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
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, censured the West for its misleading propaganda about Iran in a recent
December 07, 2025
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, censured the West for its misleading propaganda about Iran in a recent
The 55th Sports Contest of Artistes took place at the Basketball Gymnasium on Chongchun Street in Pyongyang on December 3 and 4.
December 07, 2025
The 55th Sports Contest of Artistes took place at the Basketball Gymnasium on Chongchun Street in Pyongyang on December 3 and 4.
True to the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which set this year as the first year of the public health revolution,
December 07, 2025
True to the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which set this year as the first year of the public health revolution,
The Rason Hyesong General Development Company was selected as one of the top ten businesses of the DPRK in succession for 2023 and
December 07, 2025
The Rason Hyesong General Development Company was selected as one of the top ten businesses of the DPRK in succession for 2023 and
North Hamgyong Province has newly built the Chongjin Water Park. The public service centre with unique architectural and modern
December 07, 2025
North Hamgyong Province has newly built the Chongjin Water Park. The public service centre with unique architectural and modern
Different areas of the country are stepping up preparations in earnest for the operation of their new regional-industry factories,
December 07, 2025
Different areas of the country are stepping up preparations in earnest for the operation of their new regional-industry factories,
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 06, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mansu
December 06, 2025
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mansu
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned against Japan’s dangerous moves towards militarization at a
December 06, 2025
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned against Japan’s dangerous moves towards militarization at a
Modern rural dwellings which have been built at the Jamjin Farm in Kangso District and the Ryongho Farm in Ryonggang County,
December 06, 2025
Modern rural dwellings which have been built at the Jamjin Farm in Kangso District and the Ryongho Farm in Ryonggang County,
An art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan headed by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, arrived in
December 06, 2025
An art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan headed by Ri Chol Su, principal of Toshun Korean Primary School, arrived in
The State Academy of Sciences developed the technologies for producing reduced iron and synthetic fuel oil based on coal
December 06, 2025
The State Academy of Sciences developed the technologies for producing reduced iron and synthetic fuel oil based on coal
The Tanchon Smeltery is the one and only business that has been selected as one of the top ten enterprises for three consecutive
December 06, 2025
The Tanchon Smeltery is the one and only business that has been selected as one of the top ten enterprises for three consecutive
The Public Prosecutor General of Venezuela on November 26 exposed and condemned the illegality of the attacks the US is mounting o
December 05, 2025
The Public Prosecutor General of Venezuela on November 26 exposed and condemned the illegality of the attacks the US is mounting o
The Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang hosted a photo exhibition and reception at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club on December 3 on
December 05, 2025
The Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang hosted a photo exhibition and reception at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club on December 3 on
A meeting took place at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on December 3 to mark the International Day of Persons with
December 05, 2025
A meeting took place at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on December 3 to mark the International Day of Persons with
The expedition of youth and students from across the DPRK to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu visited Chairman
December 05, 2025
The expedition of youth and students from across the DPRK to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu visited Chairman
The exhibition of products of Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factories-2025 closed with due ceremony at the Okryu Exhibition House
December 05, 2025
The exhibition of products of Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factories-2025 closed with due ceremony at the Okryu Exhibition House
New villages have been built at the Chongok Farm and the Jasan Farm in Phyongsong City of South Phyongan Province and the
December 05, 2025
New villages have been built at the Chongok Farm and the Jasan Farm in Phyongsong City of South Phyongan Province and the
South Phyongan Province has newly built the Institute of Agricultural Science. The comprehensive research base with research
December 05, 2025
South Phyongan Province has newly built the Institute of Agricultural Science. The comprehensive research base with research
More Articles
