Marriage, Funeral, and Ancestor Memorial

Marriage, Funeral, and Ancestor Memorial in North KoreaThe communist regime in North Korea upon seizing power in 1945 proclaimed that all traditional customs regarding marriage, funeral and memorial service must be abolished because they were the remnants of the old age, and therefore, they must be changed in accordance with socialist way of living.
In North Korea the period from February 16 (Kim Jong-il's birthday) to April 15 (Kim Il-sung's birthday) is designated as the "Loyalty Festival Period," and during this period, the people are told to refrain from holding private feasts such as wedding parties and Heokap (60th birthday anniversary commemorating longevity).

Weddings are usually held at home or public places during non-working hours after obtaining permission from Party officials in relevant workshops. During the ceremony the newlyweds are told to swear their loyalty toward Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and after the wedding, they must visit one of Kim Il-sung's statues nearby to pay a floral tribute on it and to take picture there. No such a thing as honeymoon can be thought of in North Korea. Guests are invited to weddings, and they usually bring food and some gifts.


People used to hold 3-day condolence period before funeral in accordance with Korean custom, but nowadays, due to economic difficulties, people are compelled to finish funeralservices within a day.
People have been allowed to hold small-scale Hoekap feasts since the early 1960s, but recently the Workers' Party has been shouting a slogan, "Sixty, Still Young, and Hoekap at Ninety," and under these circumstances, no one think of holding Hoekap feasts nowadays.

In case of the death of high-ranking Party officials, condolence period is kept for 5 days. When Kim Il-sung died, North Korea held a 12-day condolence period, and observed a 3-yearrefraining period. North Korea is still spending enormous amount of money to celebrate Kim Il-sung's birthday anniversaries every year.