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Dragon Boat Racing is more than an exciting water sport. It is a very dynamic part of Chinese folklore and culture. The Festival has been marked on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese calendar for more than 2000 years.
As the second most important cultural event for the Chinese, the Festival marks the tragic death of Qu Yuan, the poet-philosopher, who committed suicide by drowning himself in the Mei Lo River to protest the corrupt regime of the Chou emperor. According to the legend, local fishermen, seeing this happen, raced out with their boats in an attempt to save him, but failed. To prevent his body from being eaten by the fish, they beat the water furiously with their paddles and threw rice dumplings, wrapped in silk, into the river as a sacrifice to his spirit. The scene of fishermen racing out to save Qu Yuan is reenacted every year in the form of dragon boat races. The Tuen Ng Festival, also known as Poet's Day, is a rain making festival for ensuring a good harvest. Rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves are eaten during the celebrations.
Each July this fun-filled weekend is enriched by a series of performances, featuring traditional cultural dances and songs from a number of ethnic communities. These performances reflect Sudbury's ethnic diversity and complement the city's cultural mosaic. Fun activities for children are also included.
www.sudburydragonboats.org