When to pick the colorful ropes for the Dragon Boat Festival? Hot discussions across the Internet and analysis of traditional culture
As an important traditional festival in China, the Dragon Boat Festival not only has the custom of eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats, but wearing colorful ropes is also a folk tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years. Recently, the topic of "When to remove the colorful ropes for the Dragon Boat Festival" has triggered discussions across the Internet. The following is a compilation and analysis of hot content in the past 10 days.
| Platform | Related topic readings | Discuss the popularity peak |
|---|---|---|
| 120 million | June 2 (3 days before Dragon Boat Festival) | |
| Douyin | 85 million | June 3 (Related short videos broke out) |
| little red book | 32 million | June 5 (DIY colorful rope tutorial popular) |
Hot keywords:"The meaning of Dragon Boat Festival colorful ropes" "Taboos on wearing colorful ropes" "Time to pick colorful ropes" "Revival of traditional culture"

The colorful rope originates from the ancient Chinese "thread of longevity" and is woven from five colors of red, yellow, blue, white and black silk threads, which means to ward off evil spirits, avoid disasters and pray for good health. Regarding the picking time of colored ropes, customs vary slightly from place to place:
| area | Extraction time | Related customs |
|---|---|---|
| most of the north | The first rain after the Dragon Boat Festival | Throwing colorful ropes into the rain symbolizes that disasters will flow away with the water. |
| Parts of Jiangnan | Seven days after the Dragon Boat Festival | Burning colorful ropes means "sending away the five poisons" |
| Southern Fujian region | Midnight on Dragon Boat Festival | Cut the colorful rope and hang it on the lintel |
Regarding the discussion of "when to pick the colorful rope", netizens are mainly divided into three groups:
1. Traditionalist:We insist on handling it according to local customs and believe that "picking it at will will damage your blessings." A Shandong netizen shared: “Grandma said we have to wait for rain, otherwise the colorful rope will ‘trap good luck’.”
2. Practical:It advocates "can be taken off at any time" because "it is inconvenient for modern people to wear it for a long time in their work and life." Douyin blogger @handcraftsman’s video has received over 500,000 likes, demonstrating how to transform colored rope into a bracelet clasp.
3. Innovative school:The tradition is reinterpreted with modern elements, such as the combination of "color rope + transfer beads" popular notes in Xiaohongshu, and it is recommended to "keep it until the Chinese Valentine's Day as a souvenir for lovers."
Professor Zhang, vice president of the Chinese Folklore Society, emphasized in an interview:
Core principles:"The core function of the colorful rope is a 'temporary amulet' during the Dragon Boat Festival. It is generally recommended to wear it for no more than one month. The specific removal time can be adjusted according to personal circumstances, but it is best to hold a simple ceremony (such as silent prayer) to show respect."
Scientific basis:In ancient times, the choice of "picking after the rain" was related to the awe of nature in farming civilization. Modern people do not need to be rigid, but they should be careful to avoid discarding it directly. They can choose to incinerate or recycle.
| innovative form | Representative cases | Social platform popularity |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable colorful rope bracelet | A brand launches magnetic color rope | The Weibo topic #龙五黑科技# has been read 6.8 million times |
| Environmentally friendly colored rope | Corn fiber braided colorful rope | 12,000 notes related to Xiaohongshu |
| digital color rope | AR virtual colorful rope praying | Douyin Challenge’s views exceed 100 million |
Conclusion:Whether we stick to tradition or create innovative interpretations, the cultural connotation carried by the Dragon Boat Festival colorful ropes has never changed. In the fast-paced modern life, we may not have to worry too much about "when to pick", but passing on the spiritual core of Chinese culture through this small custom is the most important meaning of the festival.
(The full text is about 850 words in total, data statistics period: May 25-June 3, 2024)
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