The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar.

People in some parts of China have a tradition of putting on incense bags at the Dragon Boat Festival.

Many contagious diseases and plagues were said to originate during the fifth lunar month. Chinese people, especially children, made incense bags and hung them on their necks to avoid catching contagious diseases and to keep evil spirits away. Incense bags are made from a variety of sewn bags and include the powders of Acorus, Artemisia, and Realgar, and other fragrant items.