The following holidays listed here are official
ones. We were not intend to list all holidays related to professions etc, but
highlighted those which are official days off. All government agencies, schools,
banks and most businesses are closed on these days. Please note if a holiday
falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following day also becomes a day-off.
Event
Date
Remarks
New Year's Day
1 Jan
Celebrating the start of the New Year. Christmass trees, gifts,
fireworks.
Christmas Day
7 Jan
Religious holiday, day off, gifts, visit churches. A celebration
commemorating the birth of Jesus.
Fatherland defender Day
23 Feb
Formerly the official Soviet Army Day in the Soviet
Union. Men get special attention and usually receive gifts from women. In
fact being an anolog to Father's Day in the west. Military parade on the
main square and fire works when it gets dark.
Int. women's Day
8 Mar
Flowers, perfume and chocolate for women. The
males do all house works. Women also get special attention and usuallyr
eceive flowers and gifts.
National Revolution Day
24 Mar
A newly intruduced holiday after a tulip revolution
of 2004. Not much happens around as people have diffrent feelings about
it.
Asian "New Year's Day". Family celebtrations.
Street festivals.
Labour Day
1 May
Labor Day, commemorating Kyrgyzstani workers.
Street festivals, parades.
Constitution day
5 May
Commemorating the establishment of the Constitution
of
the Kyrgyz Republic. Not much happens on this day.
Victory Day
9 May
Commemoration of Soviet Union victory over Germany
in WWII. Military Parade. Greeting veterans. Fireworks.
Independence Day
31 Aug
Commemoration of independence from Soviet Union. Street festivals,
fireworks.
Great October's Socialistic Revolution Day
7 Nov
Kyrgyzstan is the only county in the world celebrating 7 Nov
as Great October's Socialistic Revolution Day. Street festivals on Lenin
square aka Old Square, near the monument of Lenin.
Note: Some Muslim festivals fall on different dates
every year. Like Orozo ait and Kurman
ait are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the
moon. The exact dates are established by a decree of the President of Kyrgyz
Republic.
The Kyrgyzstani people also celebrate following
religious holidays you should be aware of.
Russian Ortodox Easter
An Orthodox celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated
on the second Sunday in April. Official day-off. Charch visiting. Baking
special bread "Kulich"
Orozo-Ait (Ramadan)
Begins the first day of the month of Ramadan in
the Islamic calendar, a month of daytime fasting. The fast is observed as
a celebration of thanksgiving as well as a way of gaining social empathy-
feeling the pain of those less fortunate people who do not have enough food.
(Practiced by southerners more than by northerners.)
Kurman-Ait
The feast of Breaking Fast, the end of Ramadan.
People organize big feasts and celebrate with family and friends.
In addition to official holidays and days-off there are also
some popular holidays that are celebrated by local folks.
Feb 14. St.Valentine's Day
A day to exchange love cards between couples and friends to
show how much you appreciate your second half. Mostly celebrated by young
people.
Apr 1. April Fool's Day
A day for playing harmless jokes on friends and
relatives.
Note: International organisations and foreign embassies
are closed on both Kyrgyz and their respective national holidays. Make sure
you plan your visits to places and other activities in advance.
