The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu, is not only celebrated in China, but also in countries with significant Chinese populations, such as in Singapore and Malaysia, and countries influenced by traditional Chinese culture, like Vietnam.

Similar festivals outside Chinese-speaking societies include Tango no Sekku in Japan and the Gangneung Danoje Festival in South Korea.

Originally, the Duanwu Festival was called Tango no Sekku in Japan and celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar. However, after Japan switched to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5 each year and the festival became Children's Day, which was designated as a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948. It celebrates children's personalities and their happiness.

During the day, families fly carp-shaped koinobori banners, one for each child in their house. In Japanese folklore, the carp is a symbol of determination and vigor, overcoming all obstacles to swim upstream. Samurai warrior figurines and samurai kabuto helmets are also displayed in homes to inspire strength and bravery.

In addition, people eat sticky rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves and drink calamus wine.

The Gangneung Danoje Festival takes place in the town of Gangneung and its surroundings, east of the Taebaek Mountain Range on the Korean Peninsula, which makes 13th on the list of Important Cultural Properties of South Korea.

The only connection between China's Dragon Boat Festival and South Korea's Gangneung Danoje Festival is that they both fall on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Gangneung Danoje has the longest history among Korean local festivals. Its main purpose is to worship the guardian spirit of the mountain that protects the town, and pray for peace among the town and its families as well as farming prosperity.

Festival celebrations consist of shamanistic rituals, folk dances and songs, oral narrative poetry and various popular pastimes. The Nanjang market is another festival element, where local products and handicrafts are sold and contests, games and circus performances take place.

Nowadays, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in some Western countries with activities such as dragon boat racing and eating zongzi, or sticky rice dumpling.

(Cover: Participants compete on the water during the fourth Steveston Dragon Boat Festival held at Richmond, Canada./ Xinhua Photo)