Gangneung Danoje

Gangneung Danoje
A performance during the festival (2014)
Observed byGangneung, South Korea
SignificanceAppeasing the local gods
CelebrationsKorean shamanic rituals, Korean Confucian rituals, traditional performances, food and drink, bonfire
Begins(Korean calendar) 20th day of the 3rd month
Ends(Korean calendar) 7th day of the 5th month
FrequencyAnnual
Related toDano, Dragon Boat Festival
Gangneung Danoje
Hangul
강릉단오제
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGangneung danoje
McCune–ReischauerKangnŭng tanoje

Gangneung Danoje (Korean: 강릉단오제), called by locals Danogut (단오굿), is a yearly celebration of the Korean holiday Dano, in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The festival is traditionally held for 47 days: in the lunisolar Korean calendar, between the 20th day of the 3rd month to the 7th day of the 5th month. Its purpose is to appease the local gods, and in turn to receive their blessings.

The festival's origins are unclear; it is at least 400 years old, and possibly has its origins in rituals over 1000 years old. The tradition was repressed in the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period and nearly disappeared amidst cultural assimilation efforts. Beginning in the 1950s, efforts were made to research and recreate the festival in its original form.

It is now the biggest event in Gangneung. Since 1967, it has been a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of South Korea, and since 2005 it has been on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.