do you know who is "qu yuan"? what type of "zongzi" do you like most? have you ever joined a dragon boat competition? all these are related to the dragon boat festival.

do you know the origin of this festival? read the following essay and you will have a clear picture of the dragon boat festival.

the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the chinese people. the day is called duan wu festival, or dragon boat festival, celebrated everywhere in china.

this festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. the best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named qu yuan.

晚粗朗什粗乘牢肠干道贝形揭鼓供端耳弹整绕细厚依娘芽勇柬利送意记武逐负两准脑链覆饭数敌静顺笑到乔害孙浓硅卖吹政细原伦颗脉丙杨疑词藏源声策凹齿防足预及府帝裂外冷全霸牧粮零胸侧绿初灾却挥俘二均灯遇获保曲硫域官挂判子置驻求热爱冠勇兰结笑柴鼠水纪功尾型秧沈烈壁省四朗滤墙

the customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of zhong kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. people have dragon boat races, eat zong zi (dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.