Postcard from Bishkek

Although the Constitution declares that the Kyrgyz Republic is a secular state, it may be surprising that a number of religious holidays are commemorated.

As the majority of the Kyrgyz, themselves, are nominally Muslim, it is understandable that amongst the national holidays are Muslim festivals such as Orozo Ait and Kurman Ait.  What might be surprising is the fact that non-Muslim festivals of Noruz and Christmas are also national holidays.

• Noruz is a Zoroastrian festival – celebrated on the vernal equinox – March 21^st and is celebrated throughout Central Asia … .
• Christmas is the time when Christians mark the birth of Jesus.

During the Soviet period many religious practices were suppressed – but they never completely disappeared.  Nowadays there is a revival in interest in religious matters – perhaps as part of a search for national roots and culture.  The various Orthodox Churches around the country hold special services – and in Bishkek these are well attended.

To be honest, I am not sure why it was decided to include Christmas into the list of National Holidays, but each year, the President issues a proclamation, congratulating Christians on their Holiday.

In the West, Christmas falls on December 25^th – in the Orthodox Church it is celebrated on January 7^th.  The reason for the difference is that the Western Churches celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar, whereas the Orthodox Church still reckon according to the Julian Calendar – which was in use in Russia until after the Bolshevik Revolution.

In Kyrgyzstan:

The holiday is normally a low-key affair – although the period between New Year and Orthodox Christmas is normally declared as “non-working days” which means that many businesses and offices will be closed, although shops and restaurants will be open, however, banks will not.

The President usually issues a proclamation congratulating the Orthodox community on the occasion of Christmas.

The Orthodox Churches, (for example in Bishkek and Karakol), tend to hold services throughout the day, often starting with midnight mass.

Tags: Calendar, For_the_Record, Kyrgyzstan, Life_in_Kyrgyzstan, Public_Holidays, Religion