THE HOLIDAY CALENDAR OF MODERN KAZAKHSTAN AS A TOOL OF MEMORY POLITICS: INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION

• Aiman Zhusupova

  Нархоз

  Author

• Aigul Beimisheva

  Narxoz University

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3281-6859

• Zhaxylyk Sabitov

  Research Institute for Jochi Ulus studies

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7186-156X

The article examines the festive calendar of contemporary Kazakhstan as an instrument of memory politics and national identity formation. It analyzes the transformation of the system of public holidays following independence, including the reinterpretation of the Soviet legacy, the institutionalization of new state dates, and the revival of traditional and religious practices.

The theoretical framework is grounded in the concepts of social and cultural memory, which allow holidays to be interpreted as mechanisms of symbolic politics and the reproduction of collective representations of the past.

The empirical basis includes an analysis of legal and regulatory documents, academic publications, and sociological data, as well as materials from focus group studies conducted in various regions of Kazakhstan.

The study demonstrates that the transformation of the festive calendar is evolutionary in nature and combines the preservation and reinterpretation of symbolic elements.

The findings indicate that the sustainability of holidays is determined not only by their official status but also by the degree of their integration into everyday practices. Dates associated with family traditions tend to be the most устойчивыми, whereas newly established state holidays require time to become socially embedded.

The article concludes that the festive culture of Kazakhstan has a dual structure, combining institutional initiatives with everyday practices.

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