Dano Festival (단오): Korea’s Summer Celebration of Health and Beauty
Dano Festival (단오), also known as Surit-nal (수릿날), is one of Korea’s oldest traditional holidays. Celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (usually in June), Dano marks the arrival of summer and is a time to wish for good health, happiness, and a bountiful harvest.
🌿 Origins and Meaning
The word “Dano” comes from Chinese characters meaning "the first fifth," referring to the 5th day of the 5th month. Dano has been celebrated in Korea since the ancient Goguryeo period (37 BC–668 AD). It was originally a shamanistic ritual to drive away evil spirits and protect against disease as the hot summer approached.
Over time, Dano became a joyful festival of outdoor games, beauty rituals, and traditional food.
🏮 How Koreans Celebrate
- ✅ Washing Hair in Sweet Flag Water (창포물에 머리 감기): Women wash their hair with water infused with changpo (창포) roots to make it shiny and protect against bad luck.
- ✅ Wearing Colorful Ribbons (창포 댕기): Women and girls tie red and blue ribbons in their hair for beauty and good fortune.
- ✅ Traditional Games: People enjoy activities like ssireum (씨름) (Korean wrestling), seokjeon (석전) (stone fight), and swinging (그네뛰기), where women swing high into the sky.
- ✅ Decorating with Mugwort and Iris: Homes are adorned with mugwort and iris to ward off evil spirits.
🍽️ What Do People Eat on Dano?
On Dano, people enjoy special foods to cool down and stay healthy:
- 🌾 Surichitteok (수리취떡): A green rice cake made with surichi herb, symbolizing health and longevity.
- 🍶 Herbal Wine (약주): A light rice wine infused with medicinal herbs to promote good health.
📅 When Is Dano?
Dano follows the lunar calendar. Here are the upcoming dates:
| Year | Dano Date | Holiday Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 5 | 1 day (June 5) |
| 2026 | June 24 | 1 day (June 24) |
🎉 Fun and Surprising Facts
- 🔹 Gangneung Danoje Festival (강릉 단오제) is the most famous Dano celebration, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- 🔹 Dano is sometimes called “Korean Tango” because of its focus on health, beauty, and love rituals.
- 🔹 The swinging (그네뛰기) tradition was popular among women in the past because it allowed them to enjoy the outdoors in a time when they usually stayed indoors.
🌍 Modern Changes
While Dano is not a public holiday in modern Korea, many regions, especially Gangneung, still hold large festivals. Younger generations enjoy Dano as a cultural event, filled with performances, food, and fun games.
💭 Final Thoughts
Dano Festival (단오) is a fascinating blend of ancient wisdom and modern fun. Whether you're tasting surichitteok, watching a thrilling ssireum match, or making herbal hair rinses, Dano offers a refreshing glimpse into Korea’s deep respect for nature, health, and tradition.
Would you like to try swinging high in the sky or making your own herbal hair rinse for Dano?