Dumplings a traditional festive treat

Rice dumplings are a tradi tional Dragon Boat Festival treat usually made with glu tinous rice, pork belly, conpoy and wrapped with bamboo leaves.

The Dragon Boat Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calen dar, originated in China 2,400 years ago. The festival commemorates statesman and poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself to protest against the Chu Dynasty's corrupt regime.

People threw rice dump lings into the river hoping to scare away the fish and pro tect Qu Yuan's corpse. The Chinese believe one's body should be kept complete after death.

Nowadays, we celebrate the festival with dragon boat races and a variety of dump lings.