Background of Dragon Boat Festival

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Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in China has a long history. For more than two thousand years, people have raced the colorful boats and enjoyed the Zongzi, pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leavers. We now look at the history, legends and customs of the festival.

Many Chinese today endorse the idea that the central message of the Dragon Boat Festival is "Harmony".

It's evident in boat racers striving in unison,and in enjoying the sticky Zongzi, which "glues" family members together.

There are also ancient rites reminding us of the relationship between humans and Nature.

Many Chinese today endorse the idea that the central message of the Dragon Boat Festival is "Harmony".

Several legends surround the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival. The most popular concerns the death of famous statesman and poet Qu Yuan. He's said to have thrown himself into a river 2200 years ago when he learned his state was about to fall to invaders. That's why the festival is also called "Poet's Day."