Wash Your Hair with Changpo Water and Enjoy Traditional Games!... Nowon District to Host 2025 Dano Festival

A True Folk Holiday Experience with Performances, Activities, Games, and Food
Washing Hair with Changpo Water and Making Jangmyeongnu Bracelets for Health, Painting and Sharing Fans to Ward Off the Heat

Nowon District in Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) announced that it will host the '2025 Dano Festival' on May 31, the day of Dano, at the Junggye Neighborhood Park area.

The event is organized by the Nowon Cultural Foundation and hosted by Nowon Nori Madang. It will feature a variety of traditional games, performances, and hands-on experiences that are rarely encountered these days, aiming to explore the modern succession of tradition.

The main hands-on activities include ▲washing hair with changpo water ▲making Jangmyeongnu bracelets ▲fan painting, among others. These experiences recreate the customs passed down from ancestors. It is said that washing one's hair with water infused with changpo (sweet flag) makes the hair shiny and less likely to fall out. Jangmyeongnu is a bracelet made to wish for longevity. Additionally, as Dano marks the arrival of summer heat, there was a custom where the king would present fans to his officials, known as Dano fans. Except for the fan painting activity, which costs 1,000 won, all other experiences are free of charge.

The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a pungmul (Korean traditional percussion) performance by the district's folk arts troupe. The troupe will energize the festival with skillful performances that combine games and shows, such as jukbangulnori (bamboo spinning top), gittaenori (flagpole game), and beonhanori (plate spinning). Members of Nowon Nori Madang will reinterpret traditional community games by recreating the dansimjulnori (tug-of-war) with residents.

The games available at the event are also based on tradition, offering new experiences for children and nostalgic memories for adults. Activities such as shoe throwing, biseokchigi (stone tapping), jukmanori (stilt walking), Ojumssagae (mud play), ring toss, Gongginori, yeopjeon throwing, and archery are open to everyone free of charge without prior reservation.

While enjoying traditional experiences and games, a variety of foods will also be available at an affordable price of 1,000 won each. Hwajeon (flower pancakes), surichwi garaetteok (rice cakes), surichwi injeolmi (rice cake coated with bean powder), and omija hwachae (fruit punch) will add to the festive abundance.

District Mayor Oh Seungrok said, "Reflecting on tradition during a folk holiday is a meaningful cultural experience and a vivid educational opportunity for the younger generation," adding, "We will do our best to create a cultural city where tradition and modernity harmonize."