2. Dragon Boat Festival  端午節

R1：Today we are going to talk about ”boats.”

R2：Boats? I know. Row, row, row your boat!

R3-6：Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.

R1：Stop it! I am talking about a dragon boat.

R3-6：I see. What’s the difference between your dragon boat and other boats?

R2：It’s a special kind of Chinese boat.

R3-6：Special Chinese boat?

R1：It is related to the Dragon Boat Festival.

R2：On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, we usually have rice dumplings and dragon boat races.

R3-6：Rice dumplings and dragon boat races?

R1：Most important of all, there’s a very famous story behind these customs.

R3-6：Dumplings, boats, and a great story. I am ready for some fun.

N：Once upon a time, there was a loyal official named “Chu Yuan.”

R1：He was wise and was adored by the king.

R2：However, other jealous officials started to spread rumors about his loyalty.

R3：They told the king that Chu Yuan constantly criticized him.

R4：”Chu Yuan wanted the king to be replaced.”

R5：”Chu Yuan supported the king’s enemy.”

R6：”Chu Yuan wanted to be rich and famous.”

N：Unfortunately, the king believed those jealous officials. He distanced himself from Chu Yuan. One day, Chun Yuan walked by the Mi-lo River.

R1：Look! There is Chu Yuan. What is he doing?

R2：He ties a heavy rock to his body.

R3：Oh, no. He is walking towards the river.

R4：He is going to jump into the river.

R5：No, Chu Yuan. Don’t be a fool. Stop!

R6：There is always another way. Stop!

R1-6：Help!  Help!  Chu Yuan is jumping into the Mi-lo River. Somebody help!

N ：Heartbroken, Chu Yuan tied a heavy rock to his body and jumped into the Mi-lo River on the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month.

R1：People of the country searched in boats for Chu Yuan’s body for days.

R2：They searched for days but could not find anything.

R3：The fish and shrimp might eat his body.

R4：We have to do something.

R5：We could throw rice dumplings into the river.

R6：So the fish and the shrimp would eat them instead of Chu Yuan’s body.

N：Therefore, people threw pyramid-shape rice dumplings into the Mi-lo River from their dragon boats.

R1：This is the reason why we have rice dumplings and dragon boat races on the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month.

R2：Exactly. And we call this day, “the Dragon Boat Festival”.

N：Nowadays, Chu Yuan is remembered every year on this day when we eat pyramid-shaped rice dumplings and hold dragon boat races.

All：This is the story of the “Dragon Boat Festival”. Thank you for your attention.