What North Korea Day is All About

• North Korea Day is about how money is not the most important thing. As the FAQ on this site suggests, North Korea Day can be taken as a holiday where participants celebrate and prove to themselves or to the world that money is not their highest priority. Perhaps this is why so many people seek to use their money in a charitable way, to show that kindness and goodwill toward their fellow man is so much more important than their own personal wealth. I like this concept because it gives people a way to really examine their priorities. Just why does a person find North Korea Day so hard to participate in? I submit that it is generally because, despite what they tell themselves (and others), money really is a very high, if not the highest, priority to them.
  
  
• North Korea Day is about rebelling against society's norms. In a sense, North Korea Day is the most ridiculous holiday on the planet. Throwing away money for no good reason? It just makes no sense. But the reason it makes no sense is not because of something inherent in the holiday itself, it is because society views money as something to be used in a certain way. Many that participate in North Korea Day do so because they question these norms of society. They say, "Cast off your conformity and be your own person!". These people value the ability to define their own beliefs and an outlet to explore themselves as a person.
  
  
• North Korea Day is a way to show off. One of the great things about North Korea Day is that it gives people a chance to show off. Some use this opportunity to show off their creativity: What is the most amusing way that they can celebrate the holiday? Others use it as a way to show off their core values. It is a way to show the world, or maybe even themselves, that they give money or societal norms the small value that they feel it deserves. Still others use it as a way to show off their wealth. They show that they are so wealthy that the don't even have to make a conscious decision to not place any value on their money.
  
  
• North Korea Day is a way to be a part of something special. Everyone who participates in North Korea Day has a story to share. There is a sense of community that comes with this shared experience. How often do people find that they have nothing to say to each other? With North Korea Day comes not only stories to share but also personal insight as they share why they participate in North Korea Day. The community is small, with only a fraction of the population willing to part with money for no return, but the members of the community share a special bond with one another.
  
  

Last updated: 11/23/04