Jongwoldaeborum, or the 15th day of the first month by the lunar calendar, is one of the folk holidays celebrated by the Korean people along with lunar New Year’s Day and Chusok.
The holiday starts on January 14 by the lunar calendar as the small full moon day and the following day was called the big full moon day.
From olden times, the Korean people held various ritual functions on the holiday reflecting their simple desire for a good fortune and rich harvest in the New Year.
On the small full moon day, ears of rice, sorghum, millet and foxtail millet were hung on the stack poles with banners inscribed with letters praying for good harvest below them. Then, children sang and danced going round the poles. And there was a custom of applying manure to the fields early that morning.
On the evening of Jongwoldaeborum, all villagers climbed a high mountain or hill in their village and enjoyed the sight of the rising moon, which was called welcoming the first full moon.
People believed that luck was given to those who saw the rising moon first, and they predicted the success or failure of the year’s farming by the shape of the full moon.
Various folk games were played on the holiday.
Typical of them are kite-flying, pinwheel-spinning and tug-of-war.
The Koreans made traditional dishes on the holiday and shared them with each other.
Typical dishes of Jongwoldaeborum are ogokpap (boiled rice mixed with four other cereals) and nine kinds of dried herbs.
The custom of eating ogokpap and nine herbs is associated with the Korean people’s love for their native land as they have created their own eating habits and developed their food culture with various ingredients abundant in their own localities.
It also reflects the idea of the healthcare principle that health is ensured by a balanced diet of five cereals and various kinds of edible herbs.
Thanks to the policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea on protecting national heritage, Jongwoldaeborum and the custom of welcoming the full moon were registered as national intangible cultural heritage elements and the folk holiday full of noble national sentiments is still becoming a part of the Korean people’s life.
This year’s Jongwoldaeborum falls on February 12.
More From Pyongyang Times
The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund issued a joint report on the occasion of World Water Week
September 12, 2025
The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund issued a joint report on the occasion of World Water Week
Mass rallies were held in provinces to adopt letters of loyalty to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the 80th
September 12, 2025
Mass rallies were held in provinces to adopt letters of loyalty to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the 80th
The Workers' Party of Korea's policy on rural construction unfolded a new scene of a modern socialist rural village also at the
September 12, 2025
The Workers' Party of Korea's policy on rural construction unfolded a new scene of a modern socialist rural village also at the
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from
September 12, 2025
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from
The DPRK Art Exhibition "The Great People's Country" opened with splendour at a decorative handicraft and folk art gallery in
September 11, 2025
The DPRK Art Exhibition "The Great People's Country" opened with splendour at a decorative handicraft and folk art gallery in
All the people of the DPRK, who are significantly celebrating the national day on the sacred journey of writing a heroic chapter
September 11, 2025
All the people of the DPRK, who are significantly celebrating the national day on the sacred journey of writing a heroic chapter
New houses have been built in the Sinyon Industrial Crop Farm of the Jagang Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Township
September 10, 2025
New houses have been built in the Sinyon Industrial Crop Farm of the Jagang Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Township
A women's football match took place between the April 25 and Pyongyang teams at Kim Il Sung Stadium on September 8 on the occasion
September 10, 2025
A women's football match took place between the April 25 and Pyongyang teams at Kim Il Sung Stadium on September 8 on the occasion
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from
September 10, 2025
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from
Agricultural workers met meritorious persons of socialist patriotism on September 5 on the occasion of the 77th founding
September 09, 2025
Agricultural workers met meritorious persons of socialist patriotism on September 5 on the occasion of the 77th founding
A stage telling pride of schoolchildren "Children's Union members met on the road of patriotism" took place at the Pyongyang
September 09, 2025
A stage telling pride of schoolchildren "Children's Union members met on the road of patriotism" took place at the Pyongyang
Progressive mankind expressed boundless reverence for the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who put the dignity and position of the
September 09, 2025
Progressive mankind expressed boundless reverence for the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who put the dignity and position of the
Personages of political parties of Italy and Romania issued a statement and posted an article on the occasion of the 77th founding
September 09, 2025
Personages of political parties of Italy and Romania issued a statement and posted an article on the occasion of the 77th founding
The Tanchon Smeltery was selected again as one of the top ten enterprises for 2024. The smeltery overfulfilled its national
September 09, 2025
The Tanchon Smeltery was selected again as one of the top ten enterprises for 2024. The smeltery overfulfilled its national
The DPRK Missile Administration conducted a static firing test of high-thrust solid-fuelled motor using the composite carbon fibre
September 09, 2025
The DPRK Missile Administration conducted a static firing test of high-thrust solid-fuelled motor using the composite carbon fibre
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
September 09, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Flower baskets were sent to the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on the
September 08, 2025
Flower baskets were sent to the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on the
The DPRK’s name, flag and emblem, symbols of the country, are quite meaningful. The country’s full name is the Democratic
September 08, 2025
The DPRK’s name, flag and emblem, symbols of the country, are quite meaningful. The country’s full name is the Democratic
The Venezuelan defence minister issued a statement on August 31 to express the stand to cope with US threat and blackmail. He
September 08, 2025
The Venezuelan defence minister issued a statement on August 31 to express the stand to cope with US threat and blackmail. He
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
September 08, 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
