February 26 this year is Jongwoldaeborum, or folk holiday which falls on the fifteenth day of the first month by lunar calendar.
Since olden times, the Korean people have celebrated the day on a large scale as folk holiday next to the lunar New Year’s Day.
They have cooked and eaten such typical foods as ogokpap (a dish made with all five grains) and dishes made of nine kinds of dried greens.
Ogokpap is made of five kinds of grains, especially rice, millet, kaoliang, soybean and adzuki bean, and the grains differ according to localities.
The nine-dried-green dish is prepared with hot pepper leaf, bracken, osmund, goosefoot and others in Pyongyang, and platycodon, Codonopsis lanceolata, aster, brown seaweed and others in the area of Hamgyong province. They were called “black edible herbs” as the colour of dried edible greens is black.
Folk have said that such dishes on the day make people highly resistant to intense heat and diseases as well that year.
The custom of preparing and eating ogokpap and nine edible greens is associated with the love for their native land of the Korean people, who have created the way of dietary life of their own and developed food culture by using different food materials which are available in their localities.
It also contains the idea of the principle of taking care of their health that they can live in good health only when they have ogokpap and a variety of dried edibles evenly without having an unbalanced diet.
Such a custom is still carried on today to add national flavour.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement
March 12, 2026
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement
The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the
March 12, 2026
The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
March 12, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
March 11, 2026
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
March 11, 2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
March 11, 2026
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national
March 11, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national
The machine-building industry sector is working hard to consolidate its material and technical foundations. The Ryongsong Machine
March 11, 2026
The machine-building industry sector is working hard to consolidate its material and technical foundations. The Ryongsong Machine
Production is going on at the modern regional-industry factories built as the first outcomes of the regional development policy of
March 11, 2026
Production is going on at the modern regional-industry factories built as the first outcomes of the regional development policy of
The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the
March 10, 2026
The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there
March 10, 2026
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.
March 10, 2026
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, to mark
March 10, 2026
The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, to mark
Women across the DPRK commemorated the 116th March 8 International Women's Day. Many people visited the Kumsusan Palace of the
March 10, 2026
Women across the DPRK commemorated the 116th March 8 International Women's Day. Many people visited the Kumsusan Palace of the
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on March 8, the 1
March 10, 2026
A dance party of women’s union officials and members took place at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on March 8, the 1
According to data available, well over 70 000 tall trees of dozens of species including zelkova, Korean spruce and white birch
March 10, 2026
According to data available, well over 70 000 tall trees of dozens of species including zelkova, Korean spruce and white birch
As the whole country is brimming with love and respect for and warm congratulations to the women who are building the bright
March 09, 2026
As the whole country is brimming with love and respect for and warm congratulations to the women who are building the bright
Greeting March 8, I, with my warmest feelings, extend congratulations to all our Korean women, for whom I have affection and respe
March 09, 2026
Greeting March 8, I, with my warmest feelings, extend congratulations to all our Korean women, for whom I have affection and respe
Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone called for developing agriculture by relying on their own efforts in a speech at a
March 09, 2026
Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone called for developing agriculture by relying on their own efforts in a speech at a
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
March 09, 2026
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
More Articles
