Dragon Boat Festival: History, Traditions, and Celebrations

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The festival is famous for dragon boat racing, eating 'zongzi' (sticky rice dumplings), and hanging calamus and moxa leaves to ward off evil spirits.

The festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet and minister. Legend has it that Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River after his country was conquered by a rival state. The local people raced their boats to save him, but they were too late. To prevent the fish from eating his body, they threw 'zongzi' into the river.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated all over the world. It is a time for families to come together, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in dragon boat races. It is also a time to remember the sacrifices of Qu Yuan and other heroes who fought for their country.