Traditions, festivals and holidays in my country

Kazakhstan is a large country located in Central Asia. The Kazakh people are rich in traditions. From birth through old age and

death, every step of their lives has historically been marked with celebration. Kazakhstan is home to various ethnic groups,

each with its unique traditions and customs. These traditions include being respectful to old people; being patriotic to the

motherland and being honest.

One of the fundamental traditions of Kazakh people, which became a national character trait, is hospitality. The Kazakh

people are famous for their warm and welcoming nature, and guests are treated with respect and honor. A guest is the most

important and desirable person at a house. It’s customary to provide a guest with the most delicious food such as

beshbarmak (boiled meat with thin dough flatbreads) and kumys (fermented mare's milk) and do everything to make a guest

feel in safety and comfort. The act of sharing a meal is seen as a way to build or improve relationships.

“Bata beru” is a blessing given when a guest is leaving, especially for a long journey. A blessing is given by elderly people.

Usually, the tradition is expressed poetically.

“Korimdik” is a gift given by a guest seeing a young married woman or newborn baby for the first time.

“Suinshi” is a custom according to which a person bringing good news to a house gets a valuable gift from hosts.

“Shashu” is a custom to shower guests with candies and money. Usually, children happily gather candies. From the dawn of

time, the Kazakh people believed that candies gathered during “shashu” bring luck and prosperity to a family. Shashu is

common at weddings, marriage proposals and other similar events.

One of the most significant events for the Kazakh people is wedding (“uilenu toy”). Weddings in Kazakhstan are large events,

often lasting several days. The celebration begins with the "kudalyk" ceremony, where the groom's family presents gifts to

the bride's family as a sign of respect and gratitude. A bride’s father gets gifts from a groom's relatives, which represent a

downpayment. According to the Kazakh wedding tradition, after a marriage proposal a groom's side should pay “kalyn mal”

(ransom for the bride). Then a bride puts in earrings (“syrga salu”), which represents a final agreement between the parties.

The ceremony is performed by a groom's mother.

Then a bride goes to a groom's house. It’s a celebration, which precedes an official wedding and is called “kyz uzatu”, which

means a farewell ceremony for a bride.

A festive ceremony of meeting a bride is called “kelin tusiru”.

The main element of kelin tusiru is performance of a traditional song with instructions and wishes called “betashar”. It’s a

crucial tradition for introducing a bride to the public. A bride's face is covered with a white cloth, which is held on both sides

by relatives. The main event is the "toi" ceremony, where the couple exchanges vows and is officially married. Traditional

music, dance, and games are an integral part of Kazakh weddings, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Specific attention is given to celebrations related to children. Thus, children are the greatest joy for each Kazakh family that is

why there is a huge number of customs and traditions associated with their birth, growth and upbringing.

“Shildekhana” is a celebration dedicated to a birth of a child.

“Esim koyu”, “at koyu”, “azan shakyru” is a custom of naming when a baby is given a name. The ceremony is entrusted to the

most respected elderly members, who also bless a child.

During the ceremony, a baby is bathed in water with silver coins and silver jewelry placed on the bottom. Also on this day, a

child is given the first hair and nail cut.

The next custom associated with children is called “tusau kesu”. Thus, according to Kazakh traditions, on the day when a child

takes first steps, the fetters are cut. This is done so that in the future a baby can walk gracefully and run quickly, as well as

adopting the best qualities of a person who cut the fetters. That is why only respected people and elderly, women with many

children, cut the fetters. A person has to cut special ropes entangling a child's legs using a knife.

Kazakhstan is a country with a strong nomadic heritage, and this is reflected in its traditions. The yurt, a portable house

made of felt and wood, is an iconic symbol of Kazakh culture. Kazakh yurt is a product of traditional Kazakhstan culture based

on the ecological balance. A nomad made the Yurt easy for assembling and disassembling, and with the help of one camel

and two horses the entire construction of the yurt and decorations of the interior are easily transported. Dynamism of the

nomadic life is wholly reflected in the optimal comfort of Yurt’s structure. It keeps the cool air inside during hot summer

days, protects from cold piercing winds in winter and does not get wet from pouring autumn rains. Even today, many Kazakh

families have a yurt in their backyard, using it for special occasions like holidays or as a place to relax and connect with

nature. In some cities of Kazakhstan there are Yurt-restaurants that offer tourists a wide selection of traditional Kazakh

cuisine.

Religion plays a significant role in the lives of many Kazakh people. Islam is the predominant religion in Kazakhstan. During

the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and gather for evening prayers and meals. The end of

Ramadan is marked by the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, where families come together to share a festive meal and exchange gifts.

One of the most important holiday in Kazakhstan is Nauryz, which marks the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature.

Nauryz is celebrated on March 21st and is a time for families and friends to come together and enjoy traditional music,

dance, and food. During the Nauryz holiday, large and small cities become festival centres, felt yurts – traditional nomad

houses are placed 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. In holiday exhibitions and fairs, traditional

gifts and souvenirs are sold.

Usually young people gather around Altybakan, which is a large hanging swing, with colourful decorations, where songs are

sung, and traditional games are played. One of the most popular games played in Nauryz is kokpar, a traditional horseback

game where two teams compete to grab a goat carcass and throw it into the opponent's goal. Another popular game is kyz

kuu, a horseback chase between a man and a woman, symbolizing the pursuit of love and courtship.

Asyk atu is a famous Kazakh national game. Literally, the name means to beat out with one's own asyk. Asyk is translated as

a bone of a knee sheep joint and atu means shoot. Participants must hit one or more asyks with their own from a distance.

The one who has a good shot collects them.

Togyzkumalak is a traditional Kazakh board game played with a special wooden board and small stones or seeds. The

objective is to capture as many stones as possible from the opponent's side by strategically moving them across the board.
 During Nauryz holiday, many famous stars give concerts in cities and the holiday is completed by fireworks. Food plays a

significant role in Nauryz celebrations, with families preparing traditional dishes such as beshbarmak (boiled meat with thin

dough flatbreads), kuyrdak (fried liver and other organ meats), and baursak (fried dough). These dishes are shared with

family, friends, and neighbors, symbolizing unity.

Another significant holiday in Kazakhstan is Independence Day, celebrated on December 16th. This holiday commemorates

the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union, which was declared on December 16, 1991. Independence Day is a

time for people to reflect on the country's achievements and progress since gaining independence. The holiday is celebrated

with various events and activities, including parades, concerts, and fireworks. People gather in public squares and parks to

enjoy cultural performances, music, and dance. The holiday also provides an opportunity for people to express their

patriotism and pride in their country.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations begin on the morning of December 31st. People rush to prepare food, decorations and

fireworks to meet their families before midnight. While the women prepare food, men and kids either play in snow, buy

fireworks or decorate the house with snowflakes and Christmas lights. Some women who have free time, go to beauty salons

to get their hair, makeup and nails done. Once everything’s complete, everyone dresses up in fancy outfits. TV channels play

classic New Year’s movies all day. At 11:50 p.m. the national TV channel plays a ten-minute video where the president talks

about how amazing the past year was and wishes everyone a good future.

It’s believed that if you write your wish on a small piece of paper when the clock strikes midnight, set it on fire, throw it into

your glass of champagne and drink it, your wish will come true in the following year.

Some citizens join in by shooting fireworks from their balconies and open spaces outside. Some go out for sledging or to visit

friends nearby. Others stay home to eat more food while some go to party in night clubs.

Christmas is also celebrated by the Christian community in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan celebrate Christmas on January 7th with

church services and family gatherings. About 70% of people in Kazakhstan are Muslims, so Christmas isn't a big holiday. Most

of the Christians in Kazakhstan belong to Orthodox churches, so they celebrate Christmas on January 7th, rather than on

December 25th.

8th of March, International Womens Day is actively celebrated in Kazakhstan every year since Kazakhstan became part of the

USSR. And now, even after it's got its independence this holiday has still remained as one of the public holidays in

Kazakhstan. Kazakhstanis' culture to respect women - mothers, wives, daughters and sisters make the importance of this

holiday even stronger. The flower shops will experience some of their best days of the year, starting a few days before the 8

March. All women of any status either your collegues, your students all female expect to be looked after. Men give flowers

and gifts to the women in their lives as a sign of respect and admiration.

On May 1st, Kazakhstan celebrates People's Unity Day. Unity Day is a public holiday in Kazakhstan that celebrates the Kazakh

people and the Kazakh nation, as well as inter-ethnic relations between ethnic Kazakhs and all ethnic groups living in

Kazakhstan in peace and mutual respect, embracing the diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds of every Kazakh person. It’s

a public holiday in Kazakhstan, and the day represents values of friendship, solidarity, trust and respect.
On this day people from Kazakhstan's approximately 130 different ethnic groups participate in cultural events, concerts, and

parades, often facilitated by ethnocultural centres that introduce Kazakhs to the traditions and customs of other groups

inside Kazakhstan. These holidays are observed with various activities and events, including concerts, exhibitions, and

cultural performances.

May 9th Victory Day

The public holiday of Kazakhstan celebrated since the Soviet times. It is celebrated in honour of the Soviet victory over

Hitler’s Germany in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). The holiday is filled in with deep patriotic sense. This day people

remember those soldiers and officers who died; and there were many Kazakhstanis amongst them.

In the 20th century, traditional socialist topics became popular. During the Great Patriotic War, poets wrote patriotic poems

and poems about soldiers and heroes of the battlefields. In the second half of the 20th century, writers began to create large

novels, developed drama and even mastered science fiction.

Since the old days, music and its main tools kobyz, domybra, sybyzgy, zhetigen have occupied a significant place in traditional

Kazakh culture.

The Kazakhs love the art of wordplay and their akyns (poets), who improvise at public competitions (aitys) accompanied by

Kazakh stringed musical instruments: the dombyra or the kobyz.

Dombyra remains the most favourite musical instrument among the Kazakhs. It’s an ancient and quintessential piece of

Kazakh culture and identity. In its most popular form, the dombyra has two-strings strung down a long, skinny neck and a

pear-shaped body, flat at the front and rounded on the backside. This instrument can still be found in Kazakh families and

parents willingly send their children to dombyra lessons.

Sazsyrnai is a wind instrument made of clay. It has a clear, bright tone colour. Among wind instruments, the sazsyrnai has an

interesting cold sound. There are more than six types of this instrument. Initially, the sazsyrnai had a range of three-four

sounds. In ancient times, the sazsyrnai was a popular instrument among children and teenagers.

Zhetygen is an ancient Kazakh and Turkic stringed musical instrument resembling a lying harp. Classic zhetygen has seven

strings, modern renovated ones have 15 strings. Zhetygen has a mild, melodious sound.

Daulpaz is a Kazakh national percussion instrument. It’s a musical instrument with a very strong loud sound, it served in the

past to give military signals, such as an attack signal.

Kazakh traditional clothes, costumes and dresses have a long history that reflects the Kazakhs lifestyle and culture in the

steppes.

Shapan or also called chapan, is a large long dressing gown. These robes are not as gender-specific as other clothes, and both

men and women commonly wear them, but they are still considered more as a man's clothing. Shapan is sewn from various

fabrics and colors although most often in the main monochrome or dark colors that are lined with a layer of wool or cotton

wool. Festive shapan is sewn from velvet, decorated with gold embroidery.

Ton is a common winter clothing for the Kazakhs. Often, but not always, made of sheepskin, they can also be made from

raccoon skin ("Janat ishik") or silver foxes ("kara tulki”). Tons are often made by sewing together tanned sheepskins with
 wool on the inside.

Saukele is a headdress of a Kazakh bride. The wedding dress was always very important, as a girl had to be properly dressed

when leaving her parents’ home for the house of her future spouse. Saukeles always had universal elements of design and

decor. They were usually made of white felt because it was considered a good quality and expensive material, and the felt

was sheathed on top with other fabrics such as cloth, velvet, or silk, but always red in color. Why red? The red color has

always been a symbol of fertility, and it signifies a wish of many children for a young bride.

Takiya — is headdress, one of the elements of the Kazakh national costume. The skullcap is a light summer cap made mostly

of the velvet. They were lined with fur, decorated with silver and gold braid. Commonly, young man wore tyubeteyka.

To be honest, when I lived in Kazakhstan, I almost never heard about any specific festivals in my country. But after searching

for information on the Internet, I found something about it.

Food festivals in Kazakhstan are a real treat for gourmets and an opportunity to learn about the country's diverse culinary

traditions. These festivals celebrate the rich gastronomic heritage of Kazakhstan, showcasing a wide range of traditional

dishes, local ingredients, and unique cooking techniques. These festivals often feature cooking demonstrations,

competitions, and workshops, allowing visitors to learn about traditional cooking methods and engage with renowned chefs.

Kazakhstan welcomes its winter season with enthusiasm, and there are several exciting winter festivals to enjoy. One such

festival is the Almaty Winter Festival, which is held in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan. It features ice sculpting

competitions, ice skating rinks, snowboarding demonstrations, and a range of winter-themed activities for visitors of all ages.

The festival provides a fantastic opportunity to embrace the beauty of winter landscapes and enjoy exciting winter sports

and festivities.

The Khan Tengri Mountain Festival is an event held in Kazakhstan to celebrate the majestic beauty of the Khan Tengri

mountain range. Khan Tengri, located in the Tian Shan Mountains, is one of the most iconic peaks in Central Asia, attracting

climbers, adventure enthusiasts, and nature lovers from all over the world. The festival offers a range of activities and events.

These include mountaineering expeditions, hiking trails, rock climbing competitions and cultural performances that

showcase the rich heritage of the local communities.

In recent years, Kazakhstan has experienced modernization and globalization, leading to changes in traditional practices.

However, the Kazakh people have managed to preserve their cultural heritage and adapt it to the changing times. Traditional

customs and rituals continue to be passed down from generation to generation, ensuring that Kazakhstan's rich traditions

remain alive and vibrant.

Kazakhstan's traditions reflect its history, values, and way of life. These traditions not only provide a sense of identity and

belonging for the Kazakh people but also serve as a source of pride and admiration for visitors from around the world.