The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday 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 festival origins are attributed to the legend of Qu Yuan, a famous poet and statesman from ancient China.

Qu Yuan lived during the Warring States period (475- BCE), a time of political turmoil and conflict. He was a loyal minister and a patriotic poet who advocated for the unity and prosperity of his kingdom. However, Qu Yuan's ideas clashed with those of corrupt officials, who slandered him and got him banished from the court. Devastated by the state of his country, Qu Yuan wrote many poems expressing his love for his homeland and his concern for its people. In 278 BCE, upon hearing news of his kingdom's fall to the enemy, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River as an act of despair and protest against the corruption. The local population admired and respected Qu Yuan, so they raced out in their boats trying to save him or retrieve his body. They beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles to scare away the fish and prevent them from eating his body.

To commemorate Qu Yuan's sacrifice, people began to organize dragon boat races every year on the anniversary of his death. Dragon boats, long and narrow boats decorated like water dragons, are used for the races. The boats, manned by teams of rowers, compete to reach a finish line, accompanied by the beating of drums and the cheering of spectators.

The Dragon Boat Festival is also associated with other customs and traditions. People eat sticky rice dumplings called zongzi, which are made by wrapping glutinous rice with various fillings in bamboo leaves and then steaming or boiling them. It is believed that throwing zongzi into the river during the festival helps keep fish and evil spirits away from Qu Yuan's body.

Additionally, people hang up pouches of herbs called "mojo" on their doorways to ward off evil spirits. Children often wear colorful silk threads around their wrists or necks for protection from evil. Some regions also organize cultural activities such as lion dances, ceremonies to honor Qu Yuan, and other folk performances.

The Dragon Boat Festival serves as a time for people to pay homage to Qu Yuan's patriotism, as well as to enjoy the excitement of dragon boat races and the festive atmosphere. It has become an important cultural event that promotes traditional values, unity, and the appreciation of Chinese history and heritage.