Christmas Traditions In North Korea
North Korea is an authoritarian communist country in East Asia and the only state still in existence that was ruled by the late Kim Il Sung. Christmas is not widely celebrated or promoted in North Korea yet the traditional western December 25th festivities have been gaining some traction ever since the government allowed foreigners to bring in their religious beliefs in the past decade. The customs and traditions associated with North Korea’s Christmas celebrations are not widely known, however a look at the country’s history and culture can shed light on the origin and meaning behind these unfamiliar practices.
Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s first leader and founder of the Juche ideology, was not in favor of religious activities, particularly of Christianity, inside his state and beliefs suggesting Christmas could have been equated to subversion of the state. To deflect attention from the religious component of Christmas, the government chose to emphasize the other aspects such as family fun, gift giving, and singing and dancing.
Despite Christianity being officially an illegal practice in North Korea, the country maintains a few Christian churches, which is why increasingly more North Koreans are exposed to the custom of Christmas. Though the North Korean government does not openly advertise this event, there has been a steady rise in religious activities taking place each year, but only among a small portion of the population.
North Koreans followed the traditional pattern of decorating homes and trees in recent years while singing carols, taking part in parties and, in some cases, exchanging gifts during Christmas. It has also become more common to have small social gatherings in the country’s capital of Pyongyang.
The December 25th celebrations in North Korea can be broken down into more specific cultural traditions as well. For example, the North Koreans have a Christmas feast, which is a colorful extravagant meal that is consumed on Christmas day. This is usually a mix of dates and meats, accompanied by low-alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks and cakes. Koreans also wear special red scarves to symbolize the joy of the season and national pride.
Furthermore, North Korea is known for its traditional 20th century entertainment events, such as acrobatics, puppet shows, and tumblers, which are often put on for joyous festivities such as Christmas. North Koreans also light up their streets with electric-lit snowflakes, banners, and stars and play traditional holiday music such as the beloved song ”Arirang” and the famous Christmas carol ”Silent Night”.
Christmas and Social Media
In recent years, and especially following the relaxation of Government-imposed restrictions on Western culture, North Korea has also started taking part in the technological advancements of Christmas, as displayed with the emergence of Twitter accounts like @NorthKorea_LBT, which is a popular account that focuses on Korean culture and holidays. Not surprisingly, this trend seemed to become more prominent during the 2020 Christmas season, with news sites like the Korea Herald reporting a surge in northern lights photos shared by North Koreans on Instagram – an online photo-sharing platform – during Christmas and other winter holidays.
Additionally, a few YouTube videos and North Korean bloggers have also given their viewers a glimpse into the North Korean Christmas celebrations. It provides an invaluable insight into a culture that, for the most part, remains shrouded in secrecy. While these videos can be regulated and tampered with by the North Korean authorities, they are still a valuable form of expression and reflection on the celebration of Christmas and other holidays.
Western Influence on North Korean Christmas
Christmas in North Korea has been heavily influenced by western cultures, with many of the celebrations taking place behind closed doors. This includes the western decorations, gifts and candy that have become increasingly common, as well as the use of modern technology to share holiday messages with citizens such as through social media.
It is also speculated that North Koreans are becoming more exposed to western television and movies, perhaps contributing to the westernization of the North Korean Christmas celebrations. While North Koreans may not be able to outwardly celebrate Christmas, these increasing levels of western influence may still be having an impact on how North Koreans are adapting the western celebrations, at least behind closed doors.
Furthermore, the emergence of Christmas markets in the country, where locals can be seen exchanging presents, decorations, and food items, signals that more North Koreans may be taking part in ‘Western-style’ Christmas celebrations.
Political Impact on North Korean Christmas
Christmas may still be viewed as a suspicious and foreign event in North Korea, and the effects of politics on the celebration have not gone unnoticed. The North Korean government uses the holiday as a way to improve its international standing. This can be seen in efforts to invite international spectators to the country’s Winter Olympics and other events, or in invitations from the North Korean leader to high-ranking guests, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, North Korea is still widely regarded as a rogue state. The oppressive regime and lack of religious freedoms has put restrictions on how North Koreans celebrate Christmas. For example, North Koreans are not able to openly practice Christianity, and Christmas decorations are usually frowned upon. In some cases, people holding Christmas celebrations in the country may even face repercussions from the government.
Western Impact on North Korean Christmas
In spite of the lack of religious freedom, North Koreans are increasingly exposed to western Christmas customs. This can be seen in the increasing presence of popular western gifts, such as Western chocolates, nuts, and toys, which have become increasingly available during the holiday season. Additionally, the emergence of popular Christmas-related merchandise, such as Santa hats, Christmas themed decorations and lights, have also become increasingly available.
These items have become popular among North Koreans because they offer an entertaining and entertaining way to celebrate the holidays without directly challenging the North Korean Government’s restrictive policies. It is also speculated that western influence is slowly infiltrating North Korea, as North Koreans are exposed to more commercialized and westernized Christmas media and stories.
Alternative Views on North Korean Christmas
Though the North Korean government does not recognize Christmas as an official holiday, the traditional winter celebrations such as Seollal and Daeboreum have become the primary focus of holiday activities in the country. These customs predate Christianity and have been an important part of North Korean culture for centuries.
As such, these traditional holidays may be viewed as an alternate form of celebration with the same core message of celebrating family and gratitude for the year past. This serves as an important reminder that, even in restrictive regimes such as North Korea, traditional winter holidays do not have to be tied to Christian ideologies in order to be meaningful.
In conclusion, even though the North Korean government does not promote the celebration of Christmas, its citizens are increasingly adapting to the customs of the western celebration. Though the celebration remains largely restricted by the oppressive regime, North Koreans are embracing the fun and festive aspects of the holiday and integrating their own traditions into the mix.
