For the first time, the Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, is being celebrated as a public holiday in China. An article in China Daily says the fact that it has been added to our country's holiday list shows the government's respect and support for Chinese traditions.

The article says it is important the country reviews and resumes old customs associated with the festival. Otherwise, it would be "just another holiday".

As the paper points out, the festival dates back to the 3rd century. A poet named Qu Yuan threw himself into a river to protest aganinst the corrupt government, and his sympathizers jumped into nearby boats and scattered rice cakes in the river to keep fish from his corpse.

Many years have passed since the day Qu Yuan chose to end his life. Most people have forgotten the stories behind Duanwu. The paper says making the festival a public holiday will hopefully rescue or at least remind modern Chinese of China's long history and great traditions.