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)
Modern houses have been built at the Munyang and Phyongam farms in Koksan County of North Hwanghae Province and the Ryongpho and
December 14, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Munyang and Phyongam farms in Koksan County of North Hwanghae Province and the Ryongpho and
On November 20, the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station was inaugurated in Kangwon Province, which means the province carried out
December 14, 2025
On November 20, the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station was inaugurated in Kangwon Province, which means the province carried out
On December 6, 2016 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the December 6 Children’s Camp in Kangwon Province. Stepping into th
December 14, 2025
On December 6, 2016 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the December 6 Children’s Camp in Kangwon Province. Stepping into th
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex has established a new process for turning fly ash into raw materials to be widely used in
December 13, 2025
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex has established a new process for turning fly ash into raw materials to be widely used in
The Kangdong County Hospital was inaugurated in the suburbs of the capital city of Pyongyang in November. It is an outcome of the
December 13, 2025
The Kangdong County Hospital was inaugurated in the suburbs of the capital city of Pyongyang in November. It is an outcome of the
One of Korean children’s winter folk games, top spinning is played on ice or on the ground. In winter children play the game
December 13, 2025
One of Korean children’s winter folk games, top spinning is played on ice or on the ground. In winter children play the game
In the era of great change when the grand plan of the Workers’ Party of Korea for rural construction is being translated into
December 13, 2025
In the era of great change when the grand plan of the Workers’ Party of Korea for rural construction is being translated into
Ri Ho Son is an associate professor and PhD in electrical engineering at Pyongyang University of Transport. She became the first
December 12, 2025
Ri Ho Son is an associate professor and PhD in electrical engineering at Pyongyang University of Transport. She became the first
On December 12, 1948, the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung visited the shooting range in the then Phyongchon plain in Pyongyang
December 12, 2025
On December 12, 1948, the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung visited the shooting range in the then Phyongchon plain in Pyongyang
The agricultural workers of the Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District, Nampho Municipality and the Konha Farm in Manpho City, Jagang
December 12, 2025
The agricultural workers of the Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District, Nampho Municipality and the Konha Farm in Manpho City, Jagang
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on December 9. Presented to the
December 11, 2025
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on December 9. Presented to the
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
December 11, 2025
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
Associate Professor Choe Ryon, PhD, teaches at the Faculty of Korean Linguistics of Kim Il Sung University. She won the WIPO
December 11, 2025
Associate Professor Choe Ryon, PhD, teaches at the Faculty of Korean Linguistics of Kim Il Sung University. She won the WIPO
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the
December 11, 2025
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
December 11, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
December 11, 2025
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
Mt Myohyang located in the northwestern part of the DPRK is one of the celebrated mountains. It is famous for its superb scenery.
December 10, 2025
Mt Myohyang located in the northwestern part of the DPRK is one of the celebrated mountains. It is famous for its superb scenery.
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the perfect
December 10, 2025
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the perfect
Rope-skipping is one of the Korean children's folk games that is played by skipping over a moving or fixed rope in different ways
December 10, 2025
Rope-skipping is one of the Korean children's folk games that is played by skipping over a moving or fixed rope in different ways
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
December 10, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
More Articles
