Customs, traditions and holidays in Great Britain

Astana is a symbol of Hope

For some cities it takes centuries to grow up, for others - thousands of years, but there are cities that can grow up in several decades only. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, is one of the “champions”. In the 19th century it grew from a small fortress to the regional center. Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan since 1997, is situated on a picturesque bank of the Ishim River.

Since acquiring the status of capital the city's face has changed dramatically. Today’s Astana is a large modern metropolis with a fully developed infrastructure, transport network, the social sphere. The architects and builders working in the capital create wonderful architectural ensembles, which harmoniously combine modern design and oriental flair. Astana has become the face of the country and is among the top 30 cities of the world.

Every year the city hosts various international industrial exhibitions, conferences, musical contests and festivals of the Kazakhstans people.

The city has changed during the 10 years of bearing the status of the capital and keeps on growing. Beautiful modern skyscrapers decorate Astana, and at night - the lights and spotlights, garlands, colorful fountains, brightly lit shop windows. Just like Baiterek has become the symbol of Astana, the city itself has become the symbol of Kazakhstan – the symbol of the 21st-century Kazakhstan.

So, Astana is a symbol of Kazakhstan renewal, symbol of creative energy of multinational people. It is a symbol of people belief in their own strength for constructing new capital at far from easy time. It is a symbol of hope and confidence of the nation.

Customs, traditions and holidays in Great Britain

So many countries so many customs. The British have many traditions, manners and customs of which they can be proud and carefully keep them up. In Britain traditions play a more important part in people's life than in other countries.

Some ceremonies are rather formal, such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour, the State opening of Parliament. Sometimes you will see a group of cavalrymen riding on black horses through the streets of London. They wear red uniforms, shining helmets, long black boots and long white gloves. These men are Life Guards. Their special duty is to guard the king or the queen of Great Britain and very important guests of the country.

There are some traditions concerning food. The Englishman likes a good breakfast. To him a good breakfast means porridge with, fish, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. It is the same day to day. Tea is part of the prose of British life.

Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Most public holidays are called bank holidays because banks, companies and most shops do not work on these days. Such holidays include New Year's Day, Easter Monday and others.
At Easter, the British give each other chocolate eggs, which they eat on Easter Sunday.

Christmas is on the 25-th of December. Families spend this day together. For many people this is the most important holiday of the year.
December 26th is Boxing Day. Traditionally boys from the shops in each town asked for money at Christmas. They went from house to house on December 26th and took boxes made of wood with them. At each house people gave them money. This was a Christmas present. Now, Boxing Day is an extra holiday after Christmas Day.

March 1st is a very important day for Welsh people. It's St David's Day. He's the "patron" or national saint of Wales.

Among historic holidays, Guy Fawkes Night can be mentioned. In the 15-th century, a group of people with Guy Fawkes as their leader decided to blow up the Houses of Parliament. They did not manage to do this and Guy Fawkes was caught and hanged. Since then the British celebrate this day burning a doll made of straw and dressed in old clothes on a bonfire. Children dress in old clothes and beg in the street saying: A penny for the Guy.

So, you cannot really imagine Britain without all its traditions, holidays and customs, this integral feature of social and private life of the people living on the British Isles that has always been an important part of their life and work.

The history of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has a long and fascinating history, going back thousands of years. Some remnants are still visible today such as Great Silk Road monuments, petroglyphs and sometimes even mysterious archaeological sites. The territory of Kazakhstan came to be mastered by man nearly a million years ago
By the early Middle Ages, a number of large field-farming oases with a sedentary population appeared in Kazakhstan. Feudal towns began to emerge in these parts and soon established a brisk trade with neighboring countries such as China, Iran and the states of Central Asia.
In the second half of the 15th century the first Kazakhstan khanates states were formed. However, a long time was to pass before Kazakhstan grew into a single political entity.
In the first half of the 19th century the influence of Russia’s economy on the backward economy of Kazakhstan grew stronger: an increasing number of Kazakhs settled down and took up crop farming.
As the output of agriculture produce rose, Kazakhstan’s trade and economic ties expanded.
In 1991, following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan became an independent sovereign state. Kazakhstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on Dec. 16, 1991, and the new nation became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States . Nursultan Nazarbayev became the country's first president and soon began a gradual movement toward privatization of the economy. So, every person living in Kazakhstan must know its history and proud of country.