Dragon Boat Festival-- June 8, 2008

It falls on the 5th day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This festival was established in commemoration of Qu Yuan (c.340-278 B.C.), a statesman and poet of the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). An official of the State of Chu, Qu Yuan was thwarted in his ambitions to save the country and threw himself into the Biluo River when the State of Qin conquered Chu. Zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, are served on the festival and Dragon Boat races are held, which are strenuous and become popular in Southern provinces. Traditonally the dragon boat festival is " Sanitation Festival " as well. On that day people would sweep the floor in the yard, hang moxa, sprinkle arsenic sulphide on the floor and drink alcohol made of arsenic sulphide, in order to sterilize and defend illness.