather with family and honor cultural traditions.
Regional varieties
China has many styles of zongzi:
- Northern China:Often sweet, filled with dates or red bean paste.
- Southern China:Frequently savory, with pork, salted egg yolk, mushrooms, or seafood.
- Different regions use different leaf types, shapes, and cooking methods.
Today, zongzi remains both a beloved food and a symbol of family, remembrance, and cultural heritage for Chinese communities around the world.
Zongzi used to be only a once-per-year, homemade treat for the Dragon Festival but now it may be found in a few Chinese grocery stores. Just in case you are wondering, this year’s Dragon Festival is on June 25. Unfortunately, the St. Paul Dragon Festival has been discontinued but Dragon Festivals will be held up in northern Minnesota in Bemidi and Lake Superior later in the summer.
