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dragonboatfestival5thdayofthe5thlunarmonthquyuan
thedragonboatfestival,alsocalledtheduanwufestival,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthaordingtothechinesecalendar.forthousandsofyears,thefestivalhasbeenmarkedbyeatingzongzi(glutinousrice(糯米)wrappedtoformapyramidusingbambooorreedleaves)andracingdragonboats.
thefestivalisbestknownforitsdragon-boatraces,especiallyinthesouthernprovinceswheretherearemanyriversandlakes.thisregatta(赛舟会)memoratesthedeathofquyuan,anhonestministerwhoissaidtohavemittedsuicidebydrowninghimselfinariver.quwasaministerofthestateofchusituatedinpresent-dayhunanandhubeiprovinces,duringthewarringstatesperiod(475-221bc)(战国时期).hewasupright,loyalandhighlyesteemedforhiswisecounselthatbroughtpeaceandprosperitytothestate.however,whenadishonestandcorruptprincevilifiedqu,hewasdisgracedanddismissedfromoffice.realizingthatthecountrywasnowinthehandsofevilandcorruptofficials,qugrabbedalargestoneandleaptintothemiluoriveronthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.nearbyfishermenrushedovertotryandsavehimbutwereunabletoevenrecoverhisbody.thereafter,thestatedeclinedandwaseventuallyconqueredbythestateofqin.
thepeopleofchuwhomournedthedeathofquthrewriceintotherivertofeedhisghosteveryyearonthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.butoneyear,thespiritofquappearedandtoldthemournersthatahugereptile(爬行动物)intheriverhadstolentherice.thespiritthenadvisedthemtowrapthericeinsilkandbinditwithfivedifferent-coloredthreadsbeforetossingitintotheriver.duringtheduanwufestival,aglutinousricepuddingcalledzongziiseatentosymbolizethericeofferingstoqu.ingredientssuchasbeans,lotusseeds(莲子),chestnuts(栗子),porkfatandthegoldenyolkofasaltedduckeggareoftenaddedtotheglutinousrice.thepuddingisthenwrappedwithbambooleaves,boundwithakindofraffiaandboiledinsaltwaterforhours.thedragon-boatracessymbolizethemanyattemptstorescueandrecoverqu'sbody.atypicaldragonboatrangesfrom50-100feetinlength,withabeamofabout5.5feet,aommodatingtwopaddlersseatedsidebyside.
awoodendragonheadisattachedatthebow,andadragontailatthestern(船尾).abannerhoistedonapoleisalsofastenedatthesternandthehullisdecoratedwithred,greenandbluescalesedgedingold.inthecenteroftheboatisacanopiedshrinebehindwhichthedrummers,gong(铜锣)beatersandcymbal(铙钹)playersareseatedtosetthepaceforthepaddlers.therearealsomenpositionedatthebowtosetofffirecrackers,tossriceintothewaterandpretendtobelookingforqu.allofthenoiseandpageantrycreatesanatmosphereofgaietyandexcitementfortheparticipantsandspectatorsalike.theracesareheldamongdifferentclans,villagesandanizations,andthewinnersareawardedmedals,banners,jugsofwineandfestivemeals.