Dragon Boat Festival

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Dragon Boat Festival
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Why do we celebrate the Dragon Boat festival?

• The most popular story of the Dragon Boat
  festival is the story of the poet Qu Yuan.
• The story says that Qu Yuan was so sad about
  enemies attacking China that he threw himself in
  a river and drowned in 277B.C.

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Dragon Boat Races

• The most famous part of the Dragon Boat Festival
  are the boat races.
• Teams race long boats shaped like dragons to the
  beat of a large drum. Each team wants to reach
  the finish line first.
• Tradition says that the boat races began as a way
  to try and save the poet Cu Yuan.

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Rice Dumplings

• The story of Cu Yuan says that after he drowned
  people threw cooked rice wrapped in bamboo leaves
  into the water to keep the fish from eating him.
• Today people eat sticky rice dumplings instead of
  throwing rice into the river for the fish.

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Other Traditions

• The Dragon Boat Festival is a time for people to
  ask for good luck and health for the rest of the
  year.
• People may hang herbs on their door or drink
  health drinks.

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Realgar Wine

• Another tradition is drinking realgar wine.
  Drinking the wine is supposed to protect the
  person from making bad choices. The wine is also
  spread around the corners of the house to protect
  the house.
• The tradition of drinking the wine comes from the
  story of Madame White Snake.

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Standing an Egg on its end

• Another popular tradition and game is to try and
  stand an egg on its end.
• Tradition says that if you can stand an egg on
  its end at exactly twelve noon you will have
  good luck.