Switch (Make Rice Dumplings): The Dragon Boat Festival is on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Long ago in the state of Chu, the poet Qu Yuan jumped in the Miluo River and died on that day. The people didn’t want the fish and shrimp to eat Qu Yuan’s body. So they threw rice into the river, hoping the fish would eat the rice instead. They also made the rice dumplings look like bamboo leaves and silk to protect the rice they used to honor Qu Yuan. Now we eat rice dumplings during Dragon Boat Festival.

Switch (Dragon Boat Race): Dragon boat races have been around for over 2,000 years! At first, they didn’t use dragon boats for races. The people of Chu used them to help save their famous poet Qu Yuan. They were worried the fish would eat him. So they threw rice dumplings in the water and used dragon boats to chase the fish away. Today, dragon boat racing is an important part of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival.

Switch (Visit the Lotus Pond): It’s very hot during Dragon Boat Festival. This is when lotus flowers bloom beautifully. People admire how lotus flowers stay clean even though they grow in muddy water. On the festival, friends get together to look at the pretty lotus flowers. You can eat the lotus root and seeds too – they help cool you down in the summer heat.