主播：Emma（中国）+ Erin（美国）

音乐：Traveling Light

今天是端午节，祝大家端午安康。我们今天聊的话题就跟端午节相关。

01. The Origin of Dragon Boat Festival 端午节的由来

The origin story is actually really touching.

古时候有位爱国诗人叫屈原，他心怀国家，却被坏人陷害。在五月初五这天，伤心的他跳入汨罗江（mì luó jiāng）中。后来老百姓们为了不让鱼虾伤害屈原，人们把米团扔进江里。久而久之，每年的五月初五就成了端午节。

So this festival was established to commemorate(纪念) Qu Yuan. And zongzi literally came from an act of love for a poet(诗人).

02. Common Activities During the Dragon Boat Festival 端午节的常见活动

Eat zongzi 吃粽子

Zongzi is glutinous rice(糯米) packed with fillings(馅料) and wrapped(包裹) in leaves, then steamed(蒸煮). 粽子可以包非常多种馅（a lot of fillings）。The filling is really abundant(丰富的).

南方：

咸粽子：猪肉粽、蛋黄粽、火腿粽

北方：

甜粽子：红枣（red dates）粽、豆沙（red bean paste）粽

有的人还会用粽子蘸白糖或者蜂蜜。

每年端午节，网上都会掀起甜咸粽子之争，这跟美国的the pineapple-on-pizza debate有些相似。

The dragon boat races 赛龙舟

这个活动在南方可能会更流行一些。

Wearing five-color rope bracelets 带五彩绳

Hanging scented sachets (/sæˈʃeɪz/) 挂香囊

香囊（sachets）里面会放一些香草和中药材，有些香囊还可以帮助驱蚊（mosquito repellent）。

Hanging mugwort at the front door 在门口挂艾草

It's interesting that holidays can have their own smells. 闻到艾草的味道，很多中国人就知道端午节要到了。

03. Why is 端午节called the Dragon Boat Festival instead of the Zongzi Festival?

为什么端午节叫Dragon Boat Festival不叫Zongzi festival？

The short answer is：赛龙舟很盛大，具有国际影响力。People see that as a symbol(象征) of the holiday. Dragon boat racing is huge, dramatic(激动人心的) and international(国际影响力的).

从1976年开始，赛龙舟就变成一项国际运动了。Hong Kong started hosting big international races, and then it spread internationally.

04. Chinese Traditional Festivals vs. Western Traditional Festivals

中西方传统节日对比

It seems like every Chinese holiday eventually becomes about food. 但其实，中国人过节吃的不仅是食物本身，更重要的是在这些食物当中蕴含的祝福和寓意。The food actually seems to mean something.

Chinese New Year has dumplings. 新年吃饺子。

因为饺子的形状很像古代的元宝，寓意着富有（wealth）。

The Lantern Festival has tangyuan. 元宵节我们会吃汤圆。

Dragon Boat Festival has zongzi. 端午节吃粽子。

For commemorating(纪念) Qu Yuan.

Mid-Autumn Festival has mooncakes. 中秋节会吃月饼。

因为月饼是圆的，象征团圆。It's like you're eating a wish for your family to be together.

So every food carries a story.

��那么，西方的每个节日也会有特定的饮食吗？

The answer is not quite. The closest example is probably Thanksgiving and turkey.

在感恩节（Thanksgiving Day）这天大家会会吃火鸡（the turkey）。

但相比于食物，western holidays are often more focused on activities(活动) and celebrations(庆祝方式).

Easter 复活节

在复活节期间，相比于吃Easter eggs(复活节彩蛋)，人们更喜欢去找Easter eggs。

Christmas 圣诞节

人们更注重的是gifts（礼物），Christmas trees（圣诞树）和Santa Claus（圣诞老人）。

Western holidays are definitely more driven by what to do on those days than what to eat.

所以相比之下，中国节日更强调“吃什么”，西方节日更注重活动和庆祝方式。But whether it's sharing food or sharing experiences, it's really all about bringing people together(使人们团聚).

明明人人吃粽子，端午英文名却叫 Dragon Boat Festival？

一席英语·脱口秀：老外来了

明明人人吃粽子，端午英文名却叫 Dragon Boat Festival？