Nauryz – A Festival of Renewal and the Arrival of a Prosperous Spring
Today, March 14, is Көрісу күні (Korisu Day)—a day of meetings and greetings, traditionally dedicated to demonstrating national customs of Kazakh hospitality and even elements of wedding rituals.
In ancient times, when harsh steppe winters posed a serious threat to life and the continuation of generations, and people rarely met each other due to the difficulties of traveling through frost, ice, and snow, the arrival of spring was perceived as a great joy and an opportunity to visit one another. Thus, the custom emerged of meeting with relatives and neighbors to congratulate them on the end of the cold and hardship of winter, welcoming together a new life, the sun, and abundance.
Just as stars and planets come closer during the days of the spring equinox, people also became closer to one another. This meant that after a long separation, the time came to visit each other, rejoice in life, forgive old grievances, wish each other good health, and embrace one another with the words: «Бiр жасыңмен!» (Bir jasyñmen) —“You have completed another year of life.”
The ritual of «көрісу»—which literally means “to see each other” or “to meet”—has become one of the most important traditions of celebrating Nauryz.
On the Eve of International Women’s Day (March 8)
On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, as part of the “Invite Your Mother to the Museum” campaign, a guided tour of the exhibition hall of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai” was organized for our mothers.
The mothers who attended the excursion expressed their gratitude to the museum staff and received a small gift from the museum.
Dear Friends!
On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, we are launching the “Invite Your Mother to the Museum” campaign.
For many people, a mother is the most precious and closest person in life. If you have long wanted to show her attention and care, you can do so in an interesting and meaningful way at our museum.
Admission to the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai” will be free for all women on March 6.
You can purchase an invitation card with warm wishes for your mother, sister, grandmother, or teacher at our museum.
“Conservation and Restoration of Museum Exhibits in Leading Foreign Restoration Laboratories”
Today, on February 29, at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a professional development seminar is being held to exchange experience gained within the framework of the project “Conservation and Restoration of Museum Exhibits in Leading Foreign Restoration Laboratories.” The painter-restorer of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai,” Yuri Tikhonov, is participating in this seminar.
The purpose of the seminar is to exchange experience and results in restoration work in modern museum practice, to promote museum activities in contemporary directions, to improve the scientific research and cultural-educational functions of museums, to popularize the role of museums in preserving the country’s historical and cultural heritage, and to enhance the image of museums.
