The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the major Chinese festivals celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. According to legend, the festival commemorates Qu Yuan, an official who drowned himself in sorrow after being exiled by the emperor. Villagers rushed out in dragon boats to save his body and threw zongzi into the water to feed fish so they would not eat Qu Yuan. Today, the festival features dragon boat races and eating zongzi in remembrance of Qu Yuan.

1. Düan Wû Jié

2. The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the major
Chinese Festivals.
It falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar
month, or Double fifth Day.

3. According
to legend,
an official
named Qu
Yuan once
served as
Minister to
the Zhou
Emperor.
He was a
poet and
wise man
and very
much
loved by
the
common
people.

4. When he fell into
disfavor with the
Emperor because of
corruption in the
court the emperor
had him exiled. He
fell into despair and
threw himself into
the Milo River and
drowned.

5. The fishermen rushed out in long boats, beating
drums to scare the fish away. They threw zongzi
into the water to feed the fish and water dragons
so they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body.

6. A zongzi is a glutinous rice dumpling with a
filling, wrapped in bamboo leaves.
粽子
zòngzi

7. The filling can be egg, beans,
dates, sweet potatoes, walnuts,
mushrooms, meat or combination
of these. They are usually steamed.

8. Starting from that time to this day people
commemorate Qu Yuan through Dragon
Boat Races and eating zongzi.

9. The dragon boat races are the most exciting
part of the festival. The dragon boats are
brightly painted and decorated canoes.
They are from 40 – 100 feet long.

10. The heads are shaped like dragons.
The sterns end with a scaly tail.

11. A drummer and flag-catcher sit at the front of the boat. Before the
dragon boat enters the competition it must be “brought to life” by
painting the eyes in a scared ceremony. Up to 80 rowers may power
the boat, depending on its length.

12. The winner of the race is the first
team to grab a flag at the end of
the course.

13. Annual races take place all over
China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan
and in communities wherever
Chinese live.

14. To see a demonstration of making Zongzi go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqYV3p6xECA

15. To see a dragon boat race go
to:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MlxaoLbOjo
Or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd0vOmCE-dM&feature=related