农历五月初五，是中国民间的传统节日——端午节，它是中华民族古老的传统节日之一。端午也称端五，端阳。此外，端午节还有许多别称，如：午日节、重五节，五月节、浴兰节、女儿节，天中节、地腊、诗人节、龙日等等。虽然名称不同，但总体上说，各地人民过节的习俗还是同多于异的。

过端午节，是中国人二千多年来的传统习惯，由于地域广大，民族众多，加上许多故事传说，于是不仅产生了众多相异的节名，而且各地也有着不尽相同的习俗。其内容主要有：女儿回娘家，挂钟馗像，迎鬼船、躲午，帖午叶符，悬挂菖蒲、艾草，游百病，佩香囊，备牲醴,赛龙舟，比武，击球，荡秋千，给小孩涂雄黄，饮用雄黄酒、菖蒲酒，吃五毒饼、咸蛋、粽子和时令鲜果等，除了有迷信色彩的活动渐已消失外，其余至今流传中国各地及邻近诸国。有些活动，如赛龙舟等，已得到新的发展，突破了时间、地域界线，成为了国际性的体育赛事。

关于端午节的由来，说法甚多，诸如：纪念屈原说；纪念伍子胥说；纪念曹娥说；起于三代夏至节说；恶月恶日驱避说，吴月民族图腾祭说等等。以上各说，各本其源。据学者闻一多先生的《端午考》和《端午的历史教育》列举的百余条古籍记载及专家考古考证，端午的起源，是中国古代南方吴越民族举行图腾祭的节日，比屈原更早。但千百年来，屈原的爱国精神和感人诗辞，已广泛深入人心，故人们“惜而哀之，世论其辞，以相传焉”，因此，纪念屈原之说，影响最广最深，占据主流地位。在民俗文化领域，中国民众把端午节的龙舟竞渡和吃粽子等，都与纪念屈原联系在一起。

时至今日，端午节仍是中国人民中一个十分盛行的隆重节日。

The origins of The Dragon Boat Festival

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.

Customs

Dragon Boat race

Traditions At the center of this festival are the dragon boat races. Competing teams drive their colorful dragon boats forward to the rhythm of beating drums. These exciting races were inspired by the villager's valiant attempts to rescue Chu Yuan from the Mi Lo river. This tradition has remained unbroken for centuries.

Zong Zi

A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat festival is zong zi. This tasty dish consists of rice dumplings with meat, peanut, egg yolk, or other fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. The tradition of zong zi is meant to remind us of the village fishermen scattering rice across the water of the Mi Low river in order to appease the river dragons so that they would not devour Chu Yuan.

Ay Taso

The time of year of the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth lunar moon, has more significance than just the story of Chu Yuan. Many Chinese consider this time of year an especially dangerous time when extra efforts must be made to protect their family from illness. Families will hang various herbs, called Ay Tsao, on their door for protection. The drinking of realgar wine is thought to remove poisons from the body. Hsiang Bao are also worn. These sachets contain various fragrant medicinal herbs thought to protect the wearer from illness.