To an agriculture country like Viet Nam, the Parasite-Killing Festival is a meaningful occasion given its intention of preventing pestilence and diseases, evils and illnesses.

Known as Tet Doan Ngo in Viet Nam, the festival is celebrated on 20 June ( the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month), coinciding with the day of the summer solstice when the Sun is at its nearest position to Earth. 

‘Doan’ means the beginning, and ‘Ngo’ means mid-day, therefore the celebration of Tet Doan Ngo is at the middle of the day when the solar energy is at its maximum.  The herbs harvested at this very moment are excellent for curing colds, itching or intestinal diseases and people living in the countryside often go picking herbs together at this time.

(Photo: Internet)

As with other traditional Vietnamese festivals, spiritual rites are among the essential parts of the festival and in every family offerings to the spirit world are made to commemorate ancestors.  In addition, people eat sour foods such as oranges, lemons, rice wine, and ‘banh u tro’ in the hope of cleansing their stomachs and removing illnesses.

(Source: Danang Today/Holidaysvietnam)