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　　For Chinese, it’s time for dragon boat racing and Zongzi．But in South Korea, wrestling and swing play are the highlights．However, both events go by the same name －the Dragon Boat Festival．It falls on May 5th of the lunar calendar．

　　One festival, two cultures．Does one nation have the right to call it its own? It has been reported that South Korea will ask the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO联合国教科文组织) to make the celebration its cultural heritage (文化遗产)．If successful, people from other countries may see the Dragon Boat Festival as a Korean creation．

　　As the birthplace of the yearly event more than 2,000 years ago, China is not happy with the situation (情况)．“It would be a shame if another country successfully made a traditional Chinese festival part of its own cultural heritage before China,” said Zhou Heping, deputy cultural minister．The Ministry of Culture is even thinking of making its own application (申请) to UNESCO, covering all traditional Chinese festivals, including the Dragon Boat event．

　　“I don’t like some of the food eaten at the festival, but I am shocked by South Korea’s move,” said Jin Yutong, a Senior One student．“We should protect the cultural heritage left by our ancestors (祖先)．”

　　It is thought that the festival is held in memory of the great poet Qu Yuan (340－278BC), who lived in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period．．

Qu was known to be a patriot (爱国者) and admired by ordinary people．He is said to have jumped into Miluo River, because he had lost hope in his country’s future．When people heard about Qu’s death, they sailed up and down the river searching for his body．They also beat the drums to fright away fish and threw Zongzi into water．These were supposed to stop the fish from touching Qu．Dragon boat racing is said to have come from the search for the poet’s body．

　　Over the years, the Dragon Boat Festival has spread throughout the world．．

In Japan and Vietnam, as well as South Korea, the festival has mixed together with, and become part of the local culture．

　　With this in mind, some experts say that it is meaningless to argue (争论) about which country the festival belongs．“Everyone can say that it came from China,” said Long Haiqing, an expert from Hunan Province．“But if the whole nation can protect the culture heritage together, they will all benefit．”

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