The Dragon Boat Festival is an ancient custom that can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (ca. 16th-11th century B.C). Today, it is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in commemoration of the Chinese poet, Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.). The festival also marks the beginning of summer and is widely observed across Taiwan and Asia with dragon boat races and other events.
Zongzi are a pyramid-shaped dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, and filled with glutinous rice with a variety of different flavors, such as pork belly, dates, or peanuts. They are a delicacy of this major holiday and enjoyed by people who celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival throughout Asia.