The reason we have zongzi -- Stephanie Tao

The reason we have zongzi( a rice dumpling wrapped in leaves) in late summer can be traced back to ancient times when Qu Yuan, who was a patriot, committed suicide by jumping into a river. Sad villagers feared that fish and shrimp would eat up Qu Yuan's body in the river, so they made zongzi and threw them into the river, hoping to keep Qu Yuan's body intact.
Zongzi has become more fancy and is made with pork , peanut , salted duck egg fillings ,etc. besides polished glutinous rice.

傳說粽子最早是因鄉民於屈原投江後，怕江中的魚蝦吃掉屈原的身體，才用竹葉包糯米飯投入河中，想要使屈原身體完整，後來所包的食物除糯米外，還加入了豬肉、花生、鹹蛋等內餡，而演變成現代的粽子。