EVENTS

Bolashak students and visiting scholars from Kazakhstan, local community,  Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities (TASCC) members, Russian and Slavic Studies Department faculties, and University of Arizona students gathered at the UofA campus on this sunny day of March 21, 2012, to celebrate Nauryz. The event was organized by the students and instructor of the course "The Other Kazakhstan", Zura Dotton.

Nauryz is the celebration of the New Year practiced in most eastern countries, but it was mostly forgotten in Kazakhstan until the country received its independence. Now, it is one of the most awaited and colorfully celebrated traditional holidays .This wonderful holiday has now been reinstituted, enhancing our rich tradition. This holiday is celebrated in Spring, when day and night are equally divided, and when Mother Earth , people, cattle, insects, and all of nature begins to blossom and revive. Cranes and geese return during this period from warm places, and signs of Spring are everywhere. Nauryz is celebrated on the twenty second of March.

During Nauryz festivities, zhigits (young men) would joke with the ladies, cows would calve, and birds would lay eggs. Everybody would be happy and joyful that the cold winter days were over. During Nauryz, people would be very kind and hospitable, forgetting about previous quarrels, making friends, and wishing each other happiness. They would greet each other with congratulations upon the beginning of the New Year, and wish one another prosperity and happiness.

The main dish people cook for Nauryz is “ Nauryz kozhe “ consisiting of seven ingredients. Main ingredients are water, sheep meat , horse sausage , ground wheat, kurt ( dried curdles) garlic, salt . Ingredients may change depending on what you have, but must have meat, kurt, and grains.

The celebration was followed by traditional games, dances. At night, well-dressed young people would swing on an "Altybakan" (a swing with six poles ). Young Women start preparing their attire and jewelry brfore Nauryz arrives . Their lilting laughter, golden embodied colorful clothes and dazzling shiny jewelry made the Nayryz more special. The word “beauty “ is strongly associated with a young girl.

Kazakhs say: “ Kiz osse elding korki, gul osse zherding korki” , literally, the girl is the beauty of the her nation, the flower is the beauty of the land”

Marriage ceremony: (Сәукеле), Saukele- traditional bridal headdress which is traditionally placed on the brideʼs head by her father on her wedding day. A young woman proudly wears the saykiele for a year and, according to tradition, takes it off. Taking off the saykiele is considered to be a very special event, often celebrated in the local community.

Suyunshi: ‘Good News’ the messenger on a horse appears , and announces the arrival of a surprise guest, he receives a generous reward for the good news. For now, the nature of the surprise guest remains secret!!!

KOKPAR-a traditional Kazakh sports game played on a horseback in which players compete to carry a headless goat carcass into a goal. The winner receives a generous prize.

Have you ever wondered what Kazakhstan is like? The ninth largest country in the world with extensive natural resources such as oil and natural gas, it is an important emerging democracy located at the crossroads of East Asia and the Middle East. University of Arizona offers an undegraduate course "The Other Kazakhstan" (course code - RSSS 195A). In this course students can learn about Kazakhstan's colorful history, literature, music, and films.

Photo and description courtesy of students and the instructor of the U of A course "The Other Kazakhstan" Zura Dotton.