Why insert wormwood in Dragon Boat Festival?

Hanging mugwort leaves before the Dragon Boat Festival not only "ward off evil spirits", but also has a certain disease prevention effect.

Dragon Boat Festival is also a "health festival" handed down from ancient times. On this day, people sweep the courtyard, hang mugwort leaves, hang calamus, sprinkle realgar wine, drink realgar wine, stir up turbidity, remove rot, sterilize and prevent diseases. These activities also reflect the fine traditions of the Chinese nation. It is a common custom for all countries and ethnic groups in China to collect herbs on the Dragon Boat Festival.

Legend of inserting mugwort leaves in Dragon Boat Festival

According to legend, a long time ago, according to the usual practice, there was a disaster in the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Emperor felt sorry for him, so he sent people down to observe the people's feelings. On May 5, the angel of the Emperor of Heaven dressed up as an oil seller and shouted, "One gourd is two catties, and two gourds are three catties." Everyone rushed to buy it, except one old man who not only refused to buy it, but also told the old man that the account was wrong.

When the oil was sold out, the old man followed the old man who didn't buy oil and said, "You are a good man in the world. The plague god sent a plague tonight. You can plant wormwood leaves and calamus under the eaves to avoid the plague. " When the old man heard about it, he told everyone from door to door, so every household planted mugwort and calamus, and the plague could not be reduced, so people were saved safely. Later, it was passed down from generation to generation and became accustomed to it.