With the fragrance of wormwood and zongzi leaves in the air, the Nanjie Community in Chengguan Subdistrict, Binzhou City, in collaboration with the Binzhou Cultural Center, Rainbow Kindergarten, and the Minglan Elderly Care Volunteer Service Team, organized a Dragon Boat Festival event on June 16th. Themed "Fragrant Zongzi Leaves Bring Warmth, Community Gathering for Well-being," the activity aimed to strengthen community bonds and party-community solidarity through traditional customs.
The Party Branch Secretary of Nanjie Community, the Principal of Rainbow Kindergarten, and the head of the Minglan Elderly Care Volunteer Service Team each delivered opening remarks. They extended sincere festival greetings and expressed a commitment to deepening collaborative efforts to safeguard the health and safety of neighbors in the future.
The event featured a vibrant program. An opening dance titled "Missing Tibet" set an energetic tone with its lively rhythm and graceful movements. A solo performance of a selected excerpt from the Qin opera "Three Drops of Blood" captivated the audience with its powerful and resonant vocals, earning enthusiastic applause. The energetic performances by the children from Rainbow Kindergarten further elevated the atmosphere. A solo song, "The Most Beautiful Villagers," was performed with deep emotion and a melodious tune, evoking a strong sense of local affection.
During intermissions, staff from the Nanjie Community conducted fire safety awareness sessions. Covering topics such as household fire prevention, gas safety, and emergency evacuation, they used relatable case studies and easy-to-understand language to effectively enhance residents' safety awareness.
The zongzi-making session brought everyone together. Children, with guidance from parents and volunteers, carefully folded leaves and filled them with rice, their efforts earnest despite their novice skills. Adults demonstrated proficiency, deftly arranging leaves, packing glutinous rice, and tying the parcels with string. Soon, the table was filled with zongzi of various shapes and sizes.
"I learned how to make zongzi, I'm so happy!" exclaimed one child, holding up their creation with visible pride. Following the wrapping activity, community staff tied colorful silk threads around participants' wrists, symbolizing peace and smooth fortune.
After the main event concluded, community workers visited the homes of elderly residents living alone and advanced in age. They inquired about their daily lives and health, presenting them with red bracelets, zongzi, and vegetable steamed buns prepared by the Minglan Elderly Care Volunteer Service Team.
"Everything is good. Your visits to chat with me are sweeter than eating zongzi!" said Granny Qiang, a resident. The activity successfully fostered neighborly ties and brought the community and party organization closer, allowing traditional culture to take root within the neighborhood.
Moving forward, Nanjie Community plans to continue leveraging its New Era Civilization Practice Center. It will focus on serving the "elderly and children" demographic and new employment groups, using traditional festivals as opportunities to regularly conduct more down-to-earth and heartwarming practical activities. The goal is to fully build a warm, reassuring, and mutually supportive community.
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