一、端午节之起源 Origins
Dragon Boat Festival is more than 2,000 years old, originating in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC)。
端午节起源于春秋时期（公元前770-476年），距今已有2000多年的历史。
Despite having many origins and legends surrounding it, the festival is today acknowledged and celebrated by most Chinese in memory of Qu, who lived in the latter part of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)。
尽管关于端午节起源的传说很多，如今流传最广的是端午节源于纪念战国末年爱国诗人屈原。
According to "Historical Records: Biography of Qu Yuan"，he became a minister and assisted King Huai of the Chu State. Later, the state of Qin prime minister Jin Shang lied to the Chu Emperor about the intentions of Qu Yuan, making Qu Yuan’s peers give up their trust in him and forcing Qu Yuan out of his position as a minister.
据《史记·屈原列传》记载，屈原曾为楚怀王左徒（仅次于宰相）。后来秦国上官大夫靳尚，在怀王面前诋毁屈原。怀王听信谗言，免除屈原左徒职务。
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of 278 B.C., upon learning that the capital of his country was occupied by the State of Qin, Qu chose to drown himself in the Miluo River.
公元前278年，楚国都城被秦国占领，屈原悲痛欲绝，于农历五月初五怀石自沉汩罗江。
When they heard of his death, the local people of Chu rowed out on the river to search for his body but found nothing. In order to preserve his body, they threw rice wrapped in reed into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat at Qu’s body. Gradually, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month has developed to commemorate the great patriot Qu Yuan.
相传屈原投江后，楚国百姓纷纷划船赶来打捞，满载用糯米芦叶包裹成的“粽子”投入江中，希望鱼儿不要伤害屈原的身体，后来便发展为以农历五月初五纪念屈原的节日。
二、端午节之习俗 Customs
1. 赛龙舟Dragon Boat Race
Legend has it that the dragon boat race was to find Qu Yuan's body, which later became a way for people to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival.
传说,龙舟比赛是为了寻找屈原的尸体，后成为人们过端午节的一种方式。
2. 吃粽子Eating Zongzi
Legend has it that Zongzi was thrown into the river by th elocal people of Chu to preserve Qu Yuan's body，which later became a way for people to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival.
相传楚国人民将粽子投入江里为了保全屈原尸体。后成为人们过端午节的一种方式。
3. 拴五色丝Tying five-color silk thread
It is a custom for adults to tie colorful ropes for children on Dragon Boat Festival. It is said that children wearing five colored threads can avoid the harm of snakes, scorpions, and poisonous insects. Throwing it into the river means letting the river wash away plagues and diseases, which can ensure the good health of children.
大人为孩子系五彩绳是端午节的一项习俗。据说，戴五色线的儿童可以避开蛇蝎类毒虫的伤害；端午节后第一场雨将五彩线扔到河里，意味着让河水将瘟疫、疾病冲走，可保儿童安康。
当探讨到系五彩绳的习俗时，张颖老师拿出了五彩绳，亲手系在每个同学的手上，丝丝彩线传递浓浓端午情。
4. 驱五毒 Expelling five poisonous vermin
The ancients called snakes, scorpions, geckos, centipedes and toads the "five poisons". On Dragon Boat Festival, people use colorful paper to cut the five poisons into paper cuttings and stick them on doors, windows, walls, beds or tie them to children's arms to avoid poisons.
古人将蛇、蝎、壁虎、蜈蚣、蟾蜍等称为“五毒”。民谣说："端午节，天气热，五毒醒，不安宁。" 每到端午节，人们就用彩色纸把五毒剪成剪纸，贴在门、窗、墙、炕上，或系在儿童的手臂上，以避诸毒。
5. 饮雄黄酒Drinking realgar wine
There is an old saying: "Drinking realgar wine drives diseases and evils away!"'
将雄黄酒涂在孩子头、额、耳、鼻、手、足心，并洒在墙壁上，可避诸毒。民间有俗语道“饮了雄黄酒，百病都远走。”
6. 悬艾叶菖蒲Hanging mugwort and calamus
During the Dragon Boat Festival, every family sweeps the courtyard and hangs mugwort and calamus on the door or in the hall.
民谚说：“清明插柳，端午插艾”。在端午节，家家都洒扫庭除，将菖蒲、艾条插在门眉或悬于堂中。
7. 挂钟馗像Hanging pictures of Zhong Kui
In Jianghuai area, every family hangs the image of Zhong Kui on the door or on the wall to drive away evil spirits.
在江淮地区，家家悬钟馗像，用以镇宅驱邪。
8. 佩香囊 Wearing perfume pouch or scented sachets
端午节小孩佩香囊，传说可避邪驱瘟，也用于襟头点缀装饰。香囊内有朱砂、雄黄、香药，用丝布包裹后再以五色丝线弦扣成索，作成不同的形状，结成一串，玲珑可爱。
Legend has it that children should wear perfume pouch or scented sachets which can ward off evil and plague。
9. 吃咸鸭蛋Eating salted duck eggs
Tradition has it that it is good to eat salted duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival as the burning summer is coming. The salted duck eggs are nutrient-rich and have some effect on the treatment of heatstroke.
传统认为，在端午节吃咸鸭蛋有益健康，因为灼热的夏天很快就要来临了。咸鸭蛋营养丰富，对治疗中暑有一定功效。
三、端午节之意义 Significance
Later generations often pursued the glorious and noble spirits of Qu Yuan. In 1953, the World Peace Council listed Qu Yuan as one of the world's four cultural celebrities.
屈原的忠贞、爱国、求索精神，成为后世仁人志士所信奉和追求的一种高尚精神。1953年，世界和平理事会将屈原列为世界四大文化名人之一。
In 2009, UNESCO added the Dragon Boat Festival to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, making it the first Chinese festival to receive the honor.
2009年，以纪念屈原为内涵的端午节，被联合国教科文组织正式审议并批准为世界非物质文化遗产，成为中国首个入选世界非物质文化遗产的节日。
屈原经典诗句节选
1. 路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。
Although the road is endless and far away,I still want to pursue truth in this world.
2. 长太息以掩涕兮，哀民生之多艰。
Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears, to see my people bowed by griefs and fears.
3. 亦余心之所善兮，虽九死其犹未悔。
Since my heart did love such purity, I'd not regret a thousand deaths to die.
学生优秀作文展示
——2022级理工学院 宋文亚
端午节是中国传统文化和历史的重要组成部分。作为新时代的青年，我们应该承担起传承、弘扬中华民族优秀文化的责任。用英语讲述中国故事，让世界倾听中国声音。