Compiled by John Schoeberlein-Engel
Traditional Holiday
Mar. 20-22 Navruz/Noruz (the actual date of the Vernal Equinox varies, and
the date Navruz is marked also varies among Central Asian countries)
International/Soviet Era Holidays (Not all are still observed everywhere in
Central Asia)
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
Mar. 8 Women's Day
May 1 Labor Day (Qazaqstan, Azerbaijan, etc.)
May 9 Victory Day; =Galaba Bayrami (not marked in Azerbaijan)
New National Holidays
Jan. 12 Commemoration Day (Turkmenistan)
Jan. 28 Constitution Day (Qazaqstan)
Feb. 19 Flag Day - Birthday of Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan)
Feb. 23 Army Day (Tajikistan)
May 5 Constitution Day (Qirghizstan)
May 18 Constitution Day (Turkmenistan)
June 13 Commemoration Day (Qirghizstan)
Aug. 30 Independence Day (Qazaqstan)
Aug. 31 Independence Day (Qirghizstan)
Oct. 27 Independence Day; =Garrasizlik Bayrami (Turkmenistan)
Sept. 9 Independence Day (Tajikistan)
Sept. 1 Independence Day; =Mustaqillik Bayrami (Ozbekistan)
Oct. 25 Republic Day (Qazaqstan; earlier this was marked on Dec. 16)
Nov. 18 Flag Day (Ozbekistan)
Dec. 8 Constitution Day; =Konstitutsiia Bayrami (Ozbekistan)
Islamic Holidays
Jan. 11 1 Ramadan 1417 AH; =Uraz; =Ramazan; =Ruza (Tajik)
Jan. 27 Nuzulul Qur'an (17 Ramadan 1417 AH)
Feb. 06 Laylat al-Qadr (27 Ramadan 1417 AH)
Feb. 09-10 `Id al-Fitr (1 Shawwal 1417 AH); =Uraza Bayram; =Ramazan
Bayram/Hayit (Ozbek); =Orozo Ayt (Qirghiz)
Apr. 18 `Id al-Adha (10 Dhul-Hijjah 1417 AH); =Idi Qurban (Tajik);
=Qurban Bayram/Hayit (Ozbek); =Kurman Ayt (Qirghiz)
May 08 Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1418 AH)
May 17 Ashura (10 Muharram 1418 AH)
July 17 Mawlid Nabi (12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1418 AH); =Mawlud
Nov. 28 Isra' and Mi`raj (27 Rajab 1418 AH)
Dec. 15 Laylat al-Bara'ah (14-15 Sha`ban 1418 AH)
Dec. 31 1 Ramadan 1418 AH; =Uraz; =Ramazan
Orthodox Holidays
Jan. 6 Christmas Eve (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Jan. 7 Christmas Day (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Jan. 19 Epiphany (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Feb. 15 Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Orthodox Old Cal.)
Mar. 10 Start of Lent
Apr. 7 Annunciation (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Apr. 20 Palm Sunday
Apr. 25 Good Friday
Apr. 27 Paskha (Orthodox Easter)
June 5 Ascension
June 15 Pentecost
June 22 All Saints Day
Aug. 19 Transfiguration (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Aug. 28 Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Sept. 21 Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Sept. 27 Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Nov. 14 All Saints Day (Orthodox Old Calendar)
Nov. 15 All Souls Day (Orthodox Old Calendar)