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)
The Sci-Tech Complex has recently rendered tangible assistance to the units newly built in line with the regional development
December 28, 2025
The Sci-Tech Complex has recently rendered tangible assistance to the units newly built in line with the regional development
One early evening in August 2009, when the midday heat was still felt, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the Pothonggang Shop newly
December 28, 2025
One early evening in August 2009, when the midday heat was still felt, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the Pothonggang Shop newly
A lecture was given at the Central Youth Hall on December 26 to mark the 53rd anniversary of the enactment of the DPRK
December 28, 2025
A lecture was given at the Central Youth Hall on December 26 to mark the 53rd anniversary of the enactment of the DPRK
People in Kaephung District, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK, greeted the moment of an auspicious event. An inauguration ceremony
December 28, 2025
People in Kaephung District, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK, greeted the moment of an auspicious event. An inauguration ceremony
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
Over the past 10-odd years, workers’ hostels have been newly built in many units across the country.The workers’ hostel was inaugu
December 28, 2025
Over the past 10-odd years, workers’ hostels have been newly built in many units across the country.The workers’ hostel was inaugu
Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin Farm and Songhung Farm in Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province of the
December 28, 2025
Fashionable dwelling houses have appeared at the Pumin Farm and Songhung Farm in Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province of the
The Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace is a comprehensive extracurricular educational base for schoolchildren. The respected
December 28, 2025
The Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace is a comprehensive extracurricular educational base for schoolchildren. The respected
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to
December 27, 2025
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to
A public presentation of agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea to express impressions on
December 27, 2025
A public presentation of agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea to express impressions on
The artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea gave an artistic performance “Pyon
December 27, 2025
The artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea gave an artistic performance “Pyon
Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality of the DPRK, showing the new appearance of the socialist modern
December 27, 2025
Modern houses have been built at farms in Nampho Municipality of the DPRK, showing the new appearance of the socialist modern
The workers’ artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea gave an
December 27, 2025
The workers’ artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea gave an
The DPRK reliably guarantees the people-oriented politics of the socialist state by adopting laws, regulations and rules in a
December 27, 2025
The DPRK reliably guarantees the people-oriented politics of the socialist state by adopting laws, regulations and rules in a
Do people like it? This was what Chairman Kim Jong Il always asked during his inspection tours. On December 3, 2006, he visited
December 27, 2025
Do people like it? This was what Chairman Kim Jong Il always asked during his inspection tours. On December 3, 2006, he visited
The Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea stressed that a massive construction
December 27, 2025
The Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea stressed that a massive construction
As the Workers’ Party of Korea’s programme for effecting a rural revolution in the new era proceeds in earnest, a nationwide
December 27, 2025
As the Workers’ Party of Korea’s programme for effecting a rural revolution in the new era proceeds in earnest, a nationwide
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Kim Chang Son, department director of the State Affairs Commission
December 26, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Kim Chang Son, department director of the State Affairs Commission
The following happened when some officials planned the number of the flats to be built in the fourth-stage housing construction in
December 26, 2025
The following happened when some officials planned the number of the flats to be built in the fourth-stage housing construction in
In the DPRK where education is regarded as the foremost state affair, all the people are entitled to learn and provided with
December 26, 2025
In the DPRK where education is regarded as the foremost state affair, all the people are entitled to learn and provided with
More Articles
