ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s an ancient Chinese tradition dating back more than 2,000 years. The dragon boat festival is believed to have originated to honor the life and death of Chinese scholar and poet Qu Yuan.
He is believed to have drowned himself in the Miluo River after he was exiled by the king in 278 B.C. Those who loved and admired him took their boats out on the water and searched for him but were unsuccessful. [TRENDING: Fiancé arrested in tattoo worker’s homicide | Why’s it so windy in Fla.
right now? | ‘Smart cookie:’ Girl wiped slime on kidnapping suspect] Now centuries later, that search and attempted rescue of Yuan has turned into the popular dragon boat festivals held around the world.