Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is a popular event in China. It takes place on the fifth day of the
fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival usually occurs in the late spring or
early summer. It has been in existence for over 2,000 years!

The Dragon Boat Festival is a national holiday in China, and it is also a cultural heritage
celebration. Some think that the idea of floating out on boats came from the search for a
famous poet. This poet, Qu Yuan, died in a river around 278 B.C. Many people went out in
boats to search for him.

Dragon boat racing is the most popular part of the Dragon Boat Festival. Boats are
decorated to look like dragons. They can be up to 65 feet long and can hold up to 22
people. Paddlers in the race rigorously train so they can paddle very quickly. They also
train to paddle in sync with other team members. The team who wins the race believes they
will receive good luck.

Many traditions surround the Dragon Boat Festival. Sticky rice dumplings are a popular
food during the Dragon Boat Festival. Another popular custom is to wear perfume pouches
to ward off evil spirits. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated today in many different areas
of China and worldwide.

1. Where did the Dragon Boat Festival originate?

China
Japan
Russia
Germany

2. What is a popular food eaten during the festival?

mango
rice dumplings
egg rolls
sweetbread

3. What are two traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival?




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