Learning About The Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Races are very noisy and exciting events with hundreds of teams competing against each other. Chinese Dragon Boats are long, narrow boats with a dragon's head at one end and a tail at the rear. A leader sits in the front by the head, facing the rowers, and sets the pace by pounding a large drum with the teams of rowers paddling together in as one as they race to the finish line. The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month that should be around June in our calendar.
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The Ultimate Dragon Boat Book!
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But why does the festival focus on dragons and not other any animal? There are many legends about its origin. One legend tells the story of Qu Yuan, an old man that drowns himself by jumping from a boat because he couldn’t stand to see his country being destroyed by incapable leaders. When the village people went to look for him, it was too late, and so they threw offerings of rice into the water to calm the man’s spirit. One day, Qu Yuan’s spirit returned and told them that a river dragon was devouring the race meant for him. He asked that they wrap the rice in leaves, in shapes like small pyramids. Today, people eat these rice dumplings, known as zongzi in memory of the old man.
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Filled with delectable recipes, hands-on family activities and traditional tales to read aloud, this extraordinary collection will inspire families everywhere to re-create the magic of Chinese holidays in their own homes.
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Excellent book!
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Qu Yuan died on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and as such the Dragon Boat festival commemorates him with a race and eating zongzi.
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