Celebrating the Kazakh Holiday of Nauriz

Let me wish all our friends a Happy Nauriz and Happy New Year!Nauriz, a favorite holiday among Kazakhs, has become a symbolic New Year, and our citizens often refer to it as Ulystin uly kuni which means “the great day of the nation.” The celebration of the spring equinox is thought to have originated from ancient Mesopotamia, but the name “Nauriz” comes from the Persian nowruz, meaning “new day.” The holiday was not formally observed during the Soviet period, and it wasn’t until 1988 that Nauriz was reinstated as a holiday in Kazakhstan.

In the past, Nauriz lasted from three to nine days, with a festival program consisting of competitions such as horse races and hand-to-hand combat. One such competition is called Aytis, which involved two or more improvising folk-poet musicians trying to match wit and skill. Another tradition was the honor of receiving a Nauriz blessing from an elderly member of the community.

Today, many people participate in activities to commemorate Nauriz, such as horse-racing and attending ethnic theaters, fashion shows, and parades that teach visitors about Kazakh culture and the importance of respecting other countries.

Seven is a very important number in Nauriz celebrations. For example, it is customary to invite seven people over and to visit seven houses. And guests must bring their own dish made with seven ingredients. One popular dish is Nauriz köje, a special yogurt soup prepared for the festival table consisting of water, meat, salt, fat, flour, cereal, and milk.

The central themes of Nauriz are renewal, cleansing, the coming of spring, and the birth of new life. So, on Nauriz Eve, it is important to thoroughly clean our homes, have all our debts paid, forgive everyone, and make peace in our lives so we can greet the day with clear hearts and minds. If our homes and lives are in order, we believe that seven wishes (joy, luck, wisdom, health, wealth, speedy growth, and heavenly protection) are granted. Throughout the entire month, we must also focus on preparing the earth for renewal by cleaning water channels, wells, and springs, cultivating the land, and planting new crops.

In celebration of Nauriz, on March 17, 2010, diplomats and community members from countries that celebrate the holiday (including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and the Central Asian nations), in addition to distinguished American guests, gathered at the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. Guests had the opportunity to learn more about the exciting Nauriz traditions by viewing traditional attire and handmade jewelry, eating customary delicacies, and enjoying performances by Kazakh, Iranian, Kyrgyz, and Tajik musicians.

We would like to thank the Nowruz (Nauriz) Commission; the Honorable Howard Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; the Honorable Ed Royce (R-CA), Honorary Chairman of the event; the Embassies of all Nauriz nations; the Honorable Bijan Kian, a distinguished representative of the Iranian community, and his wife Gissou Kian; the Library of Congress; Dr. James Billington, the Librarian; Dr. Mary-Jane Deeb; and Dr. Christopher Murphy of the African and Middle Eastern Division for making this wonderful affair possible.

Let us all focus on a new beginning and celebrate this beautiful time of year. And as we say in Kazakh, “Koktem tudy!”–Spring is born!