The Korean people have traditionally celebrated lunar New Year’s Day.
Since the period of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910), the holiday had had been one of the three major holidays in a year, and the custom of celebrating it developed into a tradition and a variety of events took place that day.
During the dynasty, the custom of celebrating New Year’s Day appeared as it was decided to adopt the Gregorian calendar in 1894 and the calendar began to be used on January 1 1896.
However, private citizens mainly celebrated lunar New Year’s Day instead of New Year’ Day.
The traditional custom, however, declined due to the moves to obliterate the Korean nation and oppression by the Japanese imperialists who militarily occupied Korea from 1905 to 1945.
Therefore, the traditional custom might have disappeared from the Koreans’ life, but for Chairman Kim Jong Il.
He, who had paid deep attention to preserving the Juche character and national identity in the revolution and construction, carefully considered the situation and took a national measure to celebrate the folk holiday according to the traditional custom of the nation.
Saying it had been a tradition for the Koreans to celebrate New Year’s Day by the lunar calendar since olden times, he made sure that the day was fixed as a national folk holiday and marked from 1989.
One day in February 1997, he said that the Korean people had spent lunar New Year’s Day enjoyably and that when the holiday came after diligently working a full year, they prepared different special foods and played folk games including yut (four-stick) game, sledging, kite-flying and shuttlecock kicking, and pointed to the need to preserve well the cultural traditions and customs of life peculiar to the Korean nation.
Afterwards, he took every opportunity to ensure that people maintained folk customs, including the dietary custom on lunar New Year’s Day, with a correct understanding of them.
The Korean people still keep alive the traditional life customs of the nation as they make and eat different national foods and play folk games on lunar New Year’s Day.
More From Pyongyang Times
Andhra Pradesh of India is encouraging families to give birth to many children. Calling on women to have many children, the
May 20, 2026
Andhra Pradesh of India is encouraging families to give birth to many children. Calling on women to have many children, the
Moran Hill in the heart of the capital city of Pyongyang is now brimming with vernal fragrance which adds charm to the scenery.Bea
May 20, 2026
Moran Hill in the heart of the capital city of Pyongyang is now brimming with vernal fragrance which adds charm to the scenery.Bea
May 20 is Child Health Day. Raising children healthily is an important issue related to the social development. But many children
May 20, 2026
May 20 is Child Health Day. Raising children healthily is an important issue related to the social development. But many children
The agricultural workers in North Hwanghae Province are concentrating all their efforts on rice-transplanting. The farms in the
May 20, 2026
The agricultural workers in North Hwanghae Province are concentrating all their efforts on rice-transplanting. The farms in the
Fishery units across the country are raising the scientific level of aquaculture to increase production. The employees of the
May 20, 2026
Fishery units across the country are raising the scientific level of aquaculture to increase production. The employees of the
Recently, the Israeli forces committed an outrage of attacking an international fleet, which was carrying humanitarian aid
May 19, 2026
Recently, the Israeli forces committed an outrage of attacking an international fleet, which was carrying humanitarian aid
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the stand to keep developing the strategic nuclear armed forces at an award ceremony on
May 19, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the stand to keep developing the strategic nuclear armed forces at an award ceremony on
Farms across the DPRK are concentrating efforts on securing enough water resources and ensuring the full operation of irrigation
May 19, 2026
Farms across the DPRK are concentrating efforts on securing enough water resources and ensuring the full operation of irrigation
The Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations was opened in Saeppyol Street of the capital city on the
May 19, 2026
The Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations was opened in Saeppyol Street of the capital city on the
The lives of the brave combatants who participated in overseas military operations are shining as the bright stars of the country
May 19, 2026
The lives of the brave combatants who participated in overseas military operations are shining as the bright stars of the country
DPRK player Kim Kyong Ryong won three silver medals in the women's 77kg category of the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships on
May 19, 2026
DPRK player Kim Kyong Ryong won three silver medals in the women's 77kg category of the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships on
The final match for the 2026 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup took place between the DPRK and Japanese teams on May 17. The DPRK players
May 19, 2026
The final match for the 2026 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup took place between the DPRK and Japanese teams on May 17. The DPRK players
Belarus President Alexandr Lukashenko clarified his stand to defend peace in a speech to mark V-Day on May 9. May 9 1945 remains a
May 18, 2026
Belarus President Alexandr Lukashenko clarified his stand to defend peace in a speech to mark V-Day on May 9. May 9 1945 remains a
Le Hoai Trung, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and foreign minister of
May 18, 2026
Le Hoai Trung, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and foreign minister of
Oil prices are shooting up in the world. According to the recent report of Ria-Novosti of Russia, the global average oil price
May 18, 2026
Oil prices are shooting up in the world. According to the recent report of Ria-Novosti of Russia, the global average oil price
DPRK players are winning gold medals every day in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. On May 15, Song Kuk Hyang won three
May 18, 2026
DPRK players are winning gold medals every day in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. On May 15, Song Kuk Hyang won three
have recently been selected in the DPRK. Ri Chol, lecturer at the Physics Faculty of Kim Chol Ju University of Education, trained
May 18, 2026
have recently been selected in the DPRK. Ri Chol, lecturer at the Physics Faculty of Kim Chol Ju University of Education, trained
Mt Paektu, which had been venerated by the Korean people generation after generation, became the beacon of their life and hope and
May 18, 2026
Mt Paektu, which had been venerated by the Korean people generation after generation, became the beacon of their life and hope and
Many people visit the Amusement Park of Kaeson Youth Park at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang to spend a pleasant time. The
May 18, 2026
Many people visit the Amusement Park of Kaeson Youth Park at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang to spend a pleasant time. The
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, recently referred to the meaning of the war victory day.He said
May 17, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, recently referred to the meaning of the war victory day.He said
More Articles
