Nauryz

Nauryz (Nauryz Meyrami) - non-religious Kazakh folk celebration of the vernal (spring) equinox and of the symbolic renewal of nature. It is believed that it originates from ancient Mesopotamia. In Babylon the New Year was celebrated on the 21st day of the month of Nissanu (corresponding to March-April) with festivities held further 12 days, each commemorated with individual rites, amusements and performances.

The present day name of Nauriz derives from the Persian Novruz translated as a new day. In Kazakhstan Nauriz is certain to have been celebrated in pre-Islamic times and later. During the Soviet period, it was declared ideologically inconsistent and was “hushed–up”. Nauriz has a remarkable endurance and survival capacity through a long and dramatic history of Kazakhstan and was formally reinstated as a public holiday in Kazakhstan in 1988. During the course of history Nauriz became a symbolic Kazakh New Year in Kazakhstan, official calendar being kept as everywhere in the world. Nowadays it is one of the most favourite holidays in Kazakhstan. Kazakhs also often refer to Nauriz as “Ulystin uly kuni” which means “the great day of the nation”. Nauriz remains also a strong tradition in the countries of Central Asia as well as in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.

At its core, the Nauriz festival celebrates the awakening of Nature. This awakening symbolizes the triumph of good, the Spring, winning against the evil forces of darkness that are represented by the Winter. Nauriz is the point when the oppressive presence of the cold Winter finally begins to retrieve with the commencement of the lively and hopeful Spring. This symbolic and poetic change corresponds to the mathematical instance of the sun leaving the zodiac of Pisces and entering the zodiacal sign of Aries, also known as the Spring Equinox.

The central theme of Nauriz is renewal, cleansing, the coming of spring, and the birth of new life. Love and beauty run through the many literary works and scientific works of the geniuses of the Eastern Middle Ages: Mahmud Kashgari, Al-Biruni, Firdawsi, Alisher Navoi, and Omar Khayyám. Many verses have been devoted to this magnificent holiday in the works of the outstanding Kazakh intellectuals, such as Abay Qunanbayuli, Alihan Bukeihanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, Mirjaqip Dulatuli, Saken Seifulin and others.

Nauriz has many unique features. In the past Nauriz used to last from three to nine days. Various kinds of competitions were included in the festival program, such as horse races and hand-to-hand combats between stalwart fellows. The “Aytis” (a contest of two or more improvising folk poet-musicians) is a joyful competition of wit and poetic skill. And of course there were many songs, dances and games. One of the bright traditions that we meet in Abai’s manuscript is the “Nauriz-bata” or Nauriz blessing. To receive a blessing on this day from the lips of aqsaqals (elderly) and aje (women of old age) is considered a big honour and sign of kindness.

During the Nauriz holiday it is customary to share generously one’s dastarkhan (table). A special dish – Nauriz közhe (yogurt soup) – is prepared for the festival table. In each yurt (nomadic tent house) everyone would have their own recipe. The only rule for making it was the number of ingredients: seven. The guests are served the best meat dishes qazy, qarta, shujiq (lamb and horse meat delicacies), etc.

Since Nauriz’s central theme is renewal and joy hence is the tradition on the eve of Nauriz to thoroughly clean you house, return all your debts, forgive all offences and resentments and to make peace with all with whom you were at odds. It is believed that Nauriz night brings luck and realisation of wishes. Therefore one has to greet it with clear soul and mind and to fill all the vessels at home with milk, grain or spring water so that prosperity never leaves one’s household.But Nauriz is not only about festivities and dastarkhan. During the month you have to help the land to clear its life-giving arteries – to clean natural and artificial water channels and chutes, water wells and springs sprinkling them with hallowed milk thus wishing fertility to Mother – land; cultivation, planting and other agricultural work are to be started. In the last years Nauriz was reborn. Nauriz celebrations start on 21 March and last for one month. Many sports and cultural events are held during this month throughout the country. It became a loved holiday of each citizen of Kazakhstan, symbol of unity and peace.