December has two seasonal sub-divisions— taesol and tongji .
Taesol implies the heaviest snowfall period throughout the year. Since olden times it has been said that heavy snowfall on this day is a harbinger of next year’s good harvest and mild winter.
Tongji refers to the arrival of winter. On this day the sun rises later and sets earlier than any other days of the year. In other words, the daytime is the shortest and the night-time is the longest.
This year taesol and tongji fall on the 7th and 21st respectively.
In this season, rural communities are engaged in storing the gathered grains safely, manuring the seeded wheat and barley fields and repairing tools for the next year’s farming.
The favourite dishes are red bean porridge, cold noodles, radish kimchi, fruit punch, etc. The most famous is red bean porridge for tongji .
According to old records, Koreans called tongji a “small New Year’s Day.” So they had the red bean porridge in this season. The dish was made by kneading glutinous Indian millet or glutinous rice powder in hot water into dumplings as small as a bird’s egg before being put into the porridge and mixed with honey.
As a long-standing custom, the Korean people shared the porridge with neighbours on tongji to promote mutual harmony.
In this season, children play a shuttlecock game, soccer and other folk games.
Kim Hyok
More From Naenara (En)
Ko Kum Gang is a fourth-dan (grade) player at the Pyongyang Municipal Taekwon-Do Team. From childhood he was attached to
January 12, 2025
Ko Kum Gang is a fourth-dan (grade) player at the Pyongyang Municipal Taekwon-Do Team. From childhood he was attached to
In December 1959, a vessel set sail in a Japan’s port for Chongjin Port in the DPRK. It was carrying the second batch of Koreans
January 12, 2025
In December 1959, a vessel set sail in a Japan’s port for Chongjin Port in the DPRK. It was carrying the second batch of Koreans
Regional-industry factories have been built in Unpha County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK, an intermediate mountainous
January 12, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been built in Unpha County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK, an intermediate mountainous
On New Year’s Day in 2016 a grand inauguration ceremony of the Sci-Tech Complex was held in the presence of the respected
January 11, 2025
On New Year’s Day in 2016 a grand inauguration ceremony of the Sci-Tech Complex was held in the presence of the respected
A reception, provided by the respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un for the art troupe of Korean schoolchildren resident in Japan
January 11, 2025
A reception, provided by the respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un for the art troupe of Korean schoolchildren resident in Japan
The first-term winter camping of schoolchildren started with due ceremony at the Songdowon International Children's Camp in the
January 11, 2025
The first-term winter camping of schoolchildren started with due ceremony at the Songdowon International Children's Camp in the
Last year, the boxing group at Pongji Senior Middle School in Pyongyang’s Phyongchon District produced two winners at the
January 11, 2025
Last year, the boxing group at Pongji Senior Middle School in Pyongyang’s Phyongchon District produced two winners at the
Last year, the Electric Power IT Institute under the Ministry of Electric Power Industry made achievements in research projects
January 11, 2025
Last year, the Electric Power IT Institute under the Ministry of Electric Power Industry made achievements in research projects
In his policy speech at the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly in January last year, the respected Comrade Kim
January 10, 2025
In his policy speech at the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly in January last year, the respected Comrade Kim
In recent years the Pomology Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Science has bred many high-yielding fruit trees, including
January 10, 2025
In recent years the Pomology Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Science has bred many high-yielding fruit trees, including
The 2024 national academic contest of Taekwon-Do colleges took place at the Taekwon-Do Palace and the Taekwon-Do Holy House. It
January 10, 2025
The 2024 national academic contest of Taekwon-Do colleges took place at the Taekwon-Do Palace and the Taekwon-Do Holy House. It
All the workers at my factory have turned out to implement the tasks advanced at the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth
January 09, 2025
All the workers at my factory have turned out to implement the tasks advanced at the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth
At the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the respected Comrade Kim Jong
January 09, 2025
At the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the respected Comrade Kim Jong
Last year the rail transport sector overfulfilled its freight transport plan and finished its reinforcement and readjustment task
January 09, 2025
Last year the rail transport sector overfulfilled its freight transport plan and finished its reinforcement and readjustment task
The evolution of the operatic art in the DPRK dates back to the revolutionary operas created during the anti-Japanese
January 09, 2025
The evolution of the operatic art in the DPRK dates back to the revolutionary operas created during the anti-Japanese
Regional-industry factories in Sukchon County were inaugurated in the wake of the inauguration ceremonies of those in Songchon and
January 09, 2025
Regional-industry factories in Sukchon County were inaugurated in the wake of the inauguration ceremonies of those in Songchon and
The Sadong District Committee of Science and Technology in Pyongyang has developed a slice of turning water bio-functional.
January 09, 2025
The Sadong District Committee of Science and Technology in Pyongyang has developed a slice of turning water bio-functional.
Last year scientists and technicians made a contribution to the development of the country’s sports through their brisk
January 08, 2025
Last year scientists and technicians made a contribution to the development of the country’s sports through their brisk
Last year every province made a remarkable progress in their effort to consolidate the material and technical foundations of the
January 08, 2025
Last year every province made a remarkable progress in their effort to consolidate the material and technical foundations of the
All the workers at the Anju Pump Factory have turned out to implement the tasks set forth at the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the
January 08, 2025
All the workers at the Anju Pump Factory have turned out to implement the tasks set forth at the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the
More Articles
