Kazakhstan’s financial markets will be closed due to celebration of Nauryz Meiramy

    The Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) announces that in the period fr om March 19 to 23, 2017 financial markets in Kazakhstan will be closed due to the celebration of the Nauryz Meiramy on March 21-23. No trading will be held on KASE on those dates.
    Nauryz is a very important holiday for Kazakhs, which marks the beginning of a new year. It is celebrated several days starting fr om 21^st of March, the day of the spring equinox.
    Nauryz means ‘new day’, it is celebrated in the Great Steppes from ancient times.
    Nauryz symbolizes goodness and wealth, happiness and love and a great friendship day, since this holiday is common for many nations.
    During Nauryz celebrations, past offences are forgiven and forgotten and everybody makes a wish to leave all badness behind and bring renewal in the New Year.
    During the Nauryz holiday, large and small cities, villages become festival centres, feltyurts – traditional nomad houses are erected 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, etc. 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, wh ere songs are sung, and traditional games are played.
    During Nauryz holiday, many famous stars give concerts in cities and the holiday is completed by fireworks.
    Nauryz kozhe is the most important of all meals during these days and a main symbol of Nauryz, since it is prepared specially for this day. Nauryz kozhe is special for its unique recipe.Traditionally, 7 different ingredients are added to Nauryz kozhe, which may vary, but basically these ingredients include: water, meat, salt, milk or yoghurt, one type of grains, chosen from rice, corn or wheat, and others. Seven ingredients symbolize seven virtues or qualities, such as joy, success, intelligence, health, wealth, agility and security.
    During the celebration of Nauryz, the kozhe is offered to all guests in any city or village of Kazakhstan. Besides, other traditional Kazakh meals, such as beshbarmak, kuyrdak, baursak, and many types of meals made from milk (youghurt, kurt, cream, butter, cheese, etc) are also offered.
    Between 1926-1988, Nauryz holiday was not officially celebrated in Kazakhstan (Kazakh Soviet Socialistic Republic those days)
    In 2009 – 3 days of Nauryz holiday, starting 21th of March, were officially announced bank holidays in Kazakhstan.
    September 30, 2009 – Nauryz was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO; since then, 21 of March is announced International Day of Nowruz (Nauryz).
    Nauryz is a truly nationwide holiday in Kazakhstan due to its long history, which goes back to ancient times, and the absence of a religious background. Originally it was celebrated on the day of spring equinox symbolising the renewed life.
    The celebration of the coming of spring is one of the most beautiful and awaited feasts in Kazakhstan. People associate Nauryz with the sun, the time when families and friend all come together at one dastrakhan (a food-laden table) wh ere among the dishes, of course, are baursaks (fried unsweetened doughnuts) and Nauryz-kozhe (a drink made of seven ingredients) are served. These are the usual Nauryz expectations of people familiar with the holiday and its origins.
    With growing exposure of Kazakhstan to the world, Astana as the capital attracts more foreigners. It was interesting to find out about expectations and associations of Nauryz that expats living in Astana have. Six foreigners, for most of whom it is the first experience of the Nauryz celebration, were asked about the festival and three words in their opinion that can describe Nauryz as well as their plans for the holidays.
    For Elinor Kurton, who is from the UK, Nauryz is associated with rebirth, freshstarts and happiness. “Since we do not have this feast back home I do not have any particular plan to spend it,” she said.
    Terrie Lee from the United States associates Nauryz with “a celebration of spring and joy: children smiling, coming with flowers, sharing”. “For me Nauryz is happinness, warmth and laughter,” Lee said.
    Camille Chu Van will explore the beauties of South Kazakhstan and Almaty with her friends during the holidays. “I associate Nauryz with Kazakh traditions and spring,” Chu Van said.
    “For me Nauryz is about rebirth, spring and warmth,’ Laurence Caudine from France said. “I will tell my friends back in France about Kazakh traditions and special periods of celebration you have,” she said.
    Funda Shaimardan from Turkey and Naoufal Mati from France both decided to stay in Astana and take part in traditional celebrations. “I plan to see how Kazakh people traditionally celebrate Nauryz. Probably I will be on the streets, watching entertainment shows and traditional activities. I guess there are going to be many,” Shaimardan said.
    “I associate Nauryz with snowmelting, spring and tradition,” she added.
    Mati also has exciting plans: “I will be visiting my friends, who invited me to join them at celebrations. I want to witness events organised across the city of Astana during this feast.” For him Nauryz means “spring, tradition and Asia”.
    Whilst guests of Astana still have to take time to develop their own sense of Nauryz, both foreigners and locals will enjoy the five days-off filled with spectacular shows and traditional celebrations.
    Reported by KazWorld.