Читать книгу Paddles Up!. Dragon Boat Racing in Canada онлайн

21 страница из 56

Fragrant pouches are made with cotton or silk and filled with aromatic herbs to prevent illness. These are given to children during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Dotting the eye of the dragon is the ceremonial rite that brings life to the dragon boat and ends its slumber in storage. A local dignitary in Thunder Bay, Ontario, is given this honorary task.

An ancient ritual that continues to be practised, though without its deep religious roots, is the “awakening of the dragon” after the long sleep in storage. Typically, a Daoist priest conducts the ceremony with chanting to ward off evil spirits. Blessing the boats and the burning of paper money and incense makes the boats strong and fierce for the races to follow. The traditional “dotting the eye” ceremony in modern times involves community dignitaries awakening the dragon by dabbing red paint on the dragon’s eye. Red is the colour that symbolizes heat, summer, and fire and represents good fortune and prosperity.

When we get out on the water, I leave it all on the dock, secure in the knowledge that I am surrounded by a strong group of like-minded women who share the same issues, who care deeply about each other and who will work their hardest to reach a common goal …