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
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting
December 30, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The
December 30, 2025
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The
New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North
December 30, 2025
New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North
The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams
December 30, 2025
The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams
Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of
December 30, 2025
Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of
At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are
December 29, 2025
At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are
A long-range strategic cruise missile launching drill was staged on the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The drill was aimed at
December 29, 2025
A long-range strategic cruise missile launching drill was staged on the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The drill was aimed at
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 21. The Eurasian
December 29, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 21. The Eurasian
To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h
December 29, 2025
To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h
New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in
December 29, 2025
New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D
December 29, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D
The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and
December 29, 2025
The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and
A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the
December 29, 2025
A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
December 28, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
A national flag-raising and oath-taking ceremony took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on December 27 to mark Constitution Day
December 28, 2025
A national flag-raising and oath-taking ceremony took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on December 27 to mark Constitution Day
People in Kaephung District of Kaesong Municipality greeted the moment of a significantly auspicious event. An inauguration
December 28, 2025
People in Kaephung District of Kaesong Municipality greeted the moment of a significantly auspicious event. An inauguration
In Yomju County, a northwestern coastal area of the DPRK, modern regional-industry factories have been built as a solid foundation
December 28, 2025
In Yomju County, a northwestern coastal area of the DPRK, modern regional-industry factories have been built as a solid foundation
Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality, manifesting the change of the socialist modern villages that are
December 28, 2025
Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality, manifesting the change of the socialist modern villages that are
Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin and Songhung farms and the Toksong Apple Farm in Hamhung City of South
December 28, 2025
Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin and Songhung farms and the Toksong Apple Farm in Hamhung City of South
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 28, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
More Articles
