The unpredictable weather condition is considered dangerous to many poor farmers. Storms bring unwanted insects and bugs that carry contagious diseases. To protect themselves from the evil spirits of May, farmers pray to the water dragon who lives in the river. They paddle boats along the river and pound drums to wake up the sleepy dragon. Then they make sacrifices by offing the dragon rice dumplings called zongzi.
Children also wear sachets called to ward off evil spirits from taking their young lives.
Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is a combination of ancient traditions and modern sports marketing. In many major cities around the world, the lunar month of May represents cash instead of danger. Many multi-national corporations have become major sponsors as well as participants. The Dragon Boat Festival has become a special event for many breast cancer survivors and their families. In 1996, Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician at the University of British Columbia, formed a Dragon Boat team of breast cancer survivors called Abreast in a Boat .