Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Noruz was last week, andI'm sorry it took me so long to recognize it here on my blog!

It's been a very busy week with lots to do and much to think about.

Noruz is the Persia-originating New Year, which marks the beginning of Spring. On this blog still you can see my pictures of Noruz in Iran in 2005.

Central Asia New Years are a bit different naturally than the contemporary Iranian Noruz. For one, it's a much more social activity. If the Iranian noruz is a time to celebrate with family, the Navriz in Kazakhstan is a time to celebrate as a community, which can include your work colleagues and friends, as much as family. One Kazakh woman here described Noruz (not as a celebration of Spring or the coming year) but as a celebration of friendship.

Although the University did not mark Noruz day until a week after (March 22 was the official Noruz day here), the city and government put on a big celebration of Noruz on the 22nd. In the "old square," there were thousands and thousands of people (the locals to Almaty said it was only villagers who were new to Almaty that go) watching a concert, eating traditional foods, riding horses, playing games, and so on. The festivities in the square start around 9-10am and go until night. I arrived at noon against the directives of my students, who said that after 11:30 it starts to get too crowded and chaotic. It was a bit much, I have to admit. By nightfall, however, it apparently gets even worse, on account of the alcohol consumption.

In this entry and above are some photos of Noruz spirit in Almaty.