Nauryz and spring meetings

Nauryz in Kazakhstan combines a big city holiday and a very personal meeting of spring: visiting elders, making peace, treating neighbors, hearing good wishes. The home dastarkhan here becomes a place where children are introduced to the language, tastes and memory of the family.

When: March 21–23; family meetings are agreed upon separately.
Main taste: Nauryz kozhe, traditionally associated with seven components.
Where do they gather?: At home, in the yard, near holiday yurts and on city sites.

History and meaning

The name of the holiday is associated with the Persian expression “new day”. Its seasonal reference point is the spring equinox. In Kazakhstan, holidays fall on March 21–23; The time of a specific concert, yard treat or family visit is chosen separately. Participation can be secular: the common joy of spring unites people of different beliefs.

Nauryz is a tradition recognized by UNESCO in several countries. In Kazakhstan, its recognizable features are hospitality, meetings of generations, national games and music. At the same time, neighboring families may have different recipes for kozhe, the order of visits and favorite dishes. It is better to ask about home customs than to test the owners for the only correct scenario.

Customs and table

Guests, reconciliation and bata

Visits to relatives and neighbors are accompanied by good wishes; elders are asked to give baht. During the blessing, you should put aside conversations and the phone. You can ask a relative in advance to explain to the children the meaning of the words so that participation is clear and does not come down to repeating gestures.

Altybakan, music and games

Altybakan, performances by musicians and national competitions take place in public areas. For your home circle, you can choose a familiar kui, a story about a family photo, or a simple game. Participation is voluntary; costume and public speaking should not be a condition of invitation.

Beauty through family history

Festive clothes can be supplemented with a camisole, skullcap or decoration that is already in the family. If you take out your grandmother’s dishes or an embroidered tablecloth, tell them who they belonged to. Such a short story makes the design more meaningful than a random set of ornaments.

Nauryz kozhe and hospitable serving

The seven components of kozhe are a recognizable tradition, but there is no single layout: they use different cereals, meat and dairy bases. For your table, you can add bauyrsak, bread, tea, dried fruits and nuts to suit your family’s taste. Place the kozhe in a container convenient for serving, label dairy products and allergens, and offer a small first portion. Fresh baked goods are best served gradually; a full table does not require displaying the entire stock at once.

Guests and hosts

Practical tips for preparation

If you are invited

Coordinate the time of your visit, especially if you plan to visit several houses; Let us know if you will be with children and if you will be staying for food.
Bring a small treat as agreed: tea, fruit or pastries, the ingredients of which you can tell the hosts.
Say hello to your elders, thank them for the leather and ask about the family recipe; do not compare the generosity of different houses.

If you are hosting

The day before, distribute the purchase, preparation of leather, meeting guests and cleaning among those who want to help, so that the load does not fall on one person.
Consider a place for outerwear, seating for elders and a quiet corner for the child; coordinate the route to the site with the weather.
Keep time for conversation in your plan: a few favorite dishes and an attentive welcome are enough for a warm meeting.

Sources and reading

About cultural customs - according to the materials below. Tips for organization - recommendations from the editors.

How to prepare

Take dried apricots, raisins, dates and walnuts. For a table with a large number of main courses, about 80 g per person is enough. Choose a replacement according to your taste or add products separately - the calculator will recalculate the weight.

Check how many guests will be there at one time.
Divide the food among several small plates.
Leave some covered and replenish the table as needed.

Nuts and dried fruits are an addition to the holiday menu, and not a mandatory part of the ceremony.

80 g per guest. Calculator and recipes are available on this page.

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