The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, has several origins, and here are some of the most widely recognized explanations in English:
1. **In Memory of Qu Yuan**: The most popular belief is that the festival commemorates the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC after being exiled for his criticism of the state. Local people raced their boats to search for his body and threw rice into the river to prevent fish from eating his body.
2. **To Drive Away Diseases**: Another explanation is that the festival was originally a time to ward off evil spirits and diseases. People would wear medicinal herbs, eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and hang mugwort and calamus to protect themselves from illness.
3. **Celebration of the Emperor's Birth**: Some sources suggest that the Dragon Boat Festival was originally established to celebrate the birthday of the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Gaozu of Han, who was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
4. **In Honor of a God of the River**: In some regions, the festival is associated with the worship of the Dragon King, who is believed to control the rivers and weather. The dragon boat races are seen as a way to honor the Dragon King and seek his favor.
5. **To Welcome Summer**: Some believe that the festival marks the beginning of summer and is a celebration of the arrival of warmer weather, which is why it is also known as the "Start of Summer Festival."
These are just a few of the many theories about the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival.
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