1. Dragon Boat FestivalAround the World Kiana Hall Katy Rosenthal Conor Kou Pierce Mckenzie Merick Dang

2. President’s Day · Like the dragon boat festival, President’s Day honors dead politicians. · Celebrated on the third Monday of February. · Will be on February 15th, 2010. · Originally called “Washington’s Day” and only honored George Washington. · Starting in the 1950s, people called it “President’s Day” to celebrate both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. · In 1971, president Nixon changed the holiday so that it honored all of the USA’s past presidents. · None of the states are required to celebrate President’s Day, but most do. · Many schools and businesses have breaks for President’s Day. · Has become a material holiday; President’s Day weekend is known for its car sales.

4. Memorializes the death of poet HristoBotev. In 1876.

5. He died in a battle against Ottoman soldiers.

6. Led a company that tried to rise up in Romania on the border of Bulgaria.

7. It failed.

8. Was a hero in the revolutionary movement against the Ottomans.

10. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar at noon.

11. At this time, the universe brings the greatest amount of yang or maleness in the entire year.

12. Yang tests people’s fortitude

14. Most vocal advocate for black rights in America.

15. Honors his role in American history up until he was shot and killed on March 29, 1968.

17. The festival will be held by local people beside rivers from provinces which big rivers pass by such as Phisanulok province, Phichit province has Nan River and Ang-Thong province, Ayutthaya province, Pathum-Thani province has Chao-Phraya River.

18. Boats, which they use on the festival, will be chosen and made from auspicious trees of each area. They train and prepare rowing-crews to be most fit and ready for being their agent at the festival.

19. Long Boat-Racing Festival is one of Thai traditions which has been arranged continuously since Ayutthaya time (about 600 years ago) for generating morale, courage and strength to rowing-crews, as Thai men were power of the country, for a war which could began anytime.