How foreigners celebrate New Year in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz - In the heart of Astana's snowy winters, Christmas celebrations take on a unique charm for expatriates living in Kazakhstan. We have collected warm New Year stories from people who help build bridges between cultures and peoples - members of embassies of different countries in Kazakhstan.

This year, the 15th annual Christmas Bazaar was held, organized by the Ambassadors Spouses Association (ASA), offering citizens and visitors in Astana an opportunity to explore the cultures of 31 countries without leaving the city.

The embassies presented completely different things at the bazaar, personifying their country. All proceeds from the fair went to charity. In a conversation with a Tengrinews.kz correspondent, Ambassador of Croatia to Kazakhstan Refik Sabanovic shared that he was very happy "to help for disabled people, for the poor people." In addition, the ambassador also spoke about the experience of the New Year celebration in our country.

"Actually, I came to Kazakhstan on the 29th of December, 2018. First word, which I learned to be able to say to Kazakh people - Happy New Year, it's a "Zhana Zhyl Kutty Bolsyn." This year, unfortunately, I won't stay in Kazakhstan because my daughter, she brought a granddaughter, and we are going to spend Christmas time and New Year in Oslo from the 21st of December, until the 1st of January. Actually, since I came here, I had a great time. I had a great pleasure to work and enjoy with Kazakh people.

Generally, New Year's Days I spend in Kazakhstan with friends. To a little bit skating over there, to have a drink with my friends, and to spend a holiday in Kazakhstan, which is beautiful," he shared.

Author of a photo: Nuray Kapen

Not far from the Croatian embassy stand there was also the Hungarian one. Member of the Hungarian embassy - Endre shared how special the New Year period in Astana is for him.

"Actually, the first position is because of the long winter time here in Astana, in the snowfall, you know, even in November time. It arrives sometimes at the end of December, end of this September and after, you know, we're just feeling that Christmas is coming. After this kind of feeling, you could get, you could prepare for the Christmas because easy way, because here in Astana, a lot of shops offers their, how to say, next to their products they offer to you.

We have the opportunity to visit the Catholic Church here in Astana, we could celebrate in a Christmas Eve Mass there, also a good point. So, we always establish a Christmas tree, decorate it. We celebrate New Year's Eve the same way, drinking champagne, some Hungarian traditional food. But actually here in Astana, I don't feel so forced to make it, some "lentil soup" or something like this we usually cook but here in Astana, not alway," he emphasized.

Author of a photo: Nuray Kapen

Sam Mills, Head of the Political Section of the British Embassy in Astana, spoke about his experience of "double celebrating" the New Year. According to him, he really enjoyed a sort of Kazakh and English Christmases. He added that the New Year's tables of both cultures are very different. In Britain, for example, they do not drink Soviet Champagne, the diplomat said jokingly.

"In the UK, which is where I'm from, we have a turkey, generally, a big roast turkey with roast potatoes and brussels sprouts, and the idea is that you eat so much that you feel physically sick. We have a Christmas tree, are you guys like a "elka." And we decorate that.

Last year I spent Christmas in Kazakhstan, and it was really fun actually, because I kind of had two Christmases, because you get English Christmas on the 25th and then you get normally good on the 31st of December. So we do sort of two celebrations. But last year it was nice, we gathered a big group of British people, we had about 12 of us and we cooked a big dinner, and it was fun because we went to "Eurasia" mall to buy all of our ingredients, so it felt like a sort of... It felt like a Kazakh and English Christmas, we sort of merged them," said Sam.

Author of a photo: Nuray Kapen

Lucia Mendez Carreras, spouse of the Italian Ambassador in Kazakhstan, also spoke about celebrating such an important event with friends.

"We celebrate it with friends, in general with friends. Finally, on December 25th for Christmas, because I am Catholic," she shared.

Author of a photo: Nuray Kapen

An employee of the British Embassy in Kazakhstan admitted that she had not yet celebrated Christmas in Kazakhstan and this time it would be her first experience.

"This will be my first year, both Christmas and New Year's in Kazakhstan. So on Christmas we will have dinner with our family, just our close family. And then the next day, the 26th, we see friends, that's Boxing Day in England. So that's what we'll do. And then New Year's with all of your friends in the city with fireworks, champagne and nice food," said Cecily Robertson.

Also at the event, David Diez de Paz, Professor of the Eurasian National University, was at the Spain stand. According to him, he is a Catholic, and on December 24 they have a family dinner, and then on December 25 - Christmas. When asked about the difference between the celebrations in the two countries, he answered that Spain has a special tradition.

"In Spain, we have this tradition called "Las doce uvas de la suerte," in which we eat 12 grapes like right before the New Year's starts and it's like it gives you good luck for the New year," he said.

Author of a photo: Nuray Kapen

Author - Nuray Kapen