DuanwuFestivalisatraditionalChinesefestivalheldonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthoftheChinesecalendar.ItisalsoknownastheDoubleFifth.Ithassincebeencelebrated,invariousways,inotherpartsofEastAsiaaswell.IntheWest,itscommonlyknownasDragonBoatFestival.
TheexactoriginsofDuanWuareunclear,butonetraditionalviewholdsthatthefestivalmemorializestheChinesepoetQuYuan(c.340BC-278BC)oftheWarringStatesPeriod.HecommittedsuicidebydrowninghimselfinariverbecausehewasdisgustedbythecorruptionoftheChugovernment.Thelocalpeople,knowinghimtobeagoodman,decidedtothrowfoodintotherivertofeedthefishsotheywouldnoteatQusbody.Theyalsosatonlong,narrowpaddleboatscalleddragonboats,andtriedtoscarethefishawaybythethunderingsoundofdrumsaboardtheboatandthefiercelookingcarveddragonheadontheboatsprow.
IntheearlyyearsoftheChineseRepublic,DuanWuwasalsocelebratedas"PoetsDay,"duetoQuYuansstatusasChinasfirstpoetofpersonalrenown.
Today,peopleeatbamboo-wrappedsteamedglutinousricedumplingscalledzongzi(thefoodoriginallyintendedtofeedthefish）andracedragonboatsinmemoryofQusdramaticdeath.
