Day of the Shining Star
The Day of the Shining Star (Korean: 광명성절; Hancha: 光明星節; MR: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-jŏl) is a public holiday in North Korea falling on 16 February, the anniversary of the birth of the country's second leader, Kim Jong Il. Along with the Day of the Sun, the birthday of his father Kim Il Sung, it is the most important public holiday in the country.
| Day of the Shining Star | |
|---|---|
| Korean name | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 광명성절 |
| Hancha | 光明星節 |
| Revised Romanization | Gwangmyeongseongjeol |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-jŏl |
Equestrian statue with Kim Jong Il (right) and Kim Il Sung, revealed on the Day of the Shining Star | |
| Observed by | North Korea |
| Significance | Birth of Kim Jong Il (1941/1942) (Juche 30/31) |
| Begins | 16 February |
| Ends | 17 February |
| Date | 16 February |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | After being designated in 1982 |
| Related to | Generalissimo Day (14 February), Loyalty Festival (between 16 February and 15 April), Day of the Sun (15 April), Day of Songun (25 August) |
Kim Jong Il was born in 1941 (Juche 30) in the Soviet Union, although North Korean propaganda says the date is 16 February 1942 (Juche 31) and places the birth at the Mount Paektu area in Korea. His birthday became an official holiday in 1982 when he began his work in the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He celebrated his birthdays privately. In 2012, the year following his death, the holiday was renamed the Day of the Shining Star.
The most lavish observances take place in the capital Pyongyang and include mass gymnastics, music performances, fireworks displays, military demonstrations, and mass dancing parties. The North Korean people receive more food rations and electricity than usual on the Day of the Shining Star.