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
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
June 09, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Another historic Pyongyang meeting between the top leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the People's Republic
June 09, 2026
Another historic Pyongyang meeting between the top leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the People's Republic
The Korean people are warmly welcoming the goodwill mission of the fraternal Chinese people on a state visit to the Democratic
June 09, 2026
The Korean people are warmly welcoming the goodwill mission of the fraternal Chinese people on a state visit to the Democratic
An artistic performance was given with splendour at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on the night of June 8 in honour of Comrade Xi
June 09, 2026
An artistic performance was given with splendour at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on the night of June 8 in honour of Comrade Xi
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
June 09, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
The boys' final match for the Eleventh National Children's Football Tournament was held at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on Jun
June 09, 2026
The boys' final match for the Eleventh National Children's Football Tournament was held at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on Jun
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the gravity of Japan’s “new-type militarism” affecting
June 08, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the gravity of Japan’s “new-type militarism” affecting
The Indonesian government recently called for expanding the use of the national currency in the import of raw materials in the
June 08, 2026
The Indonesian government recently called for expanding the use of the national currency in the import of raw materials in the
The Korean Children's Union recorded the 80th founding anniversary in the proud course of its development. On this occasion, the
June 08, 2026
The Korean Children's Union recorded the 80th founding anniversary in the proud course of its development. On this occasion, the
Rungna Islet is one of the scenic spots in Pyongyang. The islet formed by accumulation of sediments in the Taedong River is 2.71
June 08, 2026
Rungna Islet is one of the scenic spots in Pyongyang. The islet formed by accumulation of sediments in the Taedong River is 2.71
The members of the Korean Children's Union significantly celebrated its 80th founding anniversary. Pak Thae Song and Jo Yong Won,
June 08, 2026
The members of the Korean Children's Union significantly celebrated its 80th founding anniversary. Pak Thae Song and Jo Yong Won,
The love of the great father who spares nothing for the younger generation and takes care of them with ardent affection is being r
June 08, 2026
The love of the great father who spares nothing for the younger generation and takes care of them with ardent affection is being r
The Korean Children's Union, a mass political organization of schoolchildren who are the future and hope of the DPRK and its
June 07, 2026
The Korean Children's Union, a mass political organization of schoolchildren who are the future and hope of the DPRK and its
On the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the Korean Children’s Union (June 6), the whole country is overflowing with
June 07, 2026
On the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the Korean Children’s Union (June 6), the whole country is overflowing with
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
June 07, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
“Sonyon” (child) tractors were donated with due ceremony in front of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on June 5. All
June 07, 2026
“Sonyon” (child) tractors were donated with due ceremony in front of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on June 5. All
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children’s Union had sports and
June 07, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children’s Union had sports and
An art performance of schoolchildren "Forward towards the Future of a Powerful Country Flying the Red Neckties" was given at the
June 07, 2026
An art performance of schoolchildren "Forward towards the Future of a Powerful Country Flying the Red Neckties" was given at the
A dance party of schoolchildren was held in the front yard of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on June 5 to celebrate the
June 07, 2026
A dance party of schoolchildren was held in the front yard of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on June 5 to celebrate the
At the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of
June 06, 2026
At the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of
More Articles
