端午节的由来英语作文

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Double Fifth Festival, is one of the three major traditional Chinese holidays, which also include the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is possibly the oldest, dating back to the Warring States period in 227 BC. The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a minister in the service of the Chu emperor. Disheartened by the corruption at court, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River. The townspeople, attempting to save him, jumped into their boats and scattered rice on the water to distract the hungry fish from his body.

The exact origins of the Duanwu Festival are unclear, but one traditional view holds that it memorializes Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet from the Warring States Period （c. 340 BC - 278 BC）. He committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River because he was disgusted by the corruption of the Chu government. The local people, knowing him to be a good and respected man, were deeply saddened by his death. In their sorrow, they threw rice into the river to prevent the fish from eating his body. This act eventually became the custom of scattering rice on the water during the Duanwu Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival is now celebrated in various ways, not only in China but also in other parts of East Asia. In the West, it is commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival is marked by various customs, such as eating zongzi （rice dumplings） and watching dragon boat races.

In conclusion, the Duanwu Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that commemorates the life and sacrifice of Qu Yuan, a prominent figure in Chinese history.