Holidays
Currently, 13 official holidays are celebrated in Kyrgyzstan:
January 1 - New Year
January 7 - Orthodox Christmas
February 23 - Defenders of Fatherland Day
March 8 - International Women's Day
March 21 - National Holiday Nooruz
April 7 - April Revolution Day
May 1 - Labor Day
May 5 - Constitution Day
May 9 - Victory Day
August 31 - Independence Day
November 7 - Day of History and Memory
Orozo Eid*
Kurban Eid*
*Two major Muslim holidays Orozo Eid and Kurban Eid determined by Lunar calendar, thus their date shifts every year for appx 10 days back.
Holidays of Kyrgyzstan by origin can be divided into International, Soviet, National holidays and those since Independence. Celebration of International Holidays like New Year and Women's Day is the same as all over the world. Soviet Holidays: Victory Day and Defenders of Fatherland Day are accompanied by march-past in Central Square.
Every year on the 31 of August Kyrgyzstan celebrates Independence Day. Festivities and holiday concert last from early morning till night. Also, in Independence Day people like playing and watching national horse games in hippodrome.
On March 21, on the day of the spring equinox, the national holiday Nooruz is celebrated in Kyrgyzstan. Nooruz is celebrated in a special way: To treat neighbors, people cooked a traditional soup, commonly referred to as the sumelek made of wheat malt with the addition of flour, butter and sugar. On the eve of the holiday, people put their houses in order, paid off their debts, put up with all those who were in a quarrel. The whole day people gathered and celebrate in one place. They have big feast, play national games and make a big fire and jump over it. Also women burn branches of juniper and walk in house with a plate of burned juniper. In past people believed that the smoke of juniper would clean their house from evil spirits.
However, in holidays many places will still be open, government offices and border stations may be closed. So, one should check ahead to avoid major problems.
