The Gangneung Danoje Festival, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and recognized as national intangible heritage in Korea, is one of Korea’s foremost traditional festivals. Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok, Korea’s harvest holiday, are the country’s major holidays today, but in the past Dano, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, was also a major holiday. In Gangneung, Dano is still a day of special meaning, celebrated with a lively festival and traditional games. Every year, for eight days around Dano, the Gangneung Danoje Festival turns the city into one big, colorful festival ground. Its many programs include jerye, ritual ceremonies praying for the community’s peace and prosperity; gut, shamanic rituals through which gods and people communicate; the nanjang, the largest festival market in the country; citizen participation events; and traditional folk games. You can also enjoy traditional performances from Korea and abroad all in one place. The Sintong Daegil street parade, created and performed by Gangneung citizens, is another highlight. The Gangneung Danoje Festival, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and recognized as national intangible heritage in Korea, is one of Korea’s foremost traditional festivals. Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok, Korea’s harvest holiday, are the country’s major holidays today, but in the past Dano, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, was also a major holiday. In Gangneung, Dano is still a day of special meaning, celebrated with a lively festival and traditional games. Every year, for eight days around Dano, the Gangneung Danoje Festival turns the city into one big, colorful festival ground. Its many programs include jerye, ritual ceremonies praying for the community’s peace and prosperity; gut, shamanic rituals through which gods and people communicate; the nanjang, the largest festival market in the country; citizen participation events; and traditional folk games. You can also enjoy traditional performances from Korea and abroad all in one place. The Sintong Daegil street parade, created and performed by Gangneung citizens, is another highlight.

Special foods available only at the Gangneung Danoje Festival are part of the fun. The sinju, the sacred rice wine used in the rites, is carefully brewed from rice donated by Gangneung residents, each contributing a small amount. Anyone taking part in the festival can sample the sinju along with surichwi rice cakes, a traditional Dano food made with an edible wild herb. Special foods available only at the Gangneung Danoje Festival are part of the fun. The sinju, the sacred rice wine used in the rites, is carefully brewed from rice donated by Gangneung residents, each contributing a small amount. Anyone taking part in the festival can sample the sinju along with surichwi rice cakes, a traditional Dano food made with an edible wild herb.

Come and enjoy the color and spirit of a thousand-year tradition at the Gangneung Danoje Festival, which is growing beyond Korea into a cultural tourism festival for the world. Come and enjoy the color and spirit of a thousand-year tradition at the Gangneung Danoje Festival, which is growing beyond Korea into a cultural tourism festival for the world.