Double Third Festival
Traditional East Asian festival on the third day of the third lunar month.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Double Third Festival, also known as the Shangsi Festival or Washing Festival, is a traditional holiday originating from China and celebrated in multiple East Asian countries, including China and Korea. It is observed on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar and has roots in ancient ceremonial customs.
- Also known as
- Shangsi Festival, Washing Festival, Samjinnal (Korea), Hinamatsuri (Japan)
- Observed by
- China, Korea, Japan
- Date
- Third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar
- Origin
- Zhou Dynasty (about 1100–221 BC)
- Known for
- Riverside bathing, ancestor worship, spring outings, cleansing rituals
Lore & Background
The Double Third Festival's origins are said to come from the Dinner Party at the Qushui River during the Zhou Dynasty, or alternatively from the ceremonial custom of getting rid of evils by bathing in the river. On this day, people would hold a sacrificing ceremony on a riverside to honor their ancestors, then bathe in the river with herbs to cleanse their bodies. Young men and women would go for a spring outing, scenes described in Shi Jing (The Book of Songs).
Reader's Guide
The festival's activities changed over subsequent dynasties. In the Han Dynasty, entertainment feasts and praying for descendants along the riverside were added. After the Wei and Jin dynasties, it became fixed on the third day of the third lunar month. In modern times, people go for outings by the water, have picnics, pluck orchids, and perform cleansing rituals to prevent disease and remove bad luck. The day is also traditionally considered a possible birthday of the Yellow Emperor. Ancient traditions are mostly celebrated by several communities, such as the ancient village of Xinye, which holds elaborate ancestor worship ceremonies. The great calligrapher Wang Xizhi mentions this festival in his work Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Poems. In Zhuang Culture, the festival has higher prominence with songs, dance, games, and foods. In Korea, Samjinnal customs include making Hwajeon from Korean azalea blossoms and glutinous rice, and playing folk games like Pulssaum and Hwajeon nori.
Did You Know?
- The Double Third Festival is sometimes called the Washing Festival.
- Its origins may come from a Zhou Dynasty dinner party or from bathing rituals to remove evils.
- The great calligrapher Wang Xizhi mentions this festival in his work Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Poems.
- In Korea, the festival is called Samjinnal and includes making Hwajeon from azalea blossoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Double Third Festival?
The Double Third Festival is a traditional East Asian spring holiday centered on rituals like riverside bathing, ancestor veneration, and outdoor excursions. It is also called the Shangsi Festival or the Washing Festival, and in Korea it goes by the name Samjinnal.
When is the Double Third Festival observed?
It falls on the third day of the third month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which usually corresponds to late March or early April on the Gregorian calendar. The name simply reflects the pairing of the third month with the third day.
Where did the Double Third Festival originate?
Its ceremonial roots go back to the Zhou Dynasty, placing it among the older traditional holidays in East Asian culture. Over the centuries the observance spread to neighboring countries, each adapting it with local customs.
What traditional activities are associated with the Double Third Festival?
Historically, celebrants gathered by rivers for cleansing and bathing rituals, paid respects at ancestral graves, and took spring outings into the countryside. These practices blended spiritual purification with the seasonal transition from winter to spring.
Which countries celebrate the Double Third Festival?
The festival is observed in China, Korea, and Japan, though each culture has shaped it under different names and local traditions. In Japan a related spring observance is known as Hinamatsuri, while Korea refers to it as Samjinnal.
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