PanAsianSF.com

10^TH DRAGON BOAT & ZHONGZI (Chinese Tamales) FESTIVAL

5th Anniversary, San Francisco Chinese Orchestra

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Noon to 4:00 PM

Grant Palace Restaurant

737 Washington Street, San Francisco’s Chinatown

(between Grant Avenue & Kearny Street )

Dragon and Lion Dancing, Hands-on Zhongzi-making,

Traditional Instrumental Music, Karaoke and more….

For more information, please contact Wilma Pang at (415)-296-8701.

Zhongzi/ Chinese Tamales Food Demonstrations  

See how this delectable food item, eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival, is made.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 5^th day of the 5^th month in the lunar calendar, or June 12th this year.   There are two parts to this major festival.   Rice tamales (zhongzi or joong in Cantonese) are eaten.  And the other renowned activity is dragon boat racing.

The two traditions go hand in hand—based on a historical patriotic poet named Qu ( Chu ) Yuan, who lived about 2,000 years ago.  He was beloved by the common people but could not help them because of corrupt officials.  He chose to jump into the river rather than obey the emperor’s orders.  People respected his heroic act and they made zhongzi during this time of year, throwing them into the river so sea creatures would not eat his flesh.  Traditionally, dragon boat races include lots of drumming to scare away any creatures who would approach his body.  In commemorating this historical event, and the 3^rd most important festival in Chinese tradition, ABCT will demonstrate how this symbolic food called zhongzi (or joong) is made.

When: Saturday, June 8th
time: noon to 4 and on
Place: Grant Palace Restaurant, 2nd fl
737 Washington, corner of Portsmouth Square

This will also be the kick-off for the summer tourist season, ABCT plans to resume the traditional lion dancing on Saturdays from June to September (Labor Day). We already have the on-going street musicians in strategic corners along Grant. So lion dancing would add more to help tourism.

Press conference
Thursday May 30th
2:PM
Grant Palace

ABCT (A Better Chinatown Tomorrow)
10th Anniversary of Chinese Tamales/Dragon Boat Festival in SF

Dragon Boat and Zhongzi (Chinese Tamale) Festival go hand in hand. Why is this delicious item eaten during the 5th day of the 5th month of the Lunar Calendar? Why there are Dragon Boat races through out China during that day? Prof. Pang will tell you the story in English in a segment featured in “Bay Area People” of Channel two produced by Rosy Chu.

In this segment, the focus is on highlighting the Cantonese-speaking community in San Francisco in the revival of this endangered art form which is considered by the UN as one the treasures of Chinese culture.

The large Cantonese-speaking population may hold the key to the revival of this endangered art form which has been recognized by the UN as one of the treasures of the world. Two excerpts sung by Prof. Wilma Pang and Lisa Liu, accompanied by the Chinese Instrumental Ensemble of A Better Chinatown Tomorrow.

Click here.

Click here.