Celebrate New Year in the most mysterious country in the world

North Korea still uses the Gregorian calendar and recognizes January 1 as the first day of the year. For a long time, North Koreans have not celebrated the traditional New Year. But now ancient customs are being promoted, along with an indispensable ritual: expressing gratitude to the late leaders.

New Year fireworks in North Korea - Photo: Reuters

According to an article on the North Korean news site Daily NK in January 2014, North Korea still uses the Gregorian calendar and recognizes January 1 as the first day of the year.

However, similar to some other Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, Korea, Singapore... Traditional New Year (lunar calendar) in North Korea is still an important day, preserving long-standing cultural traditions. What will New Year's Day be like in North Korea - one of the most mysterious countries in the world?

Image of traditional songpyeong dish - Photo: Chosun Ilbo

According to Daily NK, North Koreans have only celebrated the “Western” New Year for one day since the founding of the country under the name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The founding leader Kim Il-sung did not celebrate the Lunar New Year because he believed it was a “remnant of the feudal system.”

It was not until 1989 that North Korean media began to encourage people to return to the traditional New Year. North Koreans would have a 3-4 day holiday, which was also a time for them to worship their ancestors and celebrate the new year.

In many ways, the Korean New Year is similar to the New Year in Vietnam or China. Instead of banh chung or banh tet like in Vietnam, Koreans eat a type of cake called songpyeong.

Kim Il-sung Square, where North Koreans gather on New Year's Day - Photo: Reuters

According to the Chosun Ilbo, songpyeong is a type of cooked rice cake, usually placed or wrapped in leaves to shape. This type of songpyeong is also found in South Korea, but the North Korean version is smaller and decorated with different patterns.

Drinking is also an integral part of the Korean New Year. According to a 2012 AP article, North Korean men toast their relatives and neighbors. Women prepare offerings, play a traditional game called Yut Nori, and sing and dance.

Among the traditional North Korean rituals, one notable point is that they will gather in front of Kim Il-sung Square, where Pyongyang residents will lay flowers and make offerings to giant statues of the two late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

Children playing during Tet holiday - Photo: Reuters

Although not mandatory, even people in areas outside Pyongyang will consider offering flowers to the two leaders a necessary ritual, according to AP documents.

New Year’s Day in North Korea is also a time filled with laughter and love. According to Daily NK, wealthy families will celebrate the holiday with full family reunions, while the poor, who are facing food shortages in the country, will take advantage of the opportunity to receive “blessings” in the form of firewood and food. That is when a simple holiday with a decent meal is enough to warm the heart...

According to Thanhnien