Introduction to the Event

2019 Montreal International

Double Fifth Festival Commemoration

The Double Fifth Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday originated in China and is celebrated in many other Asian countries too, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Indonesia. In September 2009, UNESCO officially approved the inclusion of the festival in the world~q~s intangible cultural heritage, becoming China~q~s first festival to be enlisted as the world~q~s intangible cultural heritage.

With a history of more than 2,500 years, the festival is derived from the folk activities for the purpose of detoxification and warding off evil. In the most part of modern China, the festival commemorates Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC) , the first known poet in Chinese history, who drowned himself on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar at the news that the capital of his home country was conquered by the enemy while he was in exile because of the slanders against him by the corrupted officials. He took his life in defence of his innocence and life principles.

The literature originated in the southern part of China under his influence is regarded as one of the two sources of Chinese literature. He is recognized as the role model for many Chinese of patriotism and integrity. By reading his poems, patriotism and integrity have instilled into the blood of Chinese men of letters. He is regarded as one of the four world cultural celebrities together with Nicolaus Copernicus, François Rabelai and William Shakespeare.

The Association of Culture Industry Promotion of North America (NACIPA) aims to provide a platform for the experts in literature and art and to promote cultural exchange and the mutual understanding between the Chinese and other ethnic groups in Canada for the friendship among different ethnic groups, the formation of the unique cultural unity of Canadians, as well as the development and progress of relevant cultural industries in Canada. 

The North American Literature and Art Association (NALAA) congregates the experts in the field of North American literature and art, such as poets, writers, singers, recitation experts, presenters, dancers, musicians. They are capable of introducing the origin and the customs of the Double Fifth Festival and interpret Qu Yuan~q~s works and philosophy to the general public.

NACIPA and NALAA believe that it is necessary to promote the Chinese culture and historical knowledge from a cultural and philosophical perspective, so as to gain a deeper understanding of Asian ways of thinking to enhance cross-cultural communication, the multicultural awareness in Canada and mutual understanding among ethnic groups. 

At the Commemoration, by giving trilingual introduction to Qu Yuan~q~s life and works as well as the related folk activities, we are going to shed some light on the origin and the philosophy behind the activities, hence a further understanding of its influence on the personality of the Chinese people. Friends from other ethnic communities will be invited to participate in the activities because the admiration of patriotism and integrity is universal all over the human world. They are welcome to present their works of the similar type. Besides, the festival is celebrated in many other Asian countries. Individual artists, scholars from the Korean community, the Philippine community, the Russian community and the Vietnamese community have confirmed to participate in the event. We also extend the invitation to the general public calling for literary and artistic creations on the subject.

We are going to spread the news about the event by means of newspapers, Internet, media of different ethnic communities, and call for the contribution by the authors and the artists from all communities in Montreal. The chosen works will be included into the culture and art exhibition, the performing art show, and the symposium. The collection of literary and artistic works created for this event will be published by the end of 2019.

The event includes five parts:

1. Calls for Literary and Visual Art Creations

Time: March 20 - May 20

2. The "Soul of Poets" Culture and Art Exhibition

Time: June 22 (15:00-21:00)

Venue: Théâtre Beaubois (4901 rue du Collège-Beaubois, Pierrefonds, Québec H8Y 3T4)

3. The "Soul of Poets" Performing Art Show

Time: June 22 (18:30-21:00)

Venue: Théâtre Beaubois (4901 rue du Collège-Beaubois, Pierrefonds, Québec H8Y 3T4)

4. The publication of Literary and Artistic creations in the commemoration

Time: June 22-December 30

Venue: Montreal Quebec

  5.The Publication of Literary and Artistic Creations

 Time: June 22-December 30

As the event includes activities that cater to almost all classes, such as literature and art, calligraphy and painting, academic seminars, cultural performances, handicraft production, sports, and multimedia publications, we believe this event will accommodate a wide audience and participants. It will be surely a good occasion for the cultural exchange and the promotion of cross-cultural understanding.

      The following are the links to the trailer and the poster we made for the event as well as the contributions by the poets and artists we have received up to now.

Organizing committee

2019 Montreal International Double Fifth Festival Commemoration 

敬请关注《北美文化传媒》微信号：NACM151018