Dec. 31, 2024 Tuesday  
Rodong Sinmun
Subdivisions in March and Folk Customs

Culture 2024.3.1.


Spring has fairly set in March.

The subdivisions in March are the Kyongchip(the end of hibernation) and the Chunbun(the vernal equinox).

The Kyongchip means the end of hibernation and in this period warm weather comes, ice melts, it rains with thunder and animals and insects which have been hibernating below the surface are alarmed to wake up.

The Chunbun means that it has entered the mid-spring and in this period the lengths of day and night become almost the same. Strong wind blows frequently but the weather gets warmer and the earth which was frozen in the winter thaws out completely.

From olden times, when the Kyongchip and the Chunbun come, ahead of the farm work, our people used to make the surrounding environment clean by repairing their fences and clearing out ditches in front of their houses in order to tidy the traces of winter.

They used to feel the vernal fragrance by taking tasty dishes cooked with wild greens.

Typical wild greens are shovel weed and giant garlic.

They also used to gather herbs to store them and dance and sing wishing for good farming.

March 5th and 20th are the Kyongchip and the Chunbun for this year.

Rodong Sinmun