On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, villagers on the beach in Hoi An stage a ritual to protect the area during the change of seasons. The boatmen in the area will carry a bamboo replica of the Long Chu dragon boat in a procession from the village to the river and the sea. The dragon boat is a royal symbol of divine strength, and is used to ward off epidemics and bad luck. Traditional singing and folk games are also part of the festivities.