In Central Asia, there lies a country of Turkmen known as Turkmenistan. About 90% of its inhabitants are Muslims thus; images of Santa Claus, reindeers and shiny green-red gift wrappers are not easily recognized. One might presuppose that the joy of gift-giving does not exist in this region. However, with 11 public holidays, Turkmenistan shows the world how one can share gifts in a different way.
Ramazan and Seker Bayram
Being predominantly Muslim, the most important holiday for Turkmen is the Ramazan (local name for Ramadan) and the subsequent Ramazan Bairam. As much as traditional songs and activities mark the start of Ramazan, festivities and gift-giving activities symbolize its end. Ramazan Baira (end of Ramadan, Eid ul Fitr) usually calls for gaieties with a lot of cooking. Sweets are prepared for neighbors and children who would go from house to house making this holiday also known as Seker Bayram (Candy or Sugar Bayram). Gifts in various kinds are given to each other. These celebrations are based on the appearance of the moon thus; there is no specific date for it.
Oraza or Kurban Bairam
Kurban Bairam is celebrated 70 days after the end of Ramadan. This four-day festival marks the start of Hajj or the holy pilgrimage. During this time, a large number of sheep are sacrificed with the meat given to the poor.
Women’s Day
Women’s Day is Turkmenistan’s version of Mother’s Day. It is usually held on March 8 and is a national holiday. It celebrated the importance of women and encourages everyone to give token or gifts to the women in their lives be it their classmate or mother.
Novruz Bairam
This is the most colorful of all the Turkmenistan festival and is celebrated around March 21. It commemorates the arrival of spring and coincides with the vernal equinox. Pre-Novruz activities include cleaning the house, buying new clothes and cooking of special dishes as well as sweets. On the day itself, families share the festive meal that they have prepared and visit relatives and friends to share meal with them. This is also the day for them to visit their deceased relatives. Other activities include folk dancing and reading of destans (epic).
Novruz is also a time for children to go from house to house while singing traditional rhymes and collecting gifts and small tokens.
Novruz is a Turkic holiday that has been around for centuries. It is an occasion for friendships, renewal and happiness; a celebration closely intertwined with Turkic traditions and cultures.
Turkmenistan, being a region of festival-loving people, celebrates other holidays, albeit with much less revelries and gift-giving, that have taken a deep root in the Turkmen culture. This include the celebration of New Year’s Day, Flag Day (February 19), Constitution Day (May 18), Remembrance Day (October 6), Independence Day (October 27-28), and Day of Neutrality (December 12). They also celebrate smaller feasts like "The drop of water is the grain of gold" festival every first Sunday of April. Last Sunday of April, on the other hand, is set aside for Turkmen horses. May 19 is for the Makhtumkuli poetry festival while the last Sunday of May is the Turkmen Carpet Day, a relatively new holiday decreed by the late President Niyazov. Turkmen melons are celebrated on the second Sunday of August. Bakshy day held every last Sunday of September celebrates Turkmen folk singers while the last Sunday of November celebrates the Harvest Festibval. Even though Turkmen do not have Christmas, December is not essentially a cold month as they celebrate the Neighborhood Day.
Most of the Turkmen celebrations or festivities are associated with stages in one’s life such as birth, childhood, marriage and death. Their celebrations are not just reasons to commemorate but are expressions of the culture that they have.
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