Hanging mugwort leaf, calamus, garlic

Mugwort, calamus and garlic are called the "Three Friends of Dragon Boat Festival". During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Dragon Boat Festival was also called the "Mulan Festival", and there was a custom of picking mugwort in the Jingchu area. To pick mugwort, we have to set off before the cock crows, select the most human-shaped wormwood and take it back to hang it on the door. Some even tie the wormwood into a tiger shape and paste the wormwood leaf on it. Mugwort and calamus contain aromatic oils, which, like garlic, have antibacterial properties. During the Dragon Boat Festival, it is close to the summer solstice, and it is the time when cold and summer heat are exchanged. You must pay attention to everything from eating to dressing and moving. There is a proverb in Baoshan County: "If you haven't eaten Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings, you can't send cold clothes; if you eat Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings, you have to freeze them three times." In ancient times, people lacked scientific concepts and mistakenly believed that diseases were caused by evil spirits. Therefore, on the Dragon Boat Festival, people used calamus as a sword, moxa as a whip, and garlic as a hammer. They were also known as the "three weapons". They believed that they could repel snakes, insects, and bacteria, and kill demons.

In Jiangnan areas, some customs are to drink Changpu wine during the Dragon Boat Festival, so its medicinal effect is more direct. Usually before the festival, the calamus are cut into pieces, accompanied by realgar, and immersed in wine to drink it during the festival.