Have you ever wondered whether Santa visits North Korea during Christmas? While people around the world have the image of Santa soaring through dark, winter night sky, dropping presents into chimneys and sleighing around, this isn’t always the case for those in North Korea. Christmas isn’t even considered a national holiday. So does Santa make it there? Well, we don’t have a definite answer to that but with a closer look, we can certainly paint a picture.
Currently, around 10 percent of the North Korean population is estimated to be Christian, which is a small percentage compared to other countries in the region. This influx of Christian beliefs took place after its introduction in the late 19th century among its members of the ruling class. Christmas has since been observed in scattered private settings.
In the years since, North Korea has avoided Christmas and other religious holidays in order to shift focus to the “Juche” ideology. This is focused more on the nation’s political and economic objectives than religious beliefs. Even then, Christmas is not such a taboo topic, but more of an overlooked one. This has made it to where some Christian observance does still exist, but generally it is in private settings.
North Koreans have also been known to adopt certain Western practices to celebrate the festive season. For instance, many locals have recently been seen with fake Christmas trees, as verified by travelers who have visited the country. While they are not authentic versions of the Christmas tree, these decorations still fill the same purpose.
Kim Jong-un and Christmas
Kim Jong-un and the North Korean government do not discourage their citizens from taking part in Christmas celebrations, but they also do not encourage it. Though it is not against the law, celebrating Christmas publicly in North Korea is not supported by the government and would potentially get you in trouble with the authorities. However, traditionally, celebrations of Christmas are considered ‘act of worship’ and this law does not forbid it but does not support it either.
As for Santa, well his presence in North Korea remains unconfirmed, not to mention illegal, as like other foreign influences, foreign Santa costumes and other Christmas related items are strictly forbidden. The North Korean government promote their own version of Santa, called ‘Fantasy General’ and no one is to take part in other interpretations.
Ultimately, while North Korean citizens are discouraged from celebrating Christmas, they still take part in some of the holiday’s traditions in their own way. Whether it is having a fake Christmas tree or completely disregarding it, the North Korean people still find ways to make the most out of the season.
Christmas Celebrations Outside of North Korea
North Korea isn’t the only Asian country that does not celebrate Christmas. The Christmas season is also not widely recognised in China, Japan, and other Asian countries. However, even though that may be the case, a lot of the citizens in these regions take part in Christmas-centric activities regardless, such as decorations, traditional Christmas foods and gifts. This is in spite of the fact that Christmas is not a public holiday in most of Asia. Many citizens in these countries often opt to create their own way of celebrating the season, or keep it low key purely as a sentimental tradition in some cases.
Due to the cultural unrest in North Korea, it has become virtually impossible to get a clear understanding of what Christmas means to its citizens. Until recently, North Korea’s government has distinctly shied away from as many Western influences as possible. However, any holiday that is widely accepted by the West runs the risk of being labeled ‘western’ by the North Korean government. Thus, it is most likely that North Korean citizens are not widely partaking in Christmas and Santa celebrations.
Christmas Traditions Inside of North Korea
Despite Christmas not being a celebrated a holiday in North Korea, there are still reports of some Christmas traditions being practised in private. This includes the tradition of gift-giving, which is mostly done between family members on the 25th of December. Additionally, Christmas Day is sometimes observed on certain holidays in North Korea, most notably Lunar New Year, where the day is referred to as ‘The Day of Rays Of Hope’.
It is also worth noting that North Korea is not an example to follow in their treatment of Christmas, as they are also notorious for restricting religious observance and activity. While it may not be illegal to observe Christmas in North Korea, there are harsh punishments for those who decide to do so, particularly if caught. Consequently, it is not recommended that anyone in North Korea celebrates Christmas in any form, as doing so can be punishable by death.
The Christmas Trees of North Korea
Moreover, even though the celebration of Christmas may be discouraged, the North Korean authorities still make sure to maintain their decorations, particularly those of a Christmas tree. These trees are mostly found in hotels, touristic spots and museums. However, it has been noted that these trees are mostly artificial, as it is a much simpler way to maintain them. Despite being artificial, the trees are still decorated with ornaments made of plastic and paper. These decorations depict the North Korean flag, symbols of pride and traditional characters such as tigers, respectively.
North Koreans are indeed aware of the holiday season, though most of them refer to it as ‘Winter Time’. Although they do not take part in decorations or celebrations, they still consider it as a time of reflection and hope. Those who are found to be participating in any Christmas activity will face severe consequences, while those who stick to their traditional religious beliefs will also be punished. That being said, North Koreans still find small ways to celebrate the holiday season, too.
Western Influence in North Korea
On the other hand, a few recent years have seen some shows of Western culture in North Korea. It was observed that many of the businesses, shops and restaurants of more touristic spots began to adopt some Christmas-inspired decorations and marketing campaigns. This happened in 2018 in the city of Pyongyang, where posters of Santa Claus, who was depicted as a North Korean native, made appearances on the main streets. Nevertheless, this has not been observed since then, but it is still possible it will happen again in the future.
Overall, Christmas is not a holiday celebrated in North Korea, but rather an overlooked and overlooked one. While it may not be a public holiday, there are still some ways in which North Koreans can, perhaps quietly, celebrate the season and the North Korean government may potentially become more open to the idea of Christmas and other kinds of religious holidays in the near future.
Christmas Celebrations Amongst North Koreans
For those North Koreans who prefer to look at Christmas as a religious holiday and want to take part in its celebrations, they generally do so in the privacy of their homes. There, they exchange gifts with their families and friends, in addition to participating in activities such as singing hymns, watching films and preparing traditional foods. Such activities can take place even with the restrictions put in place by the North Korean government and although it is not the same experience as one can find elsewhere, it still celebrates the season in its own special way.
From what is mentioned above, it is evident that most North Koreans are aware of the Christmas holiday and the kind of activity that goes along with it. Nevertheless, they are not able to take part in it publicly due to the restrictions put in place by the government. To sum up, Santa most likely does not visit North Korea and the Christmas celebration here tends to be fairly small-scale and private.
Foreigners Celebrating Christmas in North Korea
For those whose goal is to experience a Christmas celebration in North Korea, there are few foreign-run businesses that come to mind. These businesses claim to offer Christmas-themed events for their foreign guests, including dinner parties and a large gathering of international visitors. However, these events may be limited in scale due to the restrictions imposed by the government.
Another possible way to experience Christmas in North Korea is by being a part of one of the religious organizations. A number of Christian organizations do offer occasional visits to North Korea, as well as set up discreet services for locals who celebrate Christmas. The organizations keep their activities low key, as to not draw attention or cause any discontentment from the North Korean government.
While religious services may be difficult to acquire, it is possible to find some kind of Christmas related activities. For instance, visitors can find their way to the Christmas markets in the capital city, which are typically set up during the month of December. The markets are an interesting insight into what people traditionally give as gifts and what kind of decorations and foods are used in North Korea during Christmas.
Christmas Celebrations in North Korea: The Bottom Line
Overall, it is likely that Santa is not visiting North Korea, as the country does not accept a lot of influences from the outside world. The Christmas celebrations in North Korea are usually small-scale and private, as the North Korean government does not encourage it publicly. That being said, there are still some ways for foreigners to experience a Christmas celebration in North Korea, albeit on a smaller scale.
