What About Your Dragon Boat Festival？

XMandarin hoped you enjoyed your Dragon Boat Festival! 
We know we did. 
 
To celebrate this exciting occasion this year, our students learned how to make zongzi（or sticky rice dumplings）!


 
Taught by Olivia Laoshi’s mom, we persevered through the difficult process of making these delightful treats. After practicing some zongzi-related words, we learned how to fold the bamboo leaves, pack the rice in, close the dumpling, then tie the zongzi to make the masterpieces.
Let's review some words that teacher Olivia taught us

 
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Both types of zongzi were made, sweet and savory.
As we found out, the technique for making these dumplings were different from each other.


▲ The filling before being mixed together.
 

▲ Students trying to copy the master's instructions!
 

▲ Students look as to how to fold the bamboo leaves for a savory zongzi.
 

▲ Students look on as a student prepares yet another great zongzi!
 

▲ Student proudly holds up his creation!


▲ Another successful zongzi is made!  
 

▲ All that hard work makes those zongzi look even tastier!
 
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In the end, the Zongzi were boiled, and we were hungry after spending the morning making our creations.

 
We then enjoyed a Sichuan hotpot with our zongzi, filling our tummies to the brim.

 
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Aside from making and eating Zongzi, there are also many other customs of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Let's review the customs we learnt from teacher Olivia!

 
With the development of society,
old customs are practiced less and less,
but we still need to know about them and to remember them.
Because that is the essence of China.