Along time ago, about 300 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. It was the Warring States period in China. A famous and patriotic poet and statesman, Chu Yuan, lived during that period.Chu Yuan was a loyal minister to King Huai, so King Huai liked him very much. Some jesters were jealous of Chu Yuan's close relationship with the king. They started saying bad things about Chu Yuan to the king. Finally, King Huai believed all these lies, stopped listening to Chu Yuan and fired him.
Chu Yuan was very sad. One day, he was walking along the Milo River. He said: "Everybody in the world is drunk but me. Everybody in the world is sleepy but me. My king doesn't listen to me. My country is falling apart." Then, he picked up a big stone and tied it to his chest. Chu Yuan jumped into the river and disappeared.
Many people came and helped. Some people made rice dumplings and threw them into the river. Then, the fish won't eat Chu Yuan's body. Some people set out in boats to search for Chu Yuan's body. It was May 5 of the lunar calendar when Chu Yuan jumped into the river.
That is why we eat rice dumplings during Dragon Boat Festival. And that is why there are dragon boat races on that day. These activities are in honor of the patriotic poet and statesman, Chu Yuan.
