Dragon Boat Festival

Double Fifth Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the Chinese calendar. It has a history of more than 2,000 years.

dragon boat race

The story behind the festival

There are many legends（传说） about the evolution（演化） of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration（纪念） of Qu Yuan（ 340-278BC） , an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowing himself in a river.

Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and one of great pressure from the powerful Qin State,he advocated（提倡） enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin.However, he was opposed by aristocrats （贵族成员） headed by Zi Lan,and later deposed （免职） and exiled （流放） by King Huai.

In 278 BC,he heard the news that Qin troops 军队 had finally conquered Chu's capital,so he finished his last piece Huai Sha （ Embracing Sand ） and plunged himself into the Miluo River,clasping （抓紧） his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

After his death,the people of Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him.The fishermen sailed their boats up and down the river to look for his body.zongzi （ pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves ）and eggs to divert （使改道） possible fish or shrimp fromattacking his body.

An old doctor poured a jug of Realgar （雄黄） wine（ Chinese liquor seasoned with Realgar ） into the water,hoping to turn all aquatic beasts （水生生物）drunk.That's why people later followed the customs such as dargon boat racing,eating zongzi and drinking Realgar wine on that day.

What do people usually eat during the festival ？

Zongzi is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival.In early times,it was only glutinous rice dunplings wrapped in reed or other plant leaves and tied with colored thread,but now the fillings are more diversified,including jujube and bean paste,fresh meat,and han and egg yolk.

What do people usually play?

What do children usually hang?

On Dragon Boat Festival,parents also need to dress their children up with a perfume pouch （香包） .They first sew （剪裁） little bags with colorful silk cloth,then fill the bags with perfumes or herbal medicines （香药） ,and finally string （用绳子串） them with silk threads （线） .The perfume pouch will be hung around the neck or tied to the front of a garment （衣服） as an ornament （装饰） .They are said to be able to ward off（抵御） evil.

What do people usually drink during the festival?

Adults drink Realgar Wine （雄黄酒） ,which can fend off evil spirits

What should the house hang?

Hanging wormwood