Dragons are water Gods in Asian belief.

Tuen Ng, the Dragon Boat Festival is held the 6th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar (June 22nd this year). The Dragon Boat Festival has been held since 400 BC, in honor of the ancient poet and minister Yu Quan who, protesting government corruption, drowned himself in the Mi Lo River of Hong Kong. Local fishermen raced their boats out to try to save him, but--alas!--they were too late. Thus, each year commemorative Dragon Boat races are held. Every year in June, teams from around the globe compete in the world championship Hong Kong Dragon Boat race. Each team has 18 crew members, a tillerman, & a drummer (to keep the team rowing in rhythm) all crammed into a 39 foot teak wood shell, complete with dragon's head and tailpointed red yellow and green. The 500 meter (1640 foot) race takes about three minutes to finish--but since hundreds of teams enter and race and heats, it's an all day event. In North America, Dragon Boat Festival, first held in 1990, take place in July or August, when US teams consisting of high spirited yuppies compete in events in New York, California, & parts of Canada. In addition to the racing, festivals usually include a dragon dance, a ritual boat blessing by a Buddhist priest, & traditional Chinese food and crafts.