The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. It commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister from the state of Chu who drowned himself in protest of the government. According to legend, locals raced dragon boats on the river and threw zongzi into the water to feed the fish so they wouldn't eat Qu Yuan's body. Today the festival involves eating zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.