On 22 June, millions of people in China and around the world celebrated one of traditional(holiday) known as the Dragon Boat Festival. The day, also known as the Duanwu Festival, (honor) a great poet in Chinese history, called Qu Yuan. When he drowned in a river in 278 BC, people rowed out in boats to search for him. This inspired the Dragon Boat Festival, takes place each year on the day that Qu Yuan died- the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar.
There is a wide(vary) of festivities in different parts of China, they share several similar traditions. These include dragon boat racing, a traditional Chinese sport. Rowers sit in large boats(shape) like dragons and they paddle to the beat of a drum, which is usually played by someone at the front of the boat.
Another feature of the celebrations ispopular snack called zongzi. These are special sticky rice dumplings wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. It is believed that the special sticky rice dumplings, zongzi, (throw) in the river after Qu Yuan's death. These have now become a traditional food of the festival.
In some parts of China, children are(tradition) given bracelets made from strings of five colors, which are said to keep away bad luck. The festival is also celebratedother countries with Chinese communities, including Malaysia and Singapore.
