Shining Star Day is a unique official holiday recognized and celebrated in North Korea. Occurring annually, this occasion takes place on February 16 and is characterized by a broad variety of festivities and events to commemorate the birth of the late leader Kim Jong Il. As the second leader of North Korea, he played a significant role in shaping the country's present status, thus North Koreans celebrate his birth as a paramount importance to their national identity.
The day witnesses an array of ornate celebrations including mass gymnastics, music performances, flower festivals, military marches and ice sculpture exhibitions among others. The streets of Pyongyang, the capital city, are often adorned with bright lights, flowers and banners. It also involves the ritual of showing loyalty and reverence to the former leader by visiting statues and memorials erected in his honor throughout the country.
Despite the outward show of unity and celebration, Shining Star Day also carries a heavier significance. It is not just a celebration of the past leader, but an affirmation of the continued power and unity of North Korea under his son Kim Jong Un's rule. On this day, North Koreans also reflect on the doctrines of Juche, or self-reliance, which remain integral to their daily lives and national policies. Overall, Shining Star Day epitomizes the blend of spectacle, reverence, and political reinforcement present in North Korean national holidays.