The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. American children of all ages give their mothers something special. Children, young and old, try to show their love to mothers on the day. However, do you know that Mother’s Day celebration is not a recent thing?

The UK was the first country to set a day for mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in 1914. An American girl, Anna, asked their governor to set a festival for mothers that they loved. Therefore, they set the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day and a year later all the other states celebrated it.

In the morning of Mother’s Day, some American children serve their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers presents which they make themselves or buy in stores. Adults give their mothers red carnations (康乃馨), the official Mother’s Day flower. If their mothers left the world，they may bring white carnations to their grave sites (墓地). This is the busiest day of the year for American restaurants. On this special day, family members do not want their mother to cook dinner!

Every year on June 21st, World Music Day is commemorated in over 120 countries, including its birthplace of France, to honor both amateur and professional musicians. Citizens of a city or country are permitted and encouraged to perform music outside in their neighborhoods, public areas, and parks on Music Day. Free concerts are also held, where musicians perform for the joy of it rather than for a fee.

In the 1970s, American musician Joel Cohen, who was then working for a French radio station, came up with the idea of having musicians perform on the evening of June 21 to celebrate the start of summer. It was finally accepted by France’s Ministry of Culture in 1982. The day started in France and has since extended to countries such as Belgium, the United Kingdom and others. It’s the ideal time to learn a new instrument or listen to songs they wouldn’t ordinarily include on their playlist. Every type of musician can celebrate World Music Day with friends, family, and even strangers, whether they are young, elderly, new, or seasoned professionals. The purpose is to promote music.

It makes no difference how good you are at making music; everyone can do it. This day can be used by even the most tone-deaf folks to sing their hearts out and appreciate the beauty and power of music. Music is not only a great way to express yourself, but it may also be beneficial to your health. A song might bring back a joyful memory or make you feel energized when you listen to it.

The Dragon Boat Festival is the holiday the honours the tragic death of Qu Yuan, who died in 278 BC. In the Warring States period, Qu Yuan was a poet and statesman. He was the number one advisor of the Chu State. But people were jealous of his position and said lots of bad words behind his back. The king wouldn't take his advice in the end and was captured by the enemy of the neighbouring kingdom and finally died there. However, the new king continued to enjoy the luxury life and didn't like Qu Yuan, either. He ordered Qu Yuan to leave his homeland. Later, when Qu Yuan heard the news that Qin had defeated the Chu State, he was very sad and threw himself into the Miluo River at last.

The legend goes that many people tried to rescue their honoured statesman by chasing him down the river, beating drums to scare away the fish and throwing rice dumplings into the river so that the fish would not eat his body. The dragon boat race is one of the customs, which symbolises citizens of the Chu State who raced down the river to save Qu Yuan then.

Also,there are many other customs like eating rice dumplings(zongzi), hanging icons of Zhong Kui (amythic guardian figure), hanging mugworts (艾草)and calamus   (菖蒲) and wearing perfumed medicine bags.

All of these customs were regarded by the ancient people as an effective way of preventing diseases and evils, promoting good health and well-being.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a public holiday observed widely in China, And now this festival has gone global. The international dragon boat races are held all over Asia and the United States. In the US,they can be found in Boston, New York, etc.