Some public holidays have remained in the Republic of Kazakhstan since the Soviet Union time. These are the New Year's Day on January 1-2, the International Women's Day on March 8, and the Victory Day on May 9. On the Victory Day many residents of the city of Almaty, among them are not only the war and labour veterans but also young people, come to lay flowers at the Eternal Flame in the park named after 28 guardsmen "Panfilovetsi", who heroically perished on November 16, 1941 near the crossing point Dubosekovo while defending the city of Moscow.
Kazakhstan is a large multinational country which is rich with its both old traditions and new ones acquired for the period of Independence. The Republic of Kazakhstan observes international holidays such as New Year, 8 March but it also has holidays specific only for this country such as Unity Day, Capital Day etc.
All the holidays of Kazakhstan may be divided into national, state and professional ones. The national holidays are the holidays in honor of the events having a special historical importance for the development of Kazakhstan. Celebration of the national holidays is accompanied with holding of official events. Such holiday is considered Independence Day of Kazakhstan.
The state holidays are the holidays devoted to the events having social and political importance, they also include traditional Kazakh holidays. This category of the holidays includes NEW YEAR NEW YEAR, 8 MARCH, 8 MARCH NAURYZ NAURYZ, UNITY DAYUNITY DAY, CAPITAL DAY CONSTITUTION DAY. CONSTITUTION DAY
In addition to these holidays Kazakhstan has another type of holidays – professional ones celebrated by some categories of citizens: Fatherland Defenders Day – 7 May Political Repression Victims Memory Day -31 May The Republic of Kazakhstan National Symbols Day – 4 June Police Day – 23 June Health Professionals Day (third Sunday of June) Knowledge Day – 1 September
The holidays of national and state nature are days off for the whole Kazakhstan population. These days Kazakhstan holds open-air merrymaking and official events. Various festive events and festive concerts with participation of both Kazakh and foreign stars are arranged for the countrys population.