Kazakh natonal holidays. About the culture and traditions of the Kazakh people

1.

Kazakh natonal holidays
About the culture and traditions of the Kazakh people

2.

Plan
Introduction
Main body
Nauryz holiday
Kurban ait holiday
New Year
International Woman’s day
Victory day
Independence day
Conlusion
References

3.

Introduction
No country, no people can exist
without traditions, history, language.
Each nation has its own traditions,
national holidays, dishes, culture that
distinguishes their people from others
and this makes them special.
Kazakhstan and the Kazakh people
are one of the considerable countries
that have been able to preserve their
traditions, customs, history and
national characteristics for many
centuries.

4.

Nauryz
Nauryz is a very important holiday for
Kazakhs, which marks the beginning of a
new year. It is celebrated several days
starting from 21st of March, the day of the
spring equinox. Nauryz means ‘new day’, it
is celebrated in the Great Steppes from
ancient times.
Nauryz symbolizes goodness and wealth,
happiness and love and a great friendship
day, since this holiday is common for many
nations.During Nauryz celebrations, past
offences are forgiven and forgotten and
everybody makes a wish to leave all badness
behind and bring renewal in the New Year.

5.

During the Nauryz holiday, large and small cities, villages
become festival centres, felt yurts – traditional nomad
houses are erected in city centres and rich dastarkhan
(table) is laid down in each of them. City squares get full
of yurts, and many performances take place there. Here
one can learn about the culture and lifestyle of nomads and
find people wearing beautiful national clothes, listen to
Kazakh songs and play of musical instruments, etc. In
holiday exhibitions and fairs traditional gifts and souvenirs
are sold.
Nauryz kozhe is the most important of all meals during
these days and a main symbol of Nauryz, since it is
prepared specially for this day. Nauryz kozhe is special for
its unique recipe.Traditionally, 7 different ingredients are
added to Nauryz kozhe, which may vary, but basically
these ingredients include: water, meat, salt, milk or
yoghurt, one type of grains, chosen from rice, corn or
wheat, and others. Seven ingredients symbolize seven
virtues or qualities, such as joy, success, intelligence,
health, wealth, agility and security.

6.

Kurban Ait
Qurban Ait (Eid al-Adha), one of two main Islamic holidays.
The holiday, mostly associated with sacrificing an animal,
symbolises kindness and generosity, friendship and mutual
understanding for many Kazakh citizens.
According to Islamic tradition, Muslims throughout the
world slaughter an animal, such as a one-year-old sheep, cow
or camel. The meat is then divided into three parts – one part
is donated to the poor and needy, the second given to
relatives and neighbours in need and the rest earmarked for
the meal cooked during the celebration.
Muslims emphasize that during the celebration of Eid alAdha, you need to ask for forgiveness, let go of insults and
repent of your sins. The believers congratulate each other
with the words “Kurban ait kabyl bolsyn!” (“Blessed
holiday!”),” Eid Mubarak “(“Blessed holiday!”),” Idu-kum
mubarak “(“May your holiday be blessed!”) and wish all the
best.

7.

New year
New Year has been celebrated in the territory of Kazakhstan
since the mid-19th century when Russian migrants settled the
region. Today it is one of the most beloved holidays in
Kazakhstan, a season of glittering decorations and lavish
festivities anticipated by people year-round.
New Year in Kazakhstan begins in full swing on the evening
of December 31st, when cities and villages alike host openair carnivals which culminate in midnight fireworks.
One of the main symbols of New Year in Kazakhstan is the
festively decorated New Year tree, the equivalent of the
western Christmas tree.

8.

International Woman’ day
International Women’s Day in Kazakhstan, as in all postSoviet countries, is a public national holiday celebrated on
the 8th of March.
Historically, Women’s Day began as a day of solidarity for
working women in their struggle for equal rights. Although
the original movement originated in the West, today the
holiday holds its most prominent position among the postSoviet countries of Europe and Asia.
International Women’s Day in Kazakhstan continues to be
observed much as it is in all post-Soviet countries. Today
the holiday is largely void of any political agenda and is
instead a day for women’s beauty and kindness to be
appreciated and extolled.

9.

Victory Day
On May 9, Kazakhstan is celebrating one of the most
important public holidays - the Day of Victory in the Great
Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The Great Patriotic War began
on June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany violated the SovietGerman treaties of 1939 and attacked the USSR. The
Kazakh SSR sent in to the lines more than 1.2 million
soldiers, 12 rifle divisions, 4 cavalry divisions, 7 brigades,
about 50 separate regiments and battalions. For heroic deeds
in the Great Patriotic War 499 citizens of the Kazakh SSR,
including 99 Kazakhs were awarded the Hero of the Soviet
Union title, Halyk Kakharmany, two Kazakhs girls Manshuk Mametova and Aliya Moldagulova awarded the
title of Hero of the Soviet Union. 110 Kazakhs were
awarded the Order of Glory of three degrees.

10.

Independence day
Independence Day of Kazakhstan is the main national
holiday in the Republic of Kazakhstan, celebrated annually on
16 December. In an attempt to keep unity within the Soviet
Union, the country held a referendum on 16 March 1991 and
Kazakhstan voted 95% in favor of a new Union of Sovereign
States. After the aborted coup d'état in August, the Supreme
Soviet (Kazakhstan) passed the Constitutional Independence
Law of Republic of Kazakhstan on 16 December 1991.
This holiday is important to all Kazakhstanis as a memory
of those who defended the independence of the country. It
unites everyone who is proud of their country, honors its
history, who, with their work and talent, make a daily
contribution to the prosperity of their native country. This
holiday is rightfully considered as a symbol of freedom and
power of our country.

11.

Conclusion
Kazakhstan overcame a difficult and astringent path before it
became an independent country. We are very glad that we can live in
the open air, in the peace, rejoice and celebrate our national
holidays, live having our own country, language, history, traditions
and culture. All this is thanks to our ancestors who defended their
people.

12.

References
Visitkazakhstan.kz
www.google.com
www.advantour.com
www.timeanddate.com
assembly.kz
qazweek.kz
en.wikipedia.org
astanatimes.com
www.officeholidays.com