Around this time, you will often see many neighborhoods, especially those with a large Chinese population, bustling as they prepare for a rather important holiday.
The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by several countries influenced by Chinese culture. However, in Vietnam, this holiday holds a very special meaning.
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1 What is the Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and it is also known as the Double Fifth Festival. ‘Doan Ngo’ in Vietnamese means the beginning of noon (Doan: beginning, Ngo: noon), while ‘Duong’ refers to the sun and yang energy. Thus, ‘Doan Duong’ signifies the beginning of the most yang time of the day.
In Vietnam, this festival is commonly known as “Tet Kill Insects”. Not only in Vietnam and China but also in North and South Korea, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated. Hence, this occasion is essentially an East Asian tradition associated with the concept of the annual weather cycle.
The Dragon Boat Festival 2024 (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month) will fall on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival
Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival
Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival in China
The legend originates from China
Many believe that the Dragon Boat Festival originates from China, associated with several intriguing tales, the most prominent being the story of an official named Qu Yuan.
The story goes that Qu Yuan, a high-ranking official and renowned scholar in the State of Chu during the Warring States period, jumped into the Miluo River to drown himself on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month due to his inability to prevent the king from allying with the State of Qin, as well as being slandered by treacherous officials.
People admired his integrity and loyalty, so every year on this day, they made rice dumplings (‘ba trang’ in Vietnamese) and dropped them into the river to commemorate Qu Yuan.
Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival in Vietnam
For the Vietnamese, however, this holiday holds an entirely different significance. According to documents from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, a long time ago, after a successful and bountiful harvest, farmers celebrated their good fortune, but then pests came and destroyed everything.
The people were worried and did not know how to get rid of the pests. Suddenly, an old man appeared and introduced himself as Doi Truan. He instructed the villagers to prepare an altar with rice cakes, fruits, and to exercise in front of their houses. The people followed his instructions, and soon after, the pests fell and died. Thus, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month became the “Tet Kill Insects” or “Doan Ngo” because the ceremony was usually held at noon.
Therefore, it is incorrect to assume that the Dragon Boat Festival in Vietnam originates from China, as some people mistakenly believe today.
Meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival
Meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival
In addition to the meaning of exterminating pests that destroy crops, the Vietnamese also believe that this festival helps to eliminate illnesses during the seasonal transition.
Ancient people believed that the human digestive system usually harbors harmful parasites that cannot always be eliminated. However, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, these parasites tend to surface, providing an opportunity for people to consume sour and astringent foods to get rid of them.
2 Doan Ngo Festival Offering in Vietnam
Family Altar Offering
The family altar offering includes:
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A vegetarian meal
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Various vegetarian cakes and sticky rice
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Three cups of wine in white, red, and yellow, with a little realgar mixed in
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Nine red Chinese hibiscus flowers placed on the fruit tray
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Three cups of tea with different flavors, along with gold ingots, gold bars, and gold leaves
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A tray of five-colored fruits with five flavors: spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet
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Some fake money can also be bought
Family Altar Offering
Offering to Pray to the Jade Emperor and Gods
Prepare an outdoor altar facing south.
The offering to pray to the Jade Emperor and Gods includes:
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A red cloth spread over the altar table
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A tray of five-colored fruits with five flavors: spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet
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Various vegetarian cakes and a tray of sticky rice
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Five cups of wine in white, red, yellow, green, and black, with a little realgar mixed in
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Nine red Chinese hibiscus flowers placed on the fruit tray
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A red umbrella with a golden trim
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Five cups of tea with different flavors, along with gold ingots, gold bars, and gold leaves
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Offering to Pray to the Jade Emperor and Gods
3 What to Eat on the Dragon Boat Festival?
Black sticky rice, Hanoi plums, lychees, rice dumplings,…
Fruits
On the Dragon Boat Festival, fruits are indispensable on the altar for worshipping ancestors and for the family feast. The 5th lunar month is the season for lychees and Hanoi plums. The sweetness and slight sourness of these fruits make the festival even more delightful.
In the South, people also prefer to offer and eat mangoes, jackfruits, watermelons, lychees, etc., as these are the specialties of the region. When offering and eating these fruits, people wish for abundant crops, the elimination of pests, and the prosperity of trees and fruits.
Rice Dumplings (Banh U Tro)
Rice dumplings have various names such as banh u, banh gio, and banh am, and depending on the region, they come in different shapes and are wrapped in various ways. The dumplings are made with rice soaked in water mixed with ash produced by burning dry wood or straw and wrapped in banana leaves.
The dumplings have a mild sweetness, a soft and sticky texture, and a distinctive translucent appearance. They are usually eaten with malt or molasses.
Rice Dumplings (Banh U Tro)
Duck Meat
A few days before and during the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, markets in the North and Central regions are usually bustling with people buying and selling live ducks, as families often prepare various dishes from this poultry.
People in Central Vietnam believe that from the 5th day of the 5th lunar month onwards, ducks start to gain more fat and meat. Therefore, on this day, most families in Central Vietnam will choose to buy and cook duck dishes such as roasted duck, braised duck, etc.
Roasted Duck
Rice Wine
Rice wine, or ‘com ruou’ in Vietnamese, is a delicacy commonly used for offerings and consumption in all three regions of Vietnam during the Dragon Boat Festival. People believe that eating rice wine and drinking alcohol on this day helps eliminate pests effectively.
Rice wine is a mixture fermented from glutinous rice that has been steamed into sticky rice. The process starts with cooking a pot of whole-grain sticky rice and then sprinkling a layer of yeast on top. The mixture is then left to ferment for three days. The pot of fermented sticky rice is placed on a basin to collect the liquid, which is then mixed with the rice to create a mildly sweet, slightly spicy, and slightly sour taste that appeals to both young and old.
Rice Wine
Lotus Seed Sweet Soup, Black Bean Sweet Soup, Floating Rice Balls Sweet Soup, and Millet Sweet Soup
Two must-have sweet soups on this day are lotus seed sweet soup and black bean sweet soup, which are excellent for cooling down during hot weather. As the weather in the 5th lunar month is unpredictable, with frequent rain and shine, people often eat sweet soups to prevent illnesses and wish for good health.
Another sweet soup that is no stranger to the culture of the three regions of Vietnam is the floating rice balls sweet soup, commonly served during important occasions such as Lunar New Year, the Kitchen God Day on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, and the Cold Food Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is no exception. The round and beautiful sweet soup balls symbolize fullness and good fortune, so they are often offered to heaven, earth, and ancestors to wish for luck and prosperity.
Finally, there is a sweet soup from Hue, a city in Central Vietnam, specifically made for the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Millet sweet soup is made by removing the husks of millet grains, soaking them, and then boiling them until they become soft. Sugar syrup and a little ginger are then added to the boiling millet to complete the dish. The sweet soup has a creamy texture, a golden yellow color, and a delightful fragrance and sweetness.
Lotus Seed Sweet Soup and Black Bean Sweet Soup
4 Doan Ngo Festival Greetings
The Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday when families gather to enjoy delicious and traditional dishes. Moreover, on this day, people also send each other their best wishes for good health and success in life. These greetings boost people’s morale and make them feel more joyful and relaxed.
1. Today is the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival. I wish everyone good health, happiness, peace, and luck, and may you have warm and happy moments with your family.
2. On the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival, I wish everyone good health, may you “kill many insects”, and may the farmers have a bountiful harvest.
3. I wish everyone a happy and warm Dragon Boat Festival. Remember to get up early and eat rice wine to kill insects and stay healthy!
See also: 50+ Greetings for the Dragon Boat Festival that are meaningful and suitable for sending to loved ones
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