端午节(DragonBoatFestival)】 　　TheDragonBoatFestivaloccursonthefifthdayofthefifthmoonofthelunarcalendar(阴历).ItisoneofthethreemostimportantoftheannualChinesefestivals.TheothertwoaretheAutumnMoonFestivalandChineseNewYear. 　　ThestoryofthiscolorfulfestivalconcernsafamousChinesescholar-statesman(政治家)namedChuYuan(屈原)who,somethreecenturiesbeforethebirthofChrist,servedtheKingofChu(楚怀王)duringtheWarringStatesperiod.Asaloyalminister(大臣),ChuYuanatfirstenjoyedthefullconfidenceandrespectofhissovereign(君主).Eventually,throughtheintriguesofhisrivals,hewasdiscredited(不足信的,不名誉的). 　　ChuYuanwasneverabletoregain(恢复)theemperor'sfavorandonthefifthdayofthefifthmoonintheyear295B.C.(BeforeChrist),attheageof37,ChuYuanclaspedastonetohischestandplungedintotheMiloRiver(汨罗江)intheHunanProvince(湖南省). 　　Respectingtheministerasanupright(正直的)andhonestman,thepeoplewholivedintheareajumpedintotheirboatsandrushedoutinavainsearchforhim.ThisunsuccessfulrescueattemptisapartofwhattheDragonBoatFestivalcommemorateseveryyear. 　　ProbablythemostexcitingandinterestingaspectofthefestivalistheracingoftheDragonBoats.Theseracesnotonlysymbolizethepeople'sattempttosaveChuYuan,theyalsodemonstratetheChinesevirtues(美德)ofcooperationandteamwork. 　　AnotheractivityoftheFestivalisthemakingandeatingofakindofdumplingcalledTzungtzu(粽子).WhenitbecameknownthatChuYuanwasgoneforever,thepeople,livingalongtheriver,threwcookedriceintothewaterasasacrifice(祭品)totheirdeadhero.Theywrapped(包)riceinbambooleaves(粽叶),andstuffed(填满)itwithham,beans,beanpaste(豆沙),saltedeggyokes,sausages,nuts,and/orvegetables. 　　TotheChinesethefifthlunarmoonismorethanjusttheDragonBoatFestival.Sinceantiquity(古代),theyhavebelievedthatthismonthisapestilentialanddanger-fraught(瘟疫的及充满危险的)period.Childrenborninthismontharesaidtobedifficulttoraise(抚养),andpeopletendtoconcentratetheireffortsduringthistimeattemptingtoprotecttheirfamiliesfromillsandmisfortune.ThedayoftheDragonBoatFestivaliscustomarilythetimewhencleaningandsanitation(卫生)arestressed(着重,强调).Mostfamilieshangcalamus(菖蒲)andartemisia(艾草)abovetheirdoors,bothasadecorationandasapreventiveagainstpestilence. 　　Ancientfolkmedicines(民间药物)suchasrealgar(雄黄酒)areaddedtothefoodeatenontheFestivalday.Thisisbelievedtopreventdiseaseandtopromoteahealthydigestivesystem(消化器官).Thedrinkingofrealgarinwinesupposedlyrelieves(解除)theeffectsofpoisonsaccumulatedinhumanbodies. 　　Thesachets(HsiangPaoinChinese香包)areverypopularwithchildrenandtheyvie(竞争)witheachothertocollectasmanyaspossible.ChildrenarenottheonlyoneswhocollectHsiangPao.Olderpeopleareoftengiventhemasasymbolofrespect,andtheyarehighlyprizedbecauseoftheintricate(复杂的)andbeautifulembroidery(刺绣)thatadorns(装饰)them. 　　TheDragonBoatFestivalisanentertainingandenjoyableevent.ItgivestheobserveranopportunitytoglimpseapartoftherichChineseculturalheritage. 　　TheDragonBoatFestival,alsocalledDoubleFifthFestival,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmoonofthelunarcalendar.ItisoneofthemostimportantChinesefestivals