Postcard from Bishkek

Kyrgyz celebrations can take many different forms.  Some are grand public occasions, such as are commonly held on public holidays, or can be a small private family affair.  Many events, even the grand national celebrations, can seem to have a “low key” or impromptu nature.  This is possibly because they are the result of a rush of last minute preparations … even those major events which have been long in the planning.

For example, in his novel, “This is not civilization”, Robert Rosenberg describes how an American Peace Corps volunteer is bewildered at the apparent inactivity in the build up to the Manas 1000 celebrations in the summer of 1995.  (The Manas 1000 festival was a special festival which was held to commemorate the Millennium of the Kyrgyz epic telling of the life and exploits of a legendary hero, which is the worlds longest epic poem – longer than Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, combined.)  Signs were erected announcing the great event during the  previous winter – although there seemed to be a lack of any visible preparations being made.  When he commented on the diminishing timescale available for such work he was assured that: “It is the Kyrgyz way … Relax, relax, relax, and at the last minute work, work, work.”

Public holidays are not only non-working days for most people, there are often special events held to commemorate the day – whether it be, for example: parades, concerts, fireworks or simply private parties held to mark the occasion.

The Kyrgyz Republic has what seems to be an eclectic collection of public holidays – at least, that is, until one considers the history of the country and it’s peoples.  The list includes:

• a Zoroastrian festival, (Noruz),
• one Christian festival, (Orthodox Christmas);
• two Muslim festivals, (Orozo Ait and Kurman Ait);
• a secular festival, (New Year’s Day)
• former holidays held over from the former Soviet Union, (Army Day, International Women’s Day, International Workers’ Day – May Day, Victory Day – commemorating the end of the Second World War – and the Anniversary of the October Revolution);
• commemorations of important events in the life of the new republic, (Independence Day, Constitution Day, The Day of the People’s Revolution).

There are also:

• a wealth of other “special” days, whether they are “professional holidays”, the first and last days of the school year, a Saint’s name day (like Tatiana Day – January 25th), which are marked in a more informal way;
• a number of celebrations of a more private nature called “tois” – a toi is a Kyrgyz family celebration to mark some “rite of passage”, such as the birth of a child, a weeding and even funerals

• Cleaning up at Son-Kul Lake, usually held over a weekend in late July
• National Horse Games Festival usually at the end of July
• The Oimo Crafts fair, usually held at the end of July
• Taigan and Burkut Festival usually held in August
• Kyrgyz National Cuisine Festival, usually held in August
• Kyrgyz Kochu Festival, usually held in August
• Birds of Prey Festival, usually held in late August
• At Chabysh, traditional horse games, usually held in on a Saturday in July and again in August