Bibinur Bayakhmetova/The stages of a holiday/Tuesday 5.6

  The people who lived a long time ago in the past did not know about the compass and did not use the clock and they could determine the exact date via the sun and moon. They had used the Eastern calendar, created almost three thousand years ago. According to the eastern calendar there was a very important day, which usually falls on March 21. It was the day of the vernal equinox, which was called Nauryz that means "new day". Nauryz is one of the most ancient holidays in the East. It is reputed by the Kazakh and it is one of the most long-awaited and joyful events. This holiday appeared in the I millennium B.C.

 

  Nauryz is a holiday of renewal and spring. It is also called as eastern New Year. This holiday represents not only spring renewal but also friendship, love and fertility. People believed that on this day they got rid of the winter hardships and rejoiced for the welfare and safety of their main wealth of nomads - cattle. On this holiday people forgive all the insults and conflicts to each other and stop all quarrels and wars. For overcoming the difficulties adversity everyone tries to be in a good mood, hug each other and say the best wishes. People dress up nice and clean clothes and all people  wear traditional costumes. 

 

 

  The Kazakhs celebrate Nauryz in the same manner as other oriental peoples but they have their own individualities. Kazakh's attitude towards Nauryz is characterized by the fact that the boys who were born on the day of the vernal equinox, received the names of Nauryz-Bai, Nauryzbek, girls - just Nauryz, Nauryzgul. The main dish of the holiday is nauryz-koje or nauryzdyk which consists of seven ingredients symbolizing seven elements of life: meat, water, oil, flour, salt, cereals (rice, corn or wheat) and milk. The number 7 is a fortunate number for the Kazakh that is why many festive ceremonies are connected with it. Likewise It represents the seven days of the week - the time unit of the universal eternity.

 

  Different kinds of games and competitions are organized during the three days of the holiday where adults and the youth, children and women take an active part. During celebration of Nauryz, the Kazakh(s) visit their friends and relatives, they can often see people saying "Koktem Tudy" – Congratulation on Spring Day! Furthermore absolutely unknown people who are greeting you can wishing well-being. Contest of folk singers – akyns who  glorify Nauryz in their songs are also appear on stage  held during the holiday celebration in Kazakhstan. Moreover a variety of dance and theater performances, representing national traditions and rituals, attract people and teach them to follow their culture and their native mother-land, to strive for the preservation of peace and understanding between different ethnic groups and to be tolerance towards other nationalities in Kazakhstan. 

 

  Nowadays, the ancient Nauryz holiday is obviously popularly beloved in modern life of Kazakhstan society and has a significant role in strengthening political stability, friendship and peace.