Monks on Motorcycles

Trip Start Sep 01, 2008
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37
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Trip End Jul 22, 2009


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Flag of China  , Anhui,
Monday, May 18, 2009

This year 28 May is Dragon Boat Festival for the Chinese.  This is a very special festival for many reasons.  Last year they changed around the holidays a little and Dragon Boat Festival is now a national holiday, so it has become more popular to celebrate it again.

The story behind it is about Qu Yuan.  He was a loyal political advisor to the king.  The king became very influenced by many other corrupt advisors and adventually Qu Yuan was banished.  Later he commited suicide as a protest against the corruption of the government.  Upon realizing this many people around the area where he jumped threw zong zi (rice wrapped in silk at the time, but now wrapped in bamboo leaves) into the water to feed the fish.  Many also got in boats and paddled out to the middle and banged gongs in order to ward off evil spirits and the river dragon.

Today they have races.  We were able to meet up with a few more Westerners and took a big bus out to a river outside of town to see the races.  It was a blast! (Especially with the fireworks)
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