FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Stockwood 617-426-6500 x 213
stockwood@BostonKids.org

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE CHARLES

25^nd Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival to be held onSunday, June 13, 2004

BOSTON; March 12; Enjoy the festivities at the 25^nd Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, June 13, 2004, from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., taking place along the Charles River between JFK street and the Western Avenue Bridge.Come marvel at the display of brightly colored dragon boats as they are powered through the Charles River by lively paddlers from Boston and as far away as Canada.The festival is sponsored in part by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Dragon Boat Festival Committee of Boston, The Children¹s Museum, American Express and more.

This year's festival, which is the largest Asian American celebration in New England, will include more than 35 teams competing in four categories: open, mixed, corporate and women's. A special heat will be devoted to breast cancer survivors.It will also feature traditional Chinese arts and crafts by the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association; a Dragon Dance; martial arts, Chinese dance and music; traditional Japanese festival drummers and Asian foods.

The Legend of the Dragon Boat Races

Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth moon on the lunar calendar (late May to mid June on the solar calendar), the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the Qu Yuan (340-278 BC).A political leader of Chu, Qu Yuan is recognized as China's first distinguished poet. Qu Yuan lost the king's favor and was banished from his homestate of Chu because of his opposition to the prevalent policy of compromise to the powerful state of Qin.In exile, he wrote the poem, "Encountering Sorrow" which shows a great loyalty to his state and its people.In 278, Qu Yuan heard that Chu had been invaded. In despair, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.The people of Chu rushed to the river to rescue him.Too late to save Qu Yuan, they splashed furiously and threw zung-ze (traditional rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) into the river as a sacrifice to his spirit and to keep the fishes away from his body.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festivals are popular around the world.The first US Dragon Boat Festival held in Boston was used as a vehicle to promote Asian culture and a chance to bring together diverse communities from Boston and surrounding areas.In previous years, more than 20,000 people lined the banks of the Charles to enjoy the festivities and performances.Join in this special 25^th anniversary celebration.

For more information, check out the Festival website at www.bostondragonboat.org or call
(617) 426-6500, x 213.

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