Dano (端午) 

"Dano" (端午), which literally means "first fifth," is a major holiday on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The character "dan" (端) means "the first" and "o" (午) is interpreted as "o" (五), which means "the number five." Thus, "Dano" refers to "the fifth day." "Dano" is also called "Suritnal," which derives from a god named "Suri," and is combined with a word meaning "lofty", making Dano "The day a god of high status (至高) descends" (下降). "Dano" has a number of other names, such as "Jungojeol" (重五節), "Cheonjungjeol" (天中節), and "Danyang" (端陽)). "Dano" was also believed to be day with the strongest yang force (陽氣), making it "a festival of the sun."

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"Dano Fan" by Lee Eok-yeong	Dano Fan "Ojukheukseon"	Changpotang in Gangneung City, Gangwon-do

Since ancient times many rituals have been held on "Dano." In the royal court, subjects offered Dano Album (danocheop,帖子), and when fans made in the provinces were offered to the court, the king would give them away to his royal subjects. Meanwhile, commoners held traditional rituals such as "Danocheonsin" in which fresh berries were offered to the local deities, and ancestral rites such as "Danojeolsa" (端午節祀) and "Danogosa" (端午告祀) to pray for the prosperity of their offspring. The species of native Korean cherry called "aengdu" is the first fruit of the year, reaching full ripeness around "Dano." People would also use a talisman or wash their hair with water boiled with iris to ward off evil spirits.

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Aengdu Hwachae (Fruit Punch)	Aengdupyeon	Surichwitteok Rice Cake in Seosan City, Chungcheongnam-do

Seasonal foods on "Dano" include aengdu hwachae, a traditional fruit punch made of native Korean cherries, aengdupyeon, a traditional sweet jelly, and surichwitteok rice cakes. The syallable "suri" of "surichwitteok" was derived from an old Korean word meaning "georyun" (車輪), meaning "wheel," due to its resemblance to a wheel. In addition, the palace pharmacy (內醫院) of the Joseon dynasty used to offer "jehotang" (醍醐湯) to quench the king’s thirst, while commoners drank "changpoju" (菖蒲酒), and alcoholic beverage made of iris.

On "Dano" all people regardless of gender or age would dress up in their finest clothes and go out to play on swings, while strong and young men would compete in a wrestling match. All regions in the country held feasts, mask dances, and theatrical performances such as "Bongsantalchum," "Songposandaenori" and "Yangjubyeolsandaenori" in the marketplace. Some of the better-known local rituals for "Dano" include "Gangneung Danoje" in Gangneung city, Ganwon-do ; "Beopseongpo Danoje" in Yeongwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, and "Hanjanggunnori" in Gyeongsan city, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

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Gangneung Danoje in Gangneung City, Gangwon-do
Mask Theater, Gangneung Gwanno	Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwangje Ritual	Gusahaengcha Procession
Seongjugut Exorcism	Dano Experience Center	Folk Performance

Of the traditional rituals held on Dano, "Gangneung Danoje" was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 13 on January 16, 1967. It was also registered as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 25, 2005. During “Gangneung Danoje” local villagers hold ancestral rites to commemorate the local deities, “Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwang” and “Daegwallyeong Guksayeoseonghwang,” and the mountain spirits, and afterwards enjoy various recreational events designed to fortify the community spirit and to preserve and transmit the Korean traditional festival.