National holidays of Turkmenistan
It is worth mentioning that in Turkmenistan every month has its special name o n the basis of the national historical dates and names.
1 Turkmenbashi - New Year's Day;
12 Turkmenbashi - Memorial Day;
19 Baidak - the Day of the National Flag;
20 Navruz - the national holiday dedicated to the women of Turkmenistan;
21, 22 Navruz - the national festival of spring;
The first dynchgyun Gurbansoltan - the «Drop of Water - a Particle of Gold " festival;
Last dynchgyun Gurbansoltan - the festival o f Turkmen racer;
8 Makhtumkuli - Day of Commemoration of Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 Victims;
9 Makhtumkuli - the national holiday of Turkmen people - the Day of Victory;
18 Makhtumkuli - the Day of Revival, Unity and Makhtumkuli's Poetry;
Last dynchgyun Makhtumkuli- the festival of Turkmen Carpet;
The third dynchgyun Gorkut - the " Gallah Bairamy" ;
The second dynchgyun Alp Arslan - the festival of Turkmen M elon;
The second rukhgyun of Rukhnam month - the national holiday - the Day of Workers of Oil-and- Gas, Power and Geological I ndustries;
The second dynchgyun of Rukhnam - the holiday of Turkmen bakhshi;
6 Garashsyzlyk - the Day of Commemoration and All-Nation Mourning;
27-28 Garashsyzlyk - the Day of Independence of Turkmenistan;
The first rukhgyun Sandzhar - Day of Health;
17 Sandzhar - the Day of Students;
Last dynchgyun Sandzhar - the Festival of Harvest;
The first dynchgyun Bitaraplyk - the Day of Good Neighbourliness;
12 Bitaraplyk - the Day of Neutrality;
Kurban-Bairam - the day is defined by the government of Turkmenistan;
Oraza-Bairam - the day is defined by the government of Turkmenistan.
The major religious holiday for all Moslems is of course Navruz - Bairam which marks the coming of nature's revival and warm days. The days before the holiday are devoted house cleaning and cooking traditional dishes from sprouted wheat etc. The holiday itself is celebrated with generous feast offered to numerous guests. According to the beliefs abundance and variety of dishes on the holiday table should provide family with plentiful of served food in the coming year.
Some superstitions which are still popular with people are connected with the ancient spring feast:
If it is cloudy on Navruz Day, it will stay until June.
If it is snowing or raining on Navruz Day, the year will be fruitful.
There will be a lot of fruit if on Navruz Day the tree branches ooze sap.
Grain crops yield will be plentiful if on Navruz Day the weather is be cold.
Young people celebrate the coming from this spring with traditional outdoor games and competitions. The first horse races of a new season as well as the first fights of shepherd's wolfhounds - "alabaiz" are scheduled for Navruz. There one innovation too: now in Turkmenistan during Navruz-bairam the Mother's Day is celebrated in sign of recognition of women's role in Turkmenistan society.
