Double Third Festival

People celebrate a special day in spring.

It is the third day of the third month. Some call it the Washing Festival. People wash in rivers to stay clean. They use herbs to help. Families go on outings by the water. They have fun picnics. In Korea, people make tasty rice cakes. They use flowers and green leaves. It is a happy time for many.

The Double Third Festival is a special holiday. It happens on the third day of the third month. Many people in East Asia celebrate this day. In China, it is also called the Shangsi Festival. Some people call it the Washing Festival.

Long ago, people used the day to stay clean. They would bathe in rivers with herbs. They did this to wash away bad luck. Today, many people still go for outings by the water. They have picnics and pick orchids. In some places, people hold ceremonies to honor ancestors.

In Korea, this day is called Samjinnal. People make many tasty foods. They use azalea flowers to make Hwajeon, which are flower rice cakes. They also make Ssuktteok. These are rice cakes made with mugwort leaves.

People also eat white rice cakes with red bean paste. They call these Santteok. Other foods include noodles made from mung bean powder. These traditions bring people together in the spring. It is a time for food, games, and songs.

The Double Third Festival is a special spring holiday. It happens on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar. Many people in East Asian countries celebrate this day. In China, it is called the Shangsi Festival. Some people also call it the Washing Festival. It is a time for cleaning and new beginnings. People use the day to feel fresh and happy.

Many traditions focus on washing and cleaning. Long ago, people bathed in rivers with herbs. They did this to wash away filth. They also wanted to get rid of bad luck or evil. Today, people still enjoy outings near the water. They might have picnics or pluck orchids. Some groups use rituals to help prevent disease. It is a way to start the season feeling clean.

This festival has a very long history. Its roots may go back to the Zhou Dynasty. That was about 1100 to 221 BC. Some stories link it to a dinner party at the Qushui River. During the Han Dynasty, people added feasts and prayers for ancestors. By the Wei and Jin dynasties, the date became fixed. It is even thought to be the birthday of the Yellow Emperor.

Different places celebrate in unique ways. In Japan, the day is known as Hinamatsuri. In Korea, it is called Samjinnal. This name comes from the word Sam, which means three. In Korea, people make special foods like Hwajeon. These are rice cakes made with azalea flowers. They also make Ssuktteok using mugwort leaves. Other treats include Santteok with red bean paste.

Food and games bring communities together. The Zhuang culture celebrates with songs and dances. They also play many different games. In Korea, people play Hwajeon nori, or flower pancake play. They might also play Pulssaum or Pulgaksi noleum. People can even try fortunetelling. These activities make the festival a joyful time for everyone. It connects people to their history and to each other.

The Double Third Festival is a significant traditional holiday celebrated across several East Asian countries. It occurs on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar. In China, this holiday is known as the Shangsi Festival. Some people also refer to it as the Washing Festival. This name comes from the ancient custom of using water to cleanse the body. The festival serves as a time for renewal and spiritual purification. It connects modern people to deep historical roots and seasonal changes.

The mechanics of the festival often revolve around the concept of cleansing. Historically, people participated in ceremonial bathing in rivers. They would use various herbs during these baths to wash away filth. This process was intended to remove evil and bad luck from the person. In many traditions, these rituals also serve to prevent disease. Modern celebrations continue this theme through water-based outings. People might gather by the water for picnics or to pluck orchids. These actions represent a symbolic way to start the spring season fresh.

Different regions have developed unique ways to observe this day. In China, the Shangsi Festival includes various activities that have evolved over time. In the Zhuang culture, the festival holds high prominence. People in these communities celebrate with songs and dance performances. They also enjoy a variety of games and specific foods. In Japan, the festival is celebrated under the name Hinamatsuri. In Korea, the holiday is known as Samjinnal. This Korean name implies the overlapping of the number three, or "Sam."

The history of the festival stretches back thousands of years. Some accounts trace its origins to the Zhou Dynasty, which lasted from about 1100 to 221 BC. One legend connects it to a dinner party held at the Qushui River. Other traditions suggest it began as a way to get rid of evil through river bathing. During the Han Dynasty, between 206 BC and 220 AD, new elements were added. People began including entertainment feasts and prayers for their descendants by the riverside. By the Wei and Jin dynasties, which lasted from 220 to 420 AD, the date became fixed. It is now officially set for the third day of the third lunar month.

Cultural significance is found in both literature and specific local customs. The famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi mentioned the festival in his work, "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Poems." This writing describes an gathering at the Orchid Pavilion during the Six Dynasties era. In China, certain communities still maintain ancient traditions. For example, the village of Xinye holds elaborate ancestor worship ceremonies on this day. Some also believe this day could be the birthday of the Yellow Emperor. These details show how the festival remains a vital part of cultural identity.

Food plays a central role in the Korean celebration of Samjinnal. People prepare several distinct types of rice cakes and noodles. One specialty is Hwajeon, which are traditional rice cakes made by kneading azalea flowers into glutinous rice dough. Mung bean powder is also used to make noodles. Sometimes, this powder is dyed with red water to create a seasonal dish called Sumyeon. Other traditional foods include Santteok, which are white bubble rice cakes filled with red bean paste. People also eat Goritteok, made from glutinous rice, mugwort, and pine endodermis. Another common dish is Ssuktteok, which is made from glutinous rice and mugwort leaves.

Festivities often include social games and community interactions. In Korea, people participate in activities like Hwajeon nori, which literally means "flower pancake play." Other folk games include Pulssaum and Pulgaksi noleum. Some may even engage in fortunetelling during the celebrations. These activities help reinforce social bonds and celebrate the arrival of spring. Through food, games, and rituals, the Double Third Festival links the past to the present. It remains a meaningful way for people to honor their ancestors and welcome the new season.