New Year in Kazakhstan

The celebration of the New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1 is rooted in the Soviet past of Kazakhstan , so it is not much different from the New Year's meeting in Russia . Now it is one of the most popular holidays in the country.

The decoration of Christmas trees is ubiquitous. City streets are decorated with New Year decoration. However, unlike in Europe, Santa Claus is rarely seen on the streets ( kaz. Ayaz ata ) with the Snow Maiden ( kaz. Aқshagar ) - they are usually guests of corporate events. However, on the main squares of the country with people disguised as Santa Claus and Snow Maiden's costume, you can be photographed and invited home through special agencies of ceremonial services to pay a visit to children. In kindergartens on the eve of the morning matinees are held everywhere with the participation of these and other New Year characters. Exactly at midnight, people clink glasses of champagne , sit down at their New Year's table , and then pay visits to friends and relatives.

In accordance with Eastern traditions , Nauryz is celebrated on March 21-23 in Kazakhstan . For Kazakhs, this holiday is a symbol of spring renewal, the triumph of love, fertility and friendship. On this day, many people dress in national Kazakh costumes, in cities and villages there are various kinds of events (for example, concerts, theatrical shows, competitions in national sports ), traditional dishes are prepared, such as nauryz-kozhe .

In Kazakhstan, the celebration of Nauryz was banned since 1926 , it was considered religious, although as such it was not. Celebration resumed only since 1988 . It was officially recognized on March 15, 1991 , when Decree of the President of the Kazakh USSR “On the national holiday of spring” on March 22 was declared the day of the vernal equinox, and the holiday “Nauryz” ^[1] . Since 2001, it has become a public holiday. From 2009, it is celebrated for three days from March 21 to 23 ^[2] .

• New Year
• Nauryz Meiramy