The “Raising the Dragon boat”ceremony is a traditional folk activity in Dongguan city, Guangdong province, held on the 8th day of the fourth lunar month every year. 

起龙是广东东莞一项传统的民俗活动，每年农历四月初八前后开始。

Early in the morning, villagers came to the river and prepared the ritual activity, then jumped into the water to dig out the dragon boat. 

清晨，村民们来到河边祭祀，随后下涌“起龙”。

Due to the hot and humid climate in Guangdong, ancestors invented the method of “hiding the dragon” by sinking the main body of the boat into the mud in the bottom of the river to keep the air out, in order to prevent the boat from decaying. 

因广东气候湿热，为防止龙船腐化，先辈们发明了将船体沉埋到河底淤泥中以隔绝空气的“藏龙”方法。

On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival of the next year, they will choose a propitious day to dig out the boat, repair and decorate, and then participate in the races, to pray for the new year's good weather, peace and prosperity. 

待来年端午前夕，再择日把龙船挖出，进行修整和装饰后，参与端午的游龙或竞渡活动，以祈求新一年的风调雨顺、国泰民安。

Nowadays, the dragon boat culture has become the symbol of Dongguan.

如今，龙舟文化已成为东莞靓丽的城市名片。

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来源 | 羊城晚报·羊城派
责编 | 吴瑕