How Kazakhstanis celebrate Orthodox Christmas Day
On January 7, Orthodox Christians in Kazakhstan celebrate Christmas, marking the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The author invites readers to explore how Kazakhstanis celebrate this day.
Orthodox Christianity is the second-largest religious group in Kazakhstan, following Islam. It came to Kazakhstan during the Russian Empire’s expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, Orthodox Christians make up a significant portion of the population.
Despite being a secular state with Islam as the dominant religion, Kazakhstan respects and celebrates its religious diversity, with Orthodox Christmas recognized as a public holiday since 2005.
Celebration
The journey to Christmas begins with the Nativity Fast, a 40-day period of spiritual and physical preparation that concludes on January 6. During the fast, believers abstain from meat, dairy, and indulgent foods while focusing on prayer, repentance, good deeds, and reconciliation with loved ones.
On Christmas Eve, January 6, families prepare sochivo, a dish of boiled grains like wheat or other cereals mixed with poppy seeds, honey, nuts, and dried fruits. This is a very nutritious dish that gives strength to those who have faithfully observed the fast to endure the long Christmas service.
The Christmas service begins on the night of January 6 and continues into the early hours of January 7. Worshippers gather in churches to celebrate the birth of Christ, a time for deep spiritual renewal and a closer connection to God.
A central symbol of the holiday is the Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments, garlands, and a star. Traditional decorations include angels, lanterns and bells. Candles are also lit on this day in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ and to point to the Light of the world.
The Christmas table is a feast of abundance, with meat and fish dishes, pies, salads, and an assortment of sweets. Roasted chicken, duck, and other poultry stuffed with apples are served, along with aspic (a cold meat jelly), a popular dish during the holiday. A roasted pig’s head also makes an appearance, completing the festive spread.
After the festive dinner, as midnight approaches, young people gather in groups and visit homes to keep alive one of the most joyful and ancient customs - the celebration of Koliada. Boys and girls sing festive carols, praising the birth of Christ and wishing prosperity to the household. In return, hosts express their gratitude by offering sweets, treats, or even money.
Earlier Kazinform News Agency shared how people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve.
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relevant news
Several flights delayed at Almaty airport
Several flights have been delayed due to snowfall at the Almaty International Airport, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the airport online flight board, departures from Almaty to Shymkent, Astana, Aktau, Atyrau, and Novosibirsk, as well as arrivals from Astana, Shymkent, Aktau, and Kyzylorda are delayed for several hours.
According to the press service of the airport, a number of outbound flights experienced delays due to inclement weather on January 8, including snowfall and fog.
As earlier reported, Kazhydromet has issued a weather warning for 14 regions of Kazakhstan as well as the cities of Astana and Almaty for Wednesday, January 8.
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Read-out data from flight recorders of crashed AZAL plane to be examined soon in Astana
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Members of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash investigation commission with the decrypted data from the flight recorders (black boxes) are to arrive in Astana, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Upon arrival, the experts will immediately begin examining the decrypted data from the flight recorders, said the press service of the Kazakh Transport Ministry.
As earlier said, the Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) of Brazil completed decoding the flight recorders (black boxes) of the crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane (AZAL).
Earlier, Kazinform reported that the specialists from the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) of the Brazilian Air Force began analyzing data from the black boxes of Azerbaijan Airlines’s Embraer 190 plane.
On December 30, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 on 25 December 2024.
The Azerbaijan Airlines plane which was flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, Mangistau region, on December 25. The plane was carrying 67 people including 5 crew members. 38 people died and 29 survived as a result of the tragedy. Among the victims are six nationals of Kazakhstan.
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Kazakh Dombyra in the Heart of Beijing: Dimash in the BRTV Project
Images | dimashnews.com
On December 29, 30 as part of the BRTV project "最美中轴线 Singing for the Central Axis of Beijing," Dimash Qudaibergen visited the Temple of Earth in Beijing, dimashnews.com reports.
The Central Axis of Beijing is the largest and most iconic urban planning design currently in China. It stretches through the historical part of Beijing from south to north, beginning at the Bell and Drum Towers, passing Wan Ning Bridge, Jingshan Park, and the Forbidden City Museum, and ending at Yongdingmen Gate. Rooted in the Yuan Dynasty (1267), the Central Axis has stood for over 700 years, spanning approximately 7.8 kilometers.
The Temple of Earth, along with the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, lies along Beijing’s Central Axis, symbolizing the Three Great Elements, Earth, Heaven, and Humanity, in harmony and unity.
Originally, the Altar of Earth and the Altar of Heaven were part of the same complex, but they were separated in 1530. The Temple of Heaven remained in its original location, while the Temple of Earth was relocated north of the Forbidden City. Besides the Altar of Earth, the Temple of Earth houses the Residence of the Spirits of Heaven and Earth, a Sacred Granary, the Hall of the Sacred Horse, a Bell Tower, and other structures. In the northeastern section, there is a modern park dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine and wellness culture.
At the Temple of Earth, Dimash was joined by Chinese singer Gong Linna, with whom he previously performed the song "成为诗人 Become a Poet" on the show Our Song (我们的歌).
During their tour of the park, the musicians explored landmarks, sampled treats from the local market, visited exhibitions showcasing products from various countries, and participated in discussions about culture and creativity.
In the course of their conversation, Dimash and Gong Linna exchanged gifts. Dimash presented Gong Linna with a dombyra and shared the instrument’s history:
In the past, the dombra had many more strings. According to legend, a khan once lost his son. None of his servants dared deliver the tragic news of his death. The message was conveyed through the dombra. Why, you ask? At the time, the khan had said, ‘I cannot find my son, and whoever brings me sad news, I will fill their throat with molten lead.’ Thus, the dombra saved someone’s life."
As the New Year approached, Dimash and Gong Linna performed a traditional duet featuring the song "Jasmin". Dimash played the dombra while Gong Linna sang. At the hosts’ request, Dimash also sang a segment of "Karatorgai" in his native Kazakh.
Following the tour, Dimash and Gong Linna headed to a rehearsal, where they received a unique lesson in playing large Chinese drums. Dimash, naturally, took the opportunity to improvise on the ancient instrument. He also supported Gong Linna as she practiced singing the Kazakh lyrics of "Karatorgai."
As part of their continued exploration of Beijing’s landmarks, Dimash and Gong Linna visited the Zheng-Yi Temple Theatre.
Built on the site of a Buddhist temple in 1688 during the Kangxi Emperor’s reign in the Qing Dynasty, the Zheng-Yi Temple Theatre is one of the "Four Great Opera Theatres" of Beijing.
Today, the theatre continues to host Peking Opera performances and is considered a living relic and one of the most significant cultural monuments in the Chinese capital.
As earlier reported, on December 26, the city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China, hosted the grand "2025 Sichuan New Year’s Concert" (2025四川省新年音乐会). The event, titled "A Poetic Memory of Tianfu Civilization," brought together numerous prominent artists, including the renowned Kazakhstani musician Dimash Qudaibergen.
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How many children were born in Kazakhstan on New Year's night
Images | Depositphotos
181 babies - 105 boys and 76 girls - were born countrywide on the New Year's night, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the Ministry of Healthcare.
The majority of the newborns was registered in Turkistan region - 34 babies, Almaty city and Almaty region - 17 babies in each. 16 children were born in Shymkent.
As for the capital of Kazakhstan, 10 children were born here, the same number as in 2024.
Earlier, it was reported that Almaty region welcomed 23,852 babies in 2024, with boys more than girls.
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Kazakhstan In 2024: Year in Review
Kazakhstan Today News Agency gives an overview of the major political, economic events, as well as those that caused a great public resonance in Kazakhstan this year.
Kazakhstan's Chairmanship In Key International Organizations
In 2024, Kazakhstan chaired the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Turkic States, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and the Islamic Organization for Food Security.
Tokayev Accepts Government's Resignation
On February 5, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev fired his Cabinet after criticizing its performance. He accepted the resignation of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.
According to the President, the government must play a new, important role in making prompt decisions and taking effective steps.
Olzhas Bektenov became new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
Significant Earthquake Strikes Almaty Region
The residents of Almaty felt a 6.7 magnitude earthquake on the night of January 22-23. The strongest earthquake in recent years caused panic among many of its residents scurrying to safety outdoors. Dozens of people panicked because of a lack of notification and a delayed response by the authorities. Almost 70 people were injured during the earthquake. Later, a series of aftershocks were felt in the region.
Another significant earthquake jolted Almaty in early March. The epicenter of the earthquake was located 31 kilometers south of Almaty. To ensure the public’s safety, the authorities immediately activated a siren-sound signal and launched interception of television and radio channels.
Kazakhstan Switched to Single Time Zone
Kazakhstan switched to a single time zone from March 1, 2024, according to the amendments to the government resolution on the procedure for time computation in the country. Since then the entire territory of Kazakhstan belongs to the fifth time zone (UTC+5).
The cities of Astana, Almaty and Shymkent as well as the Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl, Karagandy, Kostanai, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan, Turkistan, East Kazakhstan, Abai, Zhetisu and Ulytau regions turned back the local time by one hour.
Kazakhstan used two time zones, UTC+5 and UTC+6 before. Most of the territory, except for the western regions, lied within the UTC+6 zone.
Later, the majority of residents of Kazakhstan opposed the transfer of time. They posted a petition on the official platform for the return of the previous time zone. Citizens claimed that the decision to transfer the time affected their well-being.
Floods in Kazakhstan Became Largest Natural Disaster In Past 80 Years
Kazakhstan experienced unprecedented flooding this spring, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described as the worst disaster in over 80 years. Due to the floods, a local emergency situation was declared in ten regions of the country, namely in Abai, Akmola, Aktobe, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan and Ulytau regions.
In total, 224 settlements were affected by the floods in Kazakhstan, over 120,000 people were rescued and evacuated, including 45,000 children. The national army was deployed on rescue and aid missions across the regions. Thousands of Kazakhstanis lost their property and were left without a source of income. In addition, the agricultural sector was damaged.
Former Kazakh Minister Gets 24 years In Prison For Brutal Murder Of Wife
A former economy minister of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years in prison for brutally beating his common-law wife to death in early November, 2023.
On May 13, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, 44, was found guilty of the torture and murder of 31-year-old Saltanat Nukenova by the court. His trial has been followed by millions and shone a spotlight on the country's domestic violence problem.
In April, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev enacted new law which strengthens protections for women and children by criminalizing domestic violence, introducing tougher penalties for crimes against children, and addressing bullying, among other provisions.
Kazakhstan In The Fight Against Locusts
For several years, the hot and dry summer months in Kazakhstan have been accompanied by locust invasions. Back in May Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov announced the locust plague control measures countrywide, allocating for these purposes 8.1 billion tenge.
Over 3.1 million hectares of land have been treated against locusts, 23% more than the planned 2.5 million hectares.
Paris Olympics Final Medal Count: Kazakh Athletes Win Seven Medals
The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded on Aug. 11 with the traditional closing ceremony, during which Paris handed over Games hosting to Los Angeles for 2028.
Kazakhstan’s olympic team took 43rd place in the medal standings, winning 1 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals. The sole gold medal was won by judoka Yeldos Smetov. Silver medals were awarded to gymnast Nariman Kurbanov, Greco-Roman wrestler Demeu Zhadrayev, and boxer Nurbek Oralbay.
Bronze medals were claimed by shooters Aleksandra Le and Islam Satpayev, as well as boxer Nazym Kyzaibai and judoka Gusman Kyrgyzbayev.
Eighty athletes, including 54 debutants, represented Kazakhstan in 25 sports.
Kazakhstan Votes In Favour Of First Nuclear Power Plant Construction
Over 70% of Kazakh citizens voted in favor of building the country’s first nuclear power plant during a referendum in October. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the construction and operation of the plant should be carried out by an international consortium. The nuclear power plant is planned to be built in the village of Ulken, Almaty Region, on the shore of Lake Balkhash and put in operation by 2035.
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