The Dragon Boat Festival

张晓菁

 

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. It is one of the most important Chinese festivals, the other two being the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year.

The origin of this summer festival centers around a scholarly government official named Chu Yuan. He was a good and respected man, but because of the misdeeds of jealous rivals he eventually fell into disfavor in the emperor's court。

Unable to regain the respect of the emperor, in his sorrow Chu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Low river. Because of their admiration for Chu Yuan, the local people living adjacent to the Mi Lo River rushed into their boats to search for him while throwing rice into the waters to appease the river dragons。Although they were unable to find Chu Yuan, their efforts are still commemorated today during the Dragon Boat Festival。

词汇：

1.lunar calendar农历

例句：The lunar calendar is different from the calendar used in the west. 农历和西方所用的历法不一样。

2.scholarly 博学多闻的(形容词)

例句：Our professor is very scholarly. 我们的教授非常博学多闻。

3.misdeed 罪行，不当的行为(名词)

例句：His misdeeds brought him bad fortune. 他不当的行为造成他悲惨的命运。

3.appease缓和、平息(动词)

例句：This food should appease his hunger。这些食物应该会让他感到比较不饥饿了。

4.commemorate庆祝、纪念(动词)

例句：On this day we commemorate those soldiers who died during battle。在这一天，我们纪念那些在战争中捐躯的军人。