Defenders of the Fatherland

I wrote last year about the three holidays Kazakhstan celebrates at the start of May.  It is a lovely time of year in Astana with the trees having just burst into leaf, and, if we are lucky, warm weather and sunshine.  Families start to come into the parks and streets, the fountains are switched on and Astana starts to morph into its second personality, the summer city. 

7 May is celebrated as Defender’s Day.  Originally a Soviet Holiday celebrated in February, Kazakhstan celebrates the day, in May, that the decrees establishing the armed services of the independent Republic of Kazakhstan were signed.  It also acts as a day to celebrate men,  counterpart to the popular 8 March Woman’s Day. 

The President Watches the 2014 Parade

The day is celebrated with parades in cities around the country, Astana, as the capital has the largest parade.  This year Astana celebrated with a full three part parade comprising infantry, mechanised units and an aerial display.  When we arrived in Astana in 2011 we were lucky to be able to watch the 20^th Anniversary Constitution Day Parade.  We arrived late, however and could not get a view of the infantry parade.  

Over 250 pieces of machinery were involved.

This year a friend and I left early and walked over the river to the parade ground infront of the Pyramid.  We joined the crowds of citizens streaming into the grounds to get a good spot and then settled to wait for a few hours.  There was very little seating to wait but we managed to get a spot on a wall near a viewing screen.  As we were waiting for the parade to start I got talking to some of the other people in the crowd – delighted to speak with a foreigner. I was asked about my thoughts of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstani people etc.  We whiled away the time playing with their children and chatting about life in Kazakhstan.  When the President arrived our new friends sent me to the front – proud of the parade display and wanting me to have a good view.   As a result I got about the best view of the parade possible for someone who was not squished in the front row by the barriers – much more satisfying than watching on the screen. 

The commentators to the parade let us know the details of each unit – sadly they spoke too fast for me to get much information and kept switching between Russian and Kazakh – I got the odd snatch but not the full information.  It did not detract from the parade, however and I was able to check some information on the internet later on.  Astana.kz – the City information website says that over 2500 personnel, 250 pieces of equipment and 80 aircraft were involved.

The Aerial Display always starts with the Helicopters

It was a wonderful morning and given that one of the first things we did in Astana was attend a parade, a fitting way to start to say goodbye to Astana.

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Celebrating May, Men and Victory Days in Kazakhstan

The early days of May are full of special celebrations.  May day was, in Soviet times, a day of workers’ solidarity but today, in Kazakhstan is celebrated as a day of unity amongst nations.  The main square in front of the Pyramid Palace is closed to traffic and filled with yurts showcasing national produce and there are displays of traditional dancing and sports.

Just a few days later, on 7 May, everyone celebrates Fatherland Defender’s Day.  This day was originally instituted as, Red Army Day, a Soviet holiday commemorating the establishment of and the first mass draft into the Red Army in Petrograd and Moscow.  In Russia and many other  CIS countries it is celebrated in February. Since independence Kazakhstan has celebrated the day in May, commemorating the date when the decree forming the Kazakh armed forces was signed;  from this year it is a public holiday.

The day acts as a counterpart to International Women’s Day (8 March) and women make a particular effort to do something nice for the men in their lives - our children’s school held a party for all the male staff complete with games and competitions.  This year there was a military parade which was extensively televised, fireworks and many concerts at various venues across the city.  We visited Astana’s spectacular war memorial - Otan Korgaushylar to see families coming together – young and old, to pay their respects to the military.

Otan Korgaushylar Monument

The monument is spectacular - a central pillar supports a woman holding a bowl to symbolise peace and prosperity.  She is bracketed by two bas reliefs, one on the right shows Kazakh warriors while the one on the left shows soviet soldiers.  We celebrate the Commonwealth 11 November remembrance day at this part of the memorial.  An eternal flame sits at the front of the complex.  While there we were very privileged to have the opportunity to meet with, and talk to, a 90 year old veteran who had fought at Stalingrad as a young man.  It was humbling to talk to this man who had done so much in his youth and seen so much change in the intervening years.

People pay respects at the Otan Korgaushylar monument

Bas relief showing Kazakh warriors

Two days later we celebrate Victory day, 9 May being the day when the German’s surrendered. At the end of World War II or the Great Patriotic War as it is known here.  There are parades in cities around the country, ceremonies at the war memorials and and veterans are honoured at lunches, concerts and visits to key venues.

This spate of holidays combined with lovely spring weather lends a very festive air to the city.  In the lead up to May the city billboards are covered with photographs of veterans of World War II – 291 are registered in Astana, banners go up and the fountains are switched on.  The day has a very different feel to Remembrance Day in the UK but serves the same purpose.

Banners around the city celebrate the day of great victory.

People show their appreciation in many ways - one car sported this sticker '

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