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Holiday Notice: 

Dragon Boat Festival Holiday : June.8 to June.10.2024. 

What is the Dragon Boat Festival and why is it celebrated?

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival that is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the calendar. The festival has a of over 2,000 years and is widely celebrated in China and other East Asian countries.

The Dragon Festival has several origins and is associated with various legends, but the most widely recognized story is that it commemorates the death of the ancient Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan lived during the Warring States period in China and was known for his patriotism and criticism of the corrupt government. When his kingdom was invaded and conquered, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair. The local people admired him and raced out in their boats to save him or retrieve his body. They beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles to scare away the fish and evil spirits that might harm his body. They also threw sticky rice dumplings (known as Zongzi) into the water to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body.
To this day, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by dragon boat races, where teams of rowers paddle in long, narrow boats, often decorated like dragons. These races are held in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. The boats are ornately decorated, and the rowers paddle in sync to the beat of a drum. It is a highly competitive and exciting event, drawing large crowds of spectators.

Additionally, the Dragon Boat Festival is also a time for families to gather and share Zongzi, which are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with various ingredients like meat, beans, and nuts. Zongzi is steamed or boiled and is seen as a traditional food associated with the festival.

Overall, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to honor Qu Yuan's patriotism and integrity, and it has become an important cultural event that promotes unity, sportsmanship, and traditional values.