Checked: Zhunisbaeva A. Group: IS Author: Kadirbek M.

Constitution Day celebration in Kazakhstan Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the official holidays celebrated in Kazakhstan on 30 August. It was 30 August 1995 when the Kazakh people approved the new Constitution draft at the national referendum. This was one of the decisive moments on the way of building an independent state in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan obtained its independence in 1991 but it was only in 1995 when the Basic Law of the Republic was finally approved. This holiday is one of the most important state holidays since it reflects the Kazakh people s will, their aspiration to approve the country as a democratic secular, constitutional and social state (Art.1 of the Constitution of Kazakhstan). The Basic Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan was amended and modified twice: in 1998 and In 2007 the Constitution fixed a new form of a state system – presidential parliamentary. By tradition on Constitution Day festivities, concerts and different exhibitions are held in all regions and cities of the Republic. You can watch parades and games in the rural and mountain regions. The main festivity and official events are held in the country s capital Astana. You can visit concert stages, where Kazakh and foreign artists give performances. Solemn events are held in many parks and in the evening you can enjoy watching beautiful fireworks.

Nauryz Celebration in Kazakhstan One of the most ancient holidays in the East, with its origin dating back to the Zoroastrian religion, Nauryz is reputed by the Kazakh and 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. According to the Oriental calendar Nauryz falls on 21 March - vernal point day, which was considered as the first day of spring before adoption of the Soviet calendar. This holiday represents not only spring renewal but also friendship, love and fertility. According to popular belief the people were getting rid of winter hardships, were pleased with well-being and preservation of their animal stock – the main wealth of the nomads. By that holiday people cleaned their houses putting everything at its place, reconciled and ceased all fights and wars. Merrymaking, joy and peace are prevailing on that day. The Kazakh celebrate Nauryz in the same manner as other oriental peoples but they have their own individualities. The main dish of the holiday is nauryz-koje or nauryzdyk which consists of seven ingredients symbolizing vital elements. The number 7 is a fortunate number for the Kazakh that is why many festive ceremonies are connected with it. As a rule, Nauryz began with a competition – a game between a girl and djigit, which represented a symbolic struggle between winter and spring. Different kinds of games and competitions were organized during the three days of the holiday where adults and the youth, children and women took an active part. During celebration of Nauryz, the Kazakh visit their friends and relatives, you can often watch people saying Koktem Tudy – Congratulation on Spring Day! Absolutely unknown people are greeting you wishing well- being. Contest of folk singers – akyns who glorify Nauryz in their songs are also held during the holiday celebration in Kazakhstan

8 March - International Women s Day 8th March is an international women s day in many countries of the world. Kazakhstan is not an exception in it. This day is a holiday and day off in Kazakhstan. Many organizations hold festive events devoted to women. Historically this day was celebrated as the Day of working women s solidarity in the struggle for the equality of rights and emancipation. In spite of the fact that this movement for emancipation originated in the West, nowadays this holiday has no such considerable importance there as it has in the post-Soviet countries. According to the United Nations Resolution the western countries celebrate this day as International Day of Struggle for Women s Rights and International Peace. The holiday history begins at the end of the XIX century when women in the West began struggling for their rights and freedom. On 8 March 1908 a meeting with logos on women s equality was organized in New York. That day over 15,000 women were marching along the city demanding a reduced working day and payment conditions equal to those of men. One of the main conditions laid by women was giving them the right to vote. But 8 March was not announced as an official holiday at once. On 19 March 1911 International Women s Day was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. From 1910 to 1920 this holiday was also celebrated in different days of March. After that the world popularity of the holiday in these countries declined except for the USSR. In 1966 this day was finally approve as a holiday and day off in the territory of the USSR.

Victory Day The Day of Victory over fascist Germany in World War II of is one of the holidays, most respected in the world. This holiday is a day off in many countries and in particular in Kazakhstan. Victory Day is celebrated on 9 May because it was the day when the act of unconditional German surrender was signed at 01:00 Moscow time. This holiday was celebrated for the first time in 1945 when Moscow organized the Victory Parade in the Red Square. From this moment every year solemn military parades and marches are held on 9 May in all cities and states of post-Soviet countries. This day military units and schools are marching along the cities streets to military memorials or monuments to perished soldiers to lay flowers on the tombs of war heroes. This tradition reached our days. People of Kazakhstan pay a great attention to this holiday since this date symbolizes the protection of the Motherland and people from enemies. Furthermore a lot of Kazakh people died defending their Motherland. The Republic of Kazakhstan celebrates Victory Day two days – on 9 and 10 May. During the whole month charity events are held. On 9 May all the educational and cultural institutions of Kazakhstan hold numerous festive events dedicated to the memory of the war heroes. The countrys government organizes meetings and talks with war veterans for the new generation to remember their history. Furthermore the government renders regular assistance to all veterans of the World War II and hold festive events for them.

Capital Day Celebration in Kazakhstan One of the architectural gem of Kazakhstan is its capital Astana city. On 6 July 1994 Supreme Council of Kazakhstan passed a resolution to move the Kazakh capital from Alma-Ata to Akmola (Tselinograd). On 6 May 1998 by the Kazakh President order Akmola city was re-named to Astana and on 10 June 1998 Astana was presented to the world community as a new capital of Kazakhstan. Capital Day in Astana is celebrated from the moment when the city acquired the status of a capital in Initially this holiday was observed at city level on 10 June. From the moment when the city acquired the status of a capital its massive construction resulted in making Astana one of the most beautiful modern cities in Central Asia. Beginning form 1996 the population in Astana rose from 270, 000 to 700,000. In several years the population will pass 1 million people. Massive construction is still underway in the city. Among the most famous modern architectural masterpieces are the building of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, towers of Kazakhstan Temir Joly and Northern Lights, business city, Astana tower, International Airport building.

Day of Unity in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is a multinational country, home for 150 nations and nationalities. To unite all these nationalities the countrys government hold different events one of which is the celebration of Day of Unity. The official day of this holiday is 1 May. This day was celebrated as a holiday of workers solidarity in the Soviet time. Today this is a holiday of unity of all peoples who live in the territory of Kazakhstan. This bright spring holiday is held in every city of Kazakhstan with parades and processions along the central streets of the cities and also with entertaining events. Participation of different cultural centers which familiarize the people of Kazakhstan with the traditions of other nationalities is of great importance. Merry dances, sports competitions - all these make the event one of the brightest and most favorable holidays for the people of Kazakhstan. Not only cultural centers but also company staffs, university students and representatives of different social organizations take part in the holiday. The main parade is usually organized along the central avenue of the capital – Bukhar Zhirau. The number of the people participating in parade sometimes reaches 25,000 people. Probably the brightest moment of the holiday is an ethno-cultural exhibition. Different national dwellings of the representatives of all nations who live in Kazakhstan are installed in front of the Central Park of the city. These are peculiar mini-museums where you can see national clothes, traditional tableware, jewelry, but what is more important you can taste dishes of different national cuisine there. This holiday does not only familiarize with traditions and culture of the nationalities that live in the countrys territory but also it aims to consolidate people of all nations, living in Kazakhstan