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There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and one of China's earliest poets. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin. However, he was opposed by aristocrats headed by Zi Lan, and later deposed and exiled by King Huai. In his exiled days, he still cared much for his country and people and composed immortal poems including Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), which had far-reaching influences. In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu's capital, so he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar.
After his death, the people of Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him. The fishermen sailed their boats up and down the river to look for his body. People threw into the water zongzi (pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves) and eggs to divert possible fish or shrimp from attacking his body. An old doctor poured a jug of reaglar wine (Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar) into the water, hoping to turn all aquatic beasts drunk. That's why people later followed the customs such as dragon boat racing, eating zongzi and drinking realgar wine on that day.
據《史記》“屈原賈生列傳”記載，屈原，是春秋時期楚懷王的大臣。他倡導舉賢授能，富國強兵，力主聯齊抗秦，遭到貴族子蘭等人的強烈反對，屈原遭饞去職，被趕出都城，流放到沅、湘流域。他在流放中，寫下了憂國憂民的《離騷》、《天問》、《九歌》等不朽詩篇，獨具風貌，影響深遠（因而，端午節也稱詩人節）。公元前278年，秦軍攻破楚國京都。屈原眼看自己的祖國被侵略，心如刀割，但是始終不忍舍棄自己的祖國，于五月五日，在寫下了絕筆作《懷沙》之后，抱石投汨羅江身死，以自己的生命譜寫了一曲壯麗的愛國主義樂章。
傳說屈原死后，楚國百姓哀痛異常，紛紛涌到汨羅江邊去憑吊屈原。漁夫們劃起船只，在江上來回打撈他的真身。有位漁夫拿出為屈原準備的飯團、雞蛋等食物，“撲通、撲通”地丟進江里，說是讓魚龍蝦蟹吃飽了，就不會去咬屈大夫的身體了。人們見后紛紛仿效。一位老醫師則拿來一壇雄黃酒倒進江里，說是要藥暈蛟龍水獸，以免傷害屈大夫。后來為怕飯團為蛟龍所食，人們想出用楝樹葉包飯，外纏彩絲，發展成棕子。
