Kazakh traditions and holidays

NAURUZ

 

Nauruz, the modern Kazakh word for New Year, comes from Persian “nau-new, ruz-year”. Before that New Year was called “Ulys kuni” meaning tribe or clan day. The tradition of reconcil­iation between relatives around a festive table, exchange of pre­sents and good wishes was set for this day. The beginning of the year is announced by the appearance of greenery. The patient resistance to the winter hardships has come to an end, and now, with the coming of spring it is time to participate in the life-giving festival.

The main ritual dish of this festival is nauryz-kozheh. Nauryz-kozheh always includes seven ingredients, signifying the seven life beginnings - water, meat, salt, fat, flour, cereal (rice, corn, wheat) and milk. They symbolize joy, luck, wisdom, health, wealth, speed growth and Heavenly protection. If milk symbol­izes the New Year, the old year is symbolized by meat, particu­larly smoked meat from the reserves of the past year. In spring people are in a hurry to revive themselves both physically and spiritually, liquidate their debts, get rid of old unwanted things, repair clothes, the house, water canals and wells, ask for for­giveness for past wrongs, reconcile with neighbours, invite guests and present relatives with gifts. Everyone has to visit seven houses and invite seven guests to his home.

“Koktem tudy” (spring is born) say Kazakhs today and meet Nauryz in the streets, squares, parks and stadiums. Thousands of people witness sharp verbal competitions of akyns, contests in national sports - kazakhsha-kyres, toguz kumalak, horse competitions like Kyz-Kuu, Baiga. Various dra­matized shows and theatrical marches, presenting national cus­toms and rituals attract people and teach them to respect national culture and native land, promote rapprochement and mutual understanding of different nations.

 

MY WORKING DAY

I am a first-year student of the Faculty of Psychology of the Rostov State University. My parents live in Sochi and I study in Rostov-on-Don so I need some housing. There are two opportunities for me: I can live in a dormitory (a students hostel), or to rent a flat (an apartment).

I decided to rent a room. To make the rent smaller, I also decided to share my room with another girl - Nadya Antonovich. She studies at the University, too, and she is my best friend now.

Now, let me describe my usual working day. My classes begin at 8:30. So on week-days I have to get up at 7:15. I don't have an alarm clock and usually my roommate wakes me up and my working day begins. I turn on the radio and do my morning exercises while Nadya takes a shower. I don't take a bath in the morning because I don't have enough time for it. I take a cool shower (that's when I completely wake up), brush my teeth. After that I go back to our room and get dressed. I brush my hair and put on a light make-up. Then we have breakfast. Nadya makes breakfast every Mon­day, Wednesday and Friday. I have to serve breakfast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I love to listen to the latest news on the radio while I am eating and Nadya-pre­fers light music.

We leave the house around eight and walk to the near­est bus-stop. We live rather close to the University and it usually takes us about a ten-fifteen minutes to get there by bus. Sometimes when the weather is fine and we have enough time we walk to the University. It is very healthy to walk.

The classes begin at 8.30 in the morning and they end at 2 p.m. We have lectures in different subjects. As a rule we have three or four classes a day. Sometimes it is very hard to wait till they end.

Usually I don't miss my classes because I want to pass my exams successfully. But sometimes I miss especially when the weather is fine and the classes are boring.

At 11:50 we have lunch. That's my favourite time. That is the time to share the latest news and to gossip. My friends and I prefer not to go to the canteen and we often have lunch in a small cafe not too far from the University. At 12:30 we have to be back to our classes. During the working day we also have several short breaks that last for ten minutes.

Sometimes I have to stay at the University till 5 or even 6 o'clock in the evening because I go to the library to get ready for my practical classes or to write a report. As a rule I have no free time on week-days. So by the end of the week I get very tired.

We come home at about 7 o'clock in the evening. We eat supper together and share the news.

After supper we wash dishes, drink coffee or tee and watch TV. I prefer old comedies and Nadya likes soap-operas or films about traveling. Sometimes Nadya and I go for a walk in the park or visit our friends.

At about eleven at night I go to bed. I like to read some­thing before going to bed and Nadya likes to listen to some music. Sometimes I fall asleep while I am reading and Nadya gets up and switches off the light and says - Good night!

 

NICK'S USUAL WORKING DAY

My name is Nick Price. I am a freshman at the College of Psychology of Michigan State University. It is one of the top five psychological colleges in the USA. It is situated in the north of the United States, in state of Michigan. Our campus is placed in Ann Arbor city, on the peninsula surrounded by three Great lakes: Lake Michigan from the West, Lake Huron from the North and Lake Erie from the East. But I am not originally from the state Michigan. I was born in the small town in neighboring state Ohio, in the suburbs of Cleveland.

My family is not very wealthy and cannot pay for my tuition. I have received scholarship and must study well to have it the next year.

Now let me tell you about my usual working day. I wake up at seven in the morning. My alarm clock radio is tuned to my favorite radio station. My roommate Todd Hall is a football player. He jogs every morning at 6:30. He is still out jogging when I get up. First I take a cold shower and brush my teeth. Then I dress myself up and rush to work ­to the University cafeteria. I pour drinks and then work as a dishwasher. It is not a very interesting but soon I'll be a waiter at a small Italian restaurant and will earn more. My boss Suzie is a very strict lady but very nice when you do your job properly.

The freshman year is considered to be a year of integration into the college life. But still I decided to take Biology, History of Psychology, History of Culture and Russian language. I have a right to choose any class, but some are mandatory, such as History of psychology. There are several required classes for graduation. Therefore I need to collect credits starting from the freshman year.

My first class starts at 11:15. The professor is never late for his classes. The lecture hall has about hundred seats. The air in the classroom is air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter time.

At 2 o'clock I eat lunch at the school cafeteria. The food is free for me because I work there. I am a vegetarian and I also don't like drinks with caffeine. I prefer mineral water or juice.

Then I have two more classes. I need to go to the library right after class to do my homework. There I meet my friends and we talk. Twice a week I play basketball with my friends. I swim once a week. Usually after studying we go out to a cafe for a beer or just sit and talk.

I have dinner at 6 PM at the little Chinese restaurant not too far from the dormitory. Or I cook for myself in the kitchen in my dorm. My favorite food is fried fish and potato salad. After dinner I watch TV or play ping-pong with my friends. When it is Friday, we go to see the football game.

I also spend a lot of time with my girlfriend Ann. She studies medicine but is very interested in psychology. We have many other things in common, like watching cartoons.

I spend some weekends visiting my grandmother and my grandfather. They are always glad to see me and take me out for picnics and golf.

I usually read before I go to bed. It calms me down after a long day. Sometimes I feel too tired even for reading. Well, I guess that's enough for now. See you later!