Dragon Boat Festival

Today is a holiday - the Dragon Boat Festival! A couple of the teachers from school drove us out to the harbor to watch the goings-on. There were races (about 30 teams), plenty of food and a general atmosphere of fun! I've been told a couple of versions of the legend behind the Dragon Boat Festival. They all seem to surround a patriotic poet who, ages ago, did a lot of good for the Emperor. Some people didn't like him, and lied about him to the Emperor. The Emperor was so upset that he had the poet thrown into the river. Many people mourned for this poet and went out in boats to search for his body. Now, this day celebrated every June with boat races and a day off work & school. Yay!!