As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, to help migrant workers understand the origins and cultural significance of the festival in Chinese tradition, Golden Brother International Co., Ltd. organized various regional events ahead of the holiday. These activities aimed to share the spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the three major traditional Chinese festivals alongside the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On May 23, staff at the Changhua Fuxing Dormitory drew inspiration from the traditional Dragon Boat Festival practice of using mugwort and realgar to ward off evil, and creatively launched a "Nine-Square Grid: Five Poisons Challenge" for migrant workers. Participants formed teams freely and took turns throwing balls at a grid featuring illustrations of the "Five Poisons" (centipede, toad, snake, scorpion, and spider). Each hit on a poison image earned the team one point, and the top three scoring teams received prizes. Refreshments and drinks were served on-site to boost participation.The team that finally came out on top received delicious and sweet cookies specially prepared by the organizers as a form of encouragement.
Later, on May 28, the dormitory management team at Hsinchu Zhonghua No.1 Dormitory set up two inflatable dragon boat race tracks. Two teams of migrant workers competed using their breath power, pushing their boats forward amid cheers and laughter. Team B eventually claimed victory. The festive atmosphere and joyous laughter provided a much-needed break and happiness for the workers. On the same day, Xiangshan Fuqun No.2 Dormitory also held creative “Blowing Strength” and “Foot-Paddling Relay” games. Accompanied by lively music and dancing, everyone enjoyed the celebration to the fullest in a jubilant and festive setting.
On May 29, Xiangshan Fuqun No.2 Dormitory hosted a “DIY Fragrant Sachet Sewing Workshop” specifically for migrant workers from Macronix International Co., Ltd. Mr. Weiguo Li, Director of the company’s General Services Department, shared selected lines from Qu Yuan’s Chu Ci (Songs of the South), guiding attendees to understand the origins and deeper meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival. This helped the participating workers from the Philippines to gain a more profound appreciation of Chinese culture.
Qu Yuan was a nobleman of the State of Chu during the Warring States period. His writings often expressed his deep concern for the fate of his country. In Li Sao, he wrote:“I heaved long sighs to wipe away my tears, grieving the hardships of the people,” and“My heart loves righteousness; even death cannot make me regret.” Eventually, after the Qin army captured the capital Yingdu of Chu, Qu Yuan, overwhelmed with despair, chose to end his life in the Miluo River rather than compromise his integrity. The people later commemorated this patriotic poet by developing customs such as dragon boat racing and eating zongzi (rice dumplings). Since Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, this date became what we now celebrate as the Dragon Boat Festival.
