February 24 is Jongwoldaeborum , the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar. From olden times, the Korean ancestors have significantly celebrated it as a folk holiday next to lunar New Year’s Day.
Typical foods for the day are ogokbap and dishes made of nine species of dried greens.
Ogokbap is boiled rice mixed with four other cereals. The five cereals included rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, bean and red bean but sometimes they varied according to regions.
Dishes for the day are made of nine species of dried greens.
The nine species of dried greens did not indicate certain species but meant “a variety of” or “many” greens in connection with the number “nine.”
The locals in the Pyongyang area were fond of eating dried red pepper leaves, bracken, fern and goosefoot, which were called “black greens” as they were black.
Those in Hamgyong Province used dried platycodon, longleaf asiabell, aster and seaweed, and those in Kangwon Province, dried pumpkin and sliced radish and mushrooms.
People have said that dishes made of nine species of dried greens eaten on the day enable them to be resistant to summer heat and spend the year in good health.
The custom of taking such rice and dishes on the day is associated with strong pioneer spirit of the Korean people who created their own way of dietary life and food culture by making use of various materials available in their own localities as well as their love of the native land.
It reflects the habit of thrifty economic life of the Koreans who secured in advance dried vegetables, edible herbs and seaweeds and used them effectively in winter according to the climatic conditions of the country and their spirit of saving even a single material without any waste.
It also comprises the idea of a civilized regimen that they can live in good health only when they take ogokbap and various species of dried greens evenly, just as they can take in various nutrients only when they have a balanced diet, eating various foods.
The custom is still being carried forward, adding national flavour to the life of the Korean people.
Kim Jin Guk, researcher at the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences
More From Naenara (En)
Officials and members of the women's union had an oratorical meeting at the Hall of Women on July 25 to celebrate the 71st
July 27, 2024
Officials and members of the women's union had an oratorical meeting at the Hall of Women on July 25 to celebrate the 71st
July 27, 1953, is the day when the Korean people won a brilliant victory in the war against the US imperialists. Every year they
July 27, 2024
July 27, 1953, is the day when the Korean people won a brilliant victory in the war against the US imperialists. Every year they
Officials of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of
July 27, 2024
Officials of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of
A schoolchildren's story-telling meeting, “Victorious Wartime Generation and I”, took place at the Central Youth Hall in
July 27, 2024
A schoolchildren's story-telling meeting, “Victorious Wartime Generation and I”, took place at the Central Youth Hall in
The Koryo Medicine General Hospital boasts a versatile doctor who plays an indispensable role in mass-based sporting activities.
July 27, 2024
The Koryo Medicine General Hospital boasts a versatile doctor who plays an indispensable role in mass-based sporting activities.
Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea,
July 27, 2024
Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea,
Villages at the Sokjang Farm in Jangyon County, South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK, have turned into ideal villages for the
July 27, 2024
Villages at the Sokjang Farm in Jangyon County, South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK, have turned into ideal villages for the
Kim Juk Song, a war veteran resident in Ryonghung-dong No. 3, Taesong District of Pyongyang, is often invited to meetings with
July 27, 2024
Kim Juk Song, a war veteran resident in Ryonghung-dong No. 3, Taesong District of Pyongyang, is often invited to meetings with
DPRK player Pak Mi Song bagged a gold medal at the First International Summer Sports Contest of University Students, "Youth on the
July 27, 2024
DPRK player Pak Mi Song bagged a gold medal at the First International Summer Sports Contest of University Students, "Youth on the
The Agricultural Informatization Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Science has developed a new liquid silicon fertilizer
July 27, 2024
The Agricultural Informatization Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Science has developed a new liquid silicon fertilizer
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkov and his party visited the Tower of the Juche Idea. They listened to the
July 27, 2024
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkov and his party visited the Tower of the Juche Idea. They listened to the
Senior Party and government officials, including Kim Tok Hun and Choe Ryong Hae, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau
July 26, 2024
Senior Party and government officials, including Kim Tok Hun and Choe Ryong Hae, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau
During the Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953), Kim Il Sung , then supreme commander of the Korean People’s
July 26, 2024
During the Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953), Kim Il Sung , then supreme commander of the Korean People’s
Sadong Primary School in Sadong District, Pyongyang, is well-known for its extracurricular group activities. At the beginning the
July 26, 2024
Sadong Primary School in Sadong District, Pyongyang, is well-known for its extracurricular group activities. At the beginning the
The Songyo Knitwear Factory is paying primary attention to improving the quality of knitted clothes. In recent years, the factory
July 26, 2024
The Songyo Knitwear Factory is paying primary attention to improving the quality of knitted clothes. In recent years, the factory
The revolutionary will and indomitable fighting spirit of all the people are growing stronger to glorify forever the undying fame
July 26, 2024
The revolutionary will and indomitable fighting spirit of all the people are growing stronger to glorify forever the undying fame
A national children's paduk (go) contest and a national amateur paduk contest took place at the North Hwanghae Provincial
July 26, 2024
A national children's paduk (go) contest and a national amateur paduk contest took place at the North Hwanghae Provincial
A symposium on geological and biological diversity in the area of Mt Paektu took place at Samjiyon College of Technology and the
July 26, 2024
A symposium on geological and biological diversity in the area of Mt Paektu took place at Samjiyon College of Technology and the
Rajin and Sonbong pharmacies have been newly built and started their operation in Rason Municipality. The standard pharmacies have
July 26, 2024
Rajin and Sonbong pharmacies have been newly built and started their operation in Rason Municipality. The standard pharmacies have
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Maxim Vladimirovich Ruzenkov,
July 26, 2024
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Maxim Vladimirovich Ruzenkov,
More Articles