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 strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath
March 21, 2026
The strike and demonstration staged by women workers in Chicago, the US, on March 8 117 years ago were an eruption of their wrath
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to
March 20, 2026
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the US ambassador to the country on March 11 to
The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK issued new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in commemoration of the Ninth Congress of
March 20, 2026
The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK issued new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in commemoration of the Ninth Congress of
Grand choruses were performed respectively by graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province and
March 20, 2026
Grand choruses were performed respectively by graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province and
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
March 19, 2026
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
March 19, 2026
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
March 19, 2026
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
March 19, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
March 19, 2026
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
March 19, 2026
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened with due ceremony at the Ice Rink in Pyongyang on March 17. The festival will be
March 19, 2026
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened with due ceremony at the Ice Rink in Pyongyang on March 17. The festival will be
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
March 18, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
March 18, 2026
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
March 18, 2026
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
March 18, 2026
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
March 18, 2026
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 17, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
March 17, 2026
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
March 17, 2026
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
More Articles
