10 days of celebration: Kazakhstan brings back the traditions of the Great Steppe

Tengrinews.kz – March 14 marks a special day in Kazakhstan - Amal kuni (Korisu). This is not just a date on the calendar, but an ancient tradition dating back centuries. This holiday symbolizes the arrival of spring, the renewal of nature and the strengthening of social ties between people.

On March 14, the nationwide decade of Nauryznama starts in Kazakhstan. This year, Nauryznama takes on a deeper meaning. The new format of the celebration, approved in 2024 on the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, makes Nauryz multi-day and full of cultural events.

Nauryznama is a revival of the traditions of the Great Steppe, where the celebration lasted at least eight days. The new symbol of Nauryz is a logo with three tulips, reflecting the past, present and future of Kazakhstan.

Each day of the decade will be dedicated to a separate theme: days of greetings, good wishes, charity, family, national dress, renewal, unity and sports.

Thematic days "Korisu - Amal merekesi" (day of greetings, warm meetings and good wishes), "Kaiyrymdylyk" (day of charity), "Madeniet zhane ulttyk salt-dastur" (day of culture and national traditions), "Shanyrak" (family day), "Ulttyk kiim" (day of national clothing), "Zhanaru" (day of renewal), "Ulttyk sport" (day of national sports), "Yntymak" (day of unity and solidarity), "Zhyl basy" (New Year) and "Tazaru" (day of purification) reflect the most important aspects of Kazakhstan's culture and values.

Amal kuni (Korisu)

For centuries, Kazakhs who led a nomadic lifestyle, after long winter months, went to neighboring villages to visit relatives and friends. At this time, they checked how relatives survived the winter, exchanged news and joyfully welcomed the new season. That is why Amal kuni is considered a time of reunion and strengthening of friendship.

Translated from the Kazakh language, "korisu" literally means "to see each other" or "meeting". On this day, it is customary to visit each other and congratulate each other on the arrival of spring. In ancient times, it was on this day that Kazakhs, who led a predominantly nomadic lifestyle, after long cold winter migrations went to visit neighboring villages to make sure that everyone had safely survived the winter, to find out how things were, and to exchange news from the steppe.

Korisu is the forerunner of Nauryz, which opens the decade of the holiday. According to ancient calculations, March 14 is considered the beginning of the third month of Amal, that is, spring, and Korisu has been celebrated for three days for thousands of years - March 14, 15 and 16. This holiday is also called the Kazakh New Year, as it symbolizes the beginning of a renewed life cycle, the awakening of nature and the strengthening of ties between people.

Where Amal kuni is especially revered

This holiday is most widely celebrated in the western regions of Kazakhstan - in the Atyrau, West Kazakhstan and Aktobe regions. Here, the traditions of the celebration have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. On this day, residents of the region take to the streets, visit relatives, hug, shake hands and wish each other happiness and health.

The holiday is of particular importance in small towns where people know each other well. Here, Amal Kuni is not just a formal greeting, but a real spiritual unity. Young people gather with elders, listen to stories about their ancestors, study their genealogy and receive parting words.

In addition to Kazakhstan, Amal Kuni traditions have been preserved in neighboring regions of Russia, such as the Astrakhan, Saratov, Samara and Orenburg regions, where large Kazakh diasporas live. Here, the holiday is also accompanied by family gatherings, treats and an exchange of warm wishes.

The issue of giving the holiday official status was first raised in 2019. Amal Kuni was proposed to be included in the list of public holidays, emphasizing its importance for national culture. He noted that this day was previously celebrated in all regions of Kazakhstan, but since the 1930s, the tradition has gradually begun to be forgotten in some places.

The holiday has a deep meaning, it is a time of respect for elders, care for the younger, support for the weak and help for those in need. On this day, the younger greet the older, shake hands and hug, and the elders give their blessing to the youth. Amal Kuni is not just a meeting of spring, but a day of reconciliation, brotherhood, modesty and charity, when old grievances are forgotten and family and friendly ties are strengthened.