导言：刚过去的我国传统节日——端午节，为每年农历的五月初五，也有“端阳节”、“午日节、五月节、龙舟节、浴兰节”等别称。然而，就其起源，各地都有不同的说法，所以，论及英文表述，就更不甚了了了。下面选取一篇有关端午节起源的英文介绍，了解一下对应的英文表达及相关知识。

The Legend of Dragon Boat Festival

China’s Dragon Boat Festival, or Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which falls on June 9 this year.

It is one of the oldest festivals, not only in China but also throughout the world, with a history of more than 2,000 years. In 2006, the traditional festival was listed as one of China's national intangible cultural heritages. In 2008, it was recognized as a public holiday in Chinese mainland.

The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chu state official and poet who lived during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) before the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). He was exiled after opposing his king's decision to ally with the neighboring state of Qin, and when Chu was finally conquered by Qin, he committed suicide by drowning in a river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in Miluo River.

The Chu people, who admired Qu Yuan for his loyalty and integrity, threw rice dumplings into the river to feed the fish so they would not eat the body of their poet hero.

It is said people then started dragon boat racing to scare off the fish.

Since then, the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar is celebrated as the Dragon Boat Festival. People hold boat races and prepare zongzi (sticky rice dumplings in bamboo leaves) in memory of Qu's righteousness and his beautiful poems.

Phrases & Expressions

the lunar calendar：农历；阴历

China's national intangible cultural heritages：国家级非物质文化遗产

commemorate：纪念

the Warring States Period：战国时期

exile:放逐

ally vi.联合；结盟

righteousness：正直；公正

端午节节日活动报道相关阅读：

The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节之网络中国节）

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016dragonboatfest/)

（来源：中国日报 编稿:刘新平）