Happy Nauryz

Today the good people of Kazakhstan are celebrating Nauryz (New Year's), a holiday that falls on the spring equinox and has been celebrated for over five thousand years. Typically, boys born on this day are called Nauryzbai or Nauryzbek, and girls Nauryz or Nauryzgul. It's seen as a good omen if it snows on that day. In the past, the Kazakh called Nauryz the Day of the People. They believe, the bigger the celebration, the happier the year will be. As a result, there are many, many rituals and festivities. On the eve of Nauryz, people clean their homes, pay back their debts and reconcil with their opponents because, as the old people say, if Nauryz entered the house, all diseases and failures would pass it by. Also all vessels in the house are to be filled with milk, airan (plain yogurt), grain and spring water, because it meant they would have a lot of milk, good yield and plenty of rain during the coming year.

We had the good fortune of being in Kazakhstan during Nauryz. And let me tell you, the Kazakhs LOVE their holidays. We attended an outdoor festival at a park in Uralsk where we and our translator Luba were the only non Asians in the crowd. (We got a few stares, but we were used to it because it happened all the time.) Apparently it's only celebrated by Kazakhs because whenever we said "Happy Nauryz" to someone of Russian descent, he/she would give us an uncomfortable look.

Last year it snowed, so we took it as a good sign. What's more, it was bitterly cold, so we huddled tightly together inside the yurts and stayed in close proximity to the smoky grills, while feasting on mutton kabobs. Here are some photos from that day: