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Time：2014-05-23
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Dear Valued friends and customers,
Please kindly be noted that we will be on the vacation for the Dragon Boat Festival from May 31st to June 2nd , 2014.
During this time, if you have any inquiries or other concerns, please send to info@lisound.org, we will respond to your email as soon as possible on our return after June 4th, sorry for the inconvenience caused.
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Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of more than 2,000 years.
There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin. However, he was opposed by aristocrats, and later deposed and exiled.
In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu's capital, so he finished his last poem “Huai Sha” and plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar.
After his death, the people of Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him. The fishermen sailed their boats to look for his body. People threw rice dumplings (pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves) into the water to divert the fish from attacking his body. That's why people later followed the customs such as dragon boat racing, eating rice dumplings on that day.
Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country. Folk tales say this game originates from the activities of seeking Qu Yuan's body. The racers in dragon-shaped canoes pull the oars harmoniously and hurriedly, accompanied by rapid drums, speeding toward the destination. Now this campaign has developed into an aquatic sports item which features both Chinese tradition and modern sporting spirit.
Rice dumpling is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival. In early times, it was only glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or other plant leaves and tied with colored thread, but now the fillings are more diversified, including jujube and bean paste, fresh meat, and ham and egg yolk. The custom of eating rice dumplings is now popular not only in China, but also in North and South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian nations.