Mavzu: Uzbekistan national holidays

March 8, International Women's Day 
International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8th, coincides with the 
first awakenings of spring. The holiday has long been synonymous with 
beauty and femininity and is a day to shower women with special 
attention, flowers and gifts. Jewelry, perfumes, chocolates, cakes and the 
like disappear from store shelves in Uzbekistan as women are honored 
in ever sphere of society. Special meals are prepared and toasts, poems 
and songs are recited in honor of the female gender, with both 
professional and small-scale performances held throughout the country. 
Although in many ways the 8th of March serves as the equivalent of 
Mother’s Day in Uzbekistan, its scope is broader and includes 

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recognition of all wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends and 
female classmates. Read more... 
March 21, Navruz Holiday 
Navruz (Nowruz) is without dispute the most colorful holiday in 
Uzbekistan. Its history dates back three thousand years and is rooted in 
the ancient cult of sun worship and Zoroastrianism, which were once 
widespread in Persia and Central Asia. Today it is associated with the 
rebirth of nature, new life, joy and kindness. 
Celebrations often last 2-3 days and involve folk festivals, lavishly 
decorated streets, traditional sports competitions, home visitations and 
joyous hospitality. Many believe that forgiving your enemies, living 
peaceably and helping the needy during this season will bring good luck 
to the coming year. Traditionally, seven special dishes are served as a 
further symbol of fortune for the months to follow. 
The most popular Navruz dish in Uzbekistan is sumalak, a taffy-like 
treat prepared from sprouted wheat and flour. Although customarily 
cooked the night before Navruz, it can be made any time in early spring. 
The tedious process of stirring the huge cauldron of ingredients nonstop 
unites friends, relatives and neighbors in a joyful gathering punctuated 
with music, laughter and fun. Read more...