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In
The News
2005
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26th Annual Dragon Boat Festival
BOSTON ¾ 2005¾ Enjoy the
festivities at the 26th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on
Sunday, June 12, 2005, 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 brightly colored dragon boats, as
they race down 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, Asian American Bank, Foxwoods
Resort & Casino, Kam Man Food, Citizens Bank, Keyspan, the Dragon Boat
Festival Committee of Boston Children’s Museum, 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; Beijing Opera; martial arts, Chinese
dance and music; traditional Japanese festival drummers and Asian
foods. The festival, free and
open to the public, will be held rain or shine.
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 home state
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.
For
more information, check out the Festival website at www.bostondragonboat.org or
call
(617) 426-6500, x 778 for a recorded message.
2004
Dragon
Boat Festival Returns to the Charles
New
Dragon Boats Arrive for June 13th Races
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