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Nauryz (The New Year Holiday) marks_1
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  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001327
    Country Kazakhstan
    ICH Domain Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe
    Address
    Nauryz is celebrated country-wide and any other place where Kazakh communities live in; it is celebrated both in public, local communities and families.
Description New Year is often a time when people wish for prosperity and new beginnings. March 21 marks the start of the year in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is referred to as Nauryz, Navruz, Nawrouz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Novruz, Nowrouz or Nowruz meaning ‘new day’ when a variety of rituals, ceremonies and other cultural events take place for a period of about two weeks. An important tradition practised during this time is the gathering around ‘the Table’, decorated with objects that symbolize purity, brightness, livelihood and wealth, to enjoy a special meal with loved ones. New clothes are worn and visits made to relatives, particularly the elderly and neighbours. Gifts are exchanged, especially for children, featuring objects made by artisans. There are also street performances of music and dance, public rituals involving water and fire, traditional sports and the making of handicrafts. These practices support cultural diversity and tolerance and contribute to building community solidarity and peace. They are transmitted from older to younger generations through observation and participation. Nauryz (Kazakh Nauryz, from Persian Nov Ruz – 'A new day') is the holiday of the New Year and the beginning of spring on the solar calendar from the astronomical Iranian and Turkic people. Nauryz is a national tradition, which has no direct relation to Islamic customs. It is celebrated on March 21, the day of spring equinox. Nomads believed that on this day - the starting point in the world update. Kazakhs call this day holy - "Ulustyng uly kuni" (The Great Day of the nation). According to the established belief on this day the people got rid of the winter hardships, happy for the safety of prosperous wealth - cattle. There are various rites, rituals and cultural activities carried out within each family and community. These forms and rituals handed down from generation to generation. In Kazakhstan Nauryz includes the following ceremonies and rituals: cult of the first herbs (there is a taboo to tear and crumple first grass); all dishes to be filled with milk at night; milk is also poured on the ground, this means a transition from red food ( meat) to white (dairy); cult of the rising sun (the birth of a new day). At Nauryz each family prepares ritual meal "nauryzdyk" («nauryzdyқ"), "Nauryz soup" («Nauryz kozhe") in the form of soup. It consists of seven traditional products. After tasting them, Kazakhs hoped to feed them for a whole year.
Social and cultural significance Nauryz enjoys the position of being one of the most important holidays of the year, with a variety of cultural and social meanings such as maintaining identity, unity, respect for cultural diversity, human creativity, and nature in a world that is challenging with environmental issues, tolerance, friendship, peace, victory of good over evil, solidarity, closeness and friendship of the ethnic groups and minorities, cheerfulness, participation of all ages, both genders, especially women. As a shared and common cultural heritage of the region, it can play a determining role in the rapprochement of the local cultures, countries, and nations, through bringing regional cultures together. The spirit of the element is peace and reconciliation. It, as a result, functions as a means to promote interactions between communities, groups, and individuals. All of the celebrating states enjoy the existence of days for plantations; for the majority of them, these days are contemporary to the period of the element. The spirit of the element encourages all of these nations to have great respect for the nature. People, enthusiastically, take part in this public event.
Transmission method Nauryz is seen as a key mechanism for the preservation and transmission of spiritual symbols of the unity of nature and humanity. It became one of the most favorite holidays of all ethnic groups in Kazakhstan. The prevailing mode of transmission of the element is the participation of all age and gender groups including children, young adults, middle-aged people and elders, whether women or men, in all parts of the ceremony. Such participation paves the way for the best and closest possible acquaintance of new generations with the diverse forms of this element and becoming attached to this tradition and, generally, to all its customs and traditions such as games, rituals, artistic performances, dances, handicrafts, foods, pastries, greetings from the family level to states and governments as well as the exchange of gifts. In addition, the informal oral transmission, at the family and community levels is quite actively at work throughout. Besides, there are a number of organizations, universities, institutes and NGOs throughout the territory that contribute to transmission, promotion and awareness-raising through formal education from elementary to higher levels, including academic research projects as well as the organization of public events and specialized conferences. Finally, there are new and modern ways of transmission such as radio and TV programmes, Internet (including social networks and media), newspapers, artistic performances, and sending postcards; the modern means of transmission take this tradition beyond its territory. In addition, due to better accessibility and ease of travel through the cities and even countries during the celebration, travellers play an important role in the exchange of traditions, and consequently this leads to mutual awareness-raising of the diverse forms of the element.
Community All of the people celebrate it. While the central and regional authorities take active part in preparation and conducting of the national and municipal events (including festive events, sports contests, art performances etc), the main practitioners are local communities and families. Nauryz is always celebrated in families and small local communities, and the unique traditions are transmitted between relative generations.
Type of UNESCO List Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Incribed year in UNESCO List 2016

Information source
Kazakhstan National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage
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