The successful launch of earth satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 added to the festive mood of lunar New Year’s Day on February 8.
Respect
People from all walks of life visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il lie in state and made a deep bow to the portraits of the great leaders.
Service personnel, working people, youth and students visited their statues and portraits in Pyongyang and local areas to pay respects to them.
They exchanged lunar New Year greetings with their teachers, seniors, neighbours, relatives and friends.
Performances
Artistic performances were given in theatres of Pyongyang and localities.
The National Theatre hosted drama “Admiral Ri Sun Sin”, the Ponghwa Art Theatre a song and dance performance of the National Folk Art Troupe, and the Moranbong Theatre a concert of the State Symphony Orchestra.
The Pyongyang Circus Theatre was filled with the laughter of working people and schoolchildren who enjoyed physical feat “Seesawing”, comic acrobatics “Good bean dishes”, aerial stunt “Fly higher” and other acrobatic pieces.
The South Hamgyong, North and South Hwanghae and Kangwon provincial art troupes also gave performances and sang highly of the excitement and joy of the people.
In neighbourhood
On lunar New Year’s Day, neighbourhood unit No. 14 in Kyogu-dong, Central District, Pyongyang, was enlivened by the yut (four-stick) game.
Divided into two teams, all families were engaged.
When their teams cast the sticks, they cheered them in the hope of getting the highest or necessary scores.
“Our neighbourhood unit frequently organizes yut game as it is a popular game enjoyed by all, irrespective of gender and age. It not only makes people have a pleasant time but also helps promote harmony and unity among them,” said Ri Kum Sun, chief of the neighbourhood unit.
Folk games of children
Folk games playing grounds set up in many places of Pyongyang were bedecked with pine branches, snowmen, congratulatory lanterns, coloured buntings, large picture boards and other decorations.
A national schoolchildren’s kite-flying contest took place at Kim Il Sung Square on February 8.
The contestants aroused the admiration of the spectators by flaunting their skills.
Seeing kites of different forms and colours flying high in the sky, the passers-by gave a big hand to encourage them.
Others played top spinning, rope skipping and other folk games.
Schoolchildren were seen playing Taekwon-Do, top spinning, Korean wrestling, rope skipping and other folk and sports games throughout the country, including in the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, Phohang Square in Chongjin, Haean Square in Wonsan, and Sinuiju Square.
Special service at restaurants
The public catering networks in Pyongyang and provinces offered special services to people.
The restaurants on Changgwang Street in downtown Pyongyang were full of visitors.
Choe Jong Ok, head chef of the Rice-Cake Soup House, and others served over 10 kinds of national dishes including rice-cake soup, rice cake dumpling covered with wormwood and honeyed glutinous rice-cake.
Potato sausage, steamed roll of bean curd and vegetables and other dishes were also popular.
Snowman and pine tree installed at the entrance and kind service of waitresses in national attire delighted the diners.
Public catering facilities in local areas, especially the Sinhung Restaurant in Hamhung, Kyongam Restaurant in Sariwon and House of Chicken Entrails Soup and Noodle House in Kanggye, were full house.