Nowadays we live in the independent state of Kazakhstan that is why our holidays are different from those that we had in the soviet period of our history. We don’t have any longer most of Soviet holidays dealing with communist ideology like the First of May and the Seventh of November.On the contrary now we have many new holidays that returned from the past.
The most popular holiday in Kazakhstan is Nauruz, the ancient holiday of spring, the oriental New Year. Nauruz, the modern Kazakh word for NEW YEAR, comes from Persian '”nau-new, ruz-year”'. Before that New Year was called ”Ulys kuni”' meaning tribe or clan day. The beginning of the year is announced by the appearance of greenery. The patient resistance to the winter hardships has come to an end, and now, with the coming of spring it is time to participate in the life -giving festival. The main ritual dish is nauryz-kozheh. Nauruz -kozheh always includes seven ingredients, signifying the seven life beginnings- water, meat, salt, fat, flour, cereal and milk. They symbolize joy, luck, wisdom, health, wealth, speed growth and Heavenly protection.
“Koktem tudy” say Kazakhs today and meet Nauruz in the streets, squares, parks and stadiums. Thousands of people witness sharp verbal competitions of akyns, contests in national sports-kazakhsha-kyres, toguz kumalak, horse competitions like Kyz-Kuu, Baiga. Various dramatized shows and theatrical marches presenting national customs and rituals attract people and teach them to respect national culture and native land, promote rapprochement and mutual understanding of different nations.
