1. New year (January, 1st) Day of defenders of the Native land

Navruz (March, 21st)

Nowruz (New day) is celebrated on March 21, the day of vernal equinox. This day Uzbek families cook national dishes such as sumalyak, pilaf, samsa and others. This holiday symbolizes friendship, unity and brotherhood of all peoples. That is why, this day people must forgive each other, not quarrel, as well as help the poor men. According to tradition, all this brings home good luck, prosperity and well-being. People visit their relatives and friends, sing songs, as well as wish the New Year to be prosperous. The Uzbeks who live in villages arrange traditional competitions and games.

Ramazan Hait is celebrated on the 9 month Hijri on Muslim calendar. It is a celebration of moral and spiritual purification. After fasting-day – Uraza, which lasts 30 days, is celebrated Ramazan Hait. During Uraza it is not allowed to eat, drink and take pleasure. But after sunset and before sunrise it is allowed to eat and drink. All believers must respect each other and avoid bad thoughts. After this people celebrate Ramazan Hait. The holiday lasts for three days.

The greatest holiday, celebrated by Muslims, is Kurban Hait holiday. There is a legend, once one of the ancestors of the peoples of northern Arabia Ibrahim saw Allah in his dream, who told him to bring to sacrifice his son Ishmael. When he was ready to kill the boy, Allah was sure in his devotion and told him to bring him a lamb. So, this day every faithful Muslim sacrifices a sheep or lamb. This day Uzbek families cook different dishes visit their relatives and friends.

There are also other holidays in Uzbekistan: New Year is celebrated on January 1, Day of Defenders of Motherland - January 14, International Women's Day - March 8, Memorial Day - May 9, Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan - September 1, Teacher's Day - October 1, Constitution Day - December 8.

The most ancient national holiday Navruz ("Holiday Navruz"), in

translation with Persian Navruz designates "new day". Navruz which is

marked{celebrated} on March, 21st, it is considered the beginning of new

year. As is known on March, 21st is a day a spring equinox. Day length

and nights is identical - 12 hours. On March 21st the Earth enters during

the World astronomical equality. And still, this day seasons on

hemispheres vary, if in a southern hemisphere there comes autumn,

northern - spring. This holiday is celebrated in the beginning of spring

when all plants and trees blossom and get a new spring kind. In the

beginning of this holiday many Uzbek family prepare for national dishes

such as: Sumalak, Halim, Somsa from plant, Pilov and others. These

Uzbek dishes contain many vitamin substances which are useful to a

human body.

With the obtaining of the country’s independence ancient customs

and traditions of Uzbek people have revived, holiday Navruz also has

been restored, and celebrating has got new scope and depth. It became a

national holiday of friendship, unification, brotherhood of all people. In

the bright dramatized representations of philosophic and poetic judgment

of Navruz, it places in national history reveals. Now Navruz is

celebrating annually on Alisher Navoi's square.