do you know who is "qu yuan"? what type of "zongzi" do you like most? have you ever joined a dragon boat competition? all these are related to the dragon boat festival.

　　do you know the origin of this festival? read the following essay and you will have a clear picture of the dragon boat festival.

　　the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the chinese people. the day is called duan wu festival, or dragon boat festival, celebrated everywhere in china.

　　this festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. the best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named qu yuan.

　　the customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of zhong kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. people have dragon boat races, eat zong zi (dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.