06/07/2008 Saturday Cloudy

年年岁岁端午节，
岁岁年年人不同。
且把温馨藏心里，
粽叶飘香故园情。

我住的小城，中国人少的可怜，只有三户中国人家，大家都很忙碌，难得在一起说中国话聊天。每当中国节日到来的时候，我无法感到节日的气氛。然而，我一登陆《文学城》，可就大不一样了。每当节日来临的时候，《文学城》的网友们就不时互祝节日快乐，让我感到了温馨的友谊和节日的快乐。我喜欢《文学城》，有《文学城》真好，它慰藉了我的乡愁，我可以和网友用中英文交流，一段文字，一首乐曲，产生着共鸣，是一种精神的愉悦。

明天（2008年6月8日）就是中国传统的端午节，农历为五月初五，端午节的第一个意义就是纪念历史上伟大的民族诗人屈原。端午节是我国二千多年的旧习俗，每到这一天，家家户户都悬钟馗像，挂艾叶菖蒲，赛龙舟，吃粽子，饮雄黄酒，游百病，佩香囊，备牲醴，充满了节日的气氛。

每次读着网友们真诚的节日问候，看到网友们精美的帖子，甜美的粽子，聆听着动听的音乐。我的思绪就飘回了故乡，母亲在家里包粽子的情景，就出现在我的眼前了，历历如昨。每到端午节前夕，母亲就买来粽叶，为我们包各方式各样的粽子，母亲包的粽子精巧好看，鲜美可口。现在自己做了母亲，就开始佩服母亲的能干，开朗，大度，母亲能做各种各样的美味佳肴，让我难以忘怀。

遗憾的是，我以前在家时，很少跟母亲学作饭菜。如今，在美国的家中，不论我如何尝试，也达不到母亲的水平了。所以，我对的孩子们说：“你们喜欢的佳肴，一定要学会做。等你们离家的时候，想吃家中的饭菜，就可以自己动手做了。”孩子们真听话，他们在不停地学。Cisco的厨艺目前是突飞猛进，成为家中颇受欢迎的“小厨师”了。Tony's Rice Crisp, Daniel's Omelette, Ivana and Becky's cup cakes are also delicious.

端午节除了吃母亲包的粽子以外，和家人去故乡的小河看龙舟比赛也别有一番情趣。参赛的人都系上五彩带，祈祷好运气，他们使劲地划桨，渴望着夺冠。观看的人不停地在喊：加油，加油。好不热闹，兴奋异常。难忘在故乡度过的童年岁月，绵绵故乡情，再忆粽香飘。

Here is an article from China Daily for you all to enjoy regarding Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

Do you know who is "Qu Yuan"? What type of "Zongzi" do you like most? Have you ever joined a dragon boat competition? All these are related to the Dragon Boat Festival.

Do you know the origin of this festival? Read the following essay and you will have a clear picture of the Dragon Boat Festival.

The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people. The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China.

This festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named Qu Yuan.

The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. People have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi (dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.

　Spice Bag

It's believed that if you carry the small spice bag around with you, it not only drives away evil spirits but also brings fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made by local craftsmen. They're made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines.

　Dragon Boat Race

The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.

　The Culture of Zongzi

Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day. Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating Zong Zi.

　Realgar Wine

It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival to you all.