Why should we drink realgar wine during Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the traditional Chinese festivals, held every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. On this day, people will eat rice dumplings, race dragon boats, hang mugwort, and another custom is to drink realgar wine. So, why do we drink realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival? This article will give you a detailed analysis of the origin and significance of this traditional custom based on hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. The origin of realgar wine

Realgar wine is a medicinal wine made from realgar as the main raw material. Realgar is a mineral whose main component is arsenic sulfide and has certain medicinal value. In ancient times, people believed that realgar could drive away evil spirits and avoid poison, so drinking realgar wine on the Dragon Boat Festival meant to drive away evil spirits and bless peace.
According to historical records, the custom of drinking realgar wine on the Dragon Boat Festival can be traced back to the Warring States Period. Legend has it that after Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, the people threw rice dumplings into the river and realgar wine to drive away poisonous insects in the water in order to prevent fish and shrimp from eating his body. This custom gradually spread and became one of the important activities of the Dragon Boat Festival.
2. The function of realgar wine
Realgar wine was believed to have the following functions in ancient times:
| function | Description |
|---|---|
| Exorcise evil spirits and avoid poison | The ancients believed that realgar can drive away evil spirits and poisonous insects and protect physical health. |
| Sterilization and disinfection | Realgar has a certain bactericidal effect and can prevent common summer diseases. |
| Praying for peace | Drinking realgar wine means praying for peace and protecting family harmony. |
3. Modern people’s attitude towards realgar wine
With the development of science, people gradually realize that realgar contains arsenic and other toxic substances, and drinking it for a long time or in large amounts may be harmful to the body. Therefore, modern people are more cautious about realgar wine. Many people choose to replace realgar wine with other methods, such as rice wine or mugwort wine, which not only retains traditional customs but also avoids health risks.
The following is the hot topic data about realgar wine on the Internet in the past 10 days:
| topic | heat index | Main discussion content |
|---|---|---|
| Health risks of realgar wine | 85 | Discuss the arsenic content in realgar wine and its effects on health. |
| Alternatives to realgar wine | 78 | Explore the feasibility of using rice wine, mugwort wine, etc. to replace realgar wine. |
| The traditional meaning of realgar wine | 65 | Analyze the cultural symbolism of realgar wine in the Dragon Boat Festival. |
4. How to drink realgar wine safely
If you still want to experience traditional realgar wine, here are some tips for drinking it safely:
| Suggestions | Description |
|---|---|
| Drink in moderation | Drink no more than a small cup at a time to avoid overdosing. |
| Choose regular products | Buy quality-assured realgar wine and avoid homemade or unknown products. |
| Use with caution for special groups | Pregnant women, children and people with weak constitutions are not recommended to drink it. |
5. Conclusion
Drinking realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival is part of traditional Chinese culture and reflects the ancients’ pursuit of health and peace. However, in modern society, we need to pay attention to science and health while inheriting culture. Whether you choose to drink realgar wine or use other methods instead, the most important thing is to maintain respect and understanding of traditional culture.
I hope this article can help you better understand the custom of drinking realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival and make a choice that suits you during the festival. I wish you a healthy Dragon Boat Festival!
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