Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is an exciting holiday in China. It happens on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar, usually in June. People race colorful dragon-shaped boats and eat sticky rice dumplings. The festival has been celebrated for over 2,000 years.

The Story Behind It

The festival honors a famous Chinese poet named Qu Yuan. He lived over 2,000 years ago and loved his country very much. When his country was conquered, he was so sad that he jumped into a river. The local people raced their boats to try to save him. They also threw rice into the water to keep the fish from eating him.

How People Celebrate

The dragon boat races are the most exciting part of the festival. Long boats are decorated to look like dragons, and teams paddle as fast as they can. Drums beat loudly to keep the rowers in time. People also eat zongzi, which are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Some families hang herbs on their doors to keep away bad luck.

Fun Facts

• Dragon boats can be up to 100 feet long and hold over 50 paddlers.
• Dragon boat racing is now an international sport practiced in over 80 countries.
• Zongzi come in many flavors, from sweet red bean to savory pork.

Did You Know?

The Dragon Boat Festival is so important that the United Nations added it to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.