DOUBLE FIFTH DAY

Đoan Ngọ (Double Fifth) Festival

Đoan Ngọ or Đoan Dương is one of traditional festivals in Viet Nam and some East Asian countries, held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. On the occasion, during the feudal time, there were different rituals and practices observed by the royal court and common people. Accordingly, the court held many ceremonies to show off the King’s power, reflecting many profound human values. Meanwhile, common people maintained a number of customs in honor of folk experience and methods as well as the sense of disease-preventiong.

DOUBLE FIFTH DAY

EXPLAINING DIFFERENT NAMES OF DOAN NGO FESTIVAL

1. ĐOAN NGỌ: Đoan means the start, Ngo refers the noon from 11h -13h, the sunniest moment of the year. Đoan Ngọ means the opening day of the hottest days of year.

2. ĐOAN DƯƠNG: Đoan means the start, Dương means sun, positive element. Đoan Dương means that the positive element is strong.

3. ĐOAN NGŨ: In the past, Vietnamese people called the 1st day of May as Đoan Nhất day, the 2nd day of May as Đoan Nhị day, until the 5th day of May as Đoan Ngũ.

4. HALF-YEAR FESTIVAL: According to the ancient calendar of Vietnam, May is the middle of year so May 5th festival is also called a half-year Festival.

5. “KILLINGS INSECTS” Festival: In the early morning of this festival, when waking up, people have customs to eat kinds of food to kill inner insects.