Spring is about to get started again! And I am looking forward to it. Especially when I think of the celebrations in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, where the arrival of spring is inextricably linked with the start of a new year, and the 'Nauryz' party starts.
In the Meantime, Back in the Netherlands...
We live in times when a bright atmosphere can do us all good. After all, flowers and the onset of spring stimulate the production of endorphins in our bodies. Endorphins suppress pain but are also partly responsible for creating a good feeling, a sense of happiness.
I live in the Netherlands. A country famous for its tulips. Around the beginning of spring, we see bulbs blooming and plants and flowers showing their colors. A new spring, new chances! It is the time in Holland when Keukenhof reopens for eight weeks. More than a million people are expected to visit the beautiful garden and pavilions again.
From the Netherlands to Kazakhstan
At the same time, I reminisce about one of the countries I have visited several times and that I have come to love so much: Kazakhstan. The Dutch actually do quite a lot of floral business with the Kazakhs, so there are many good reasons to enjoy being there.
In 2023, Kazakhstan imported approximately $13 million worth of cut flowers and flower buds from the Netherlands, making it the second-largest supplier to the Kazakh market after Ecuador. These imports primarily cater to the high demand in major cities like Almaty and Astana, where there's a well-established culture of gifting flowers.
Around the beginning of spring, we see bulbs blooming and plants and flowers showing their colors. A new spring, new chances! It is the time in the Netherlands when Keukenhof reopens for eight weeks. More than a million people are expected to visit the beautiful garden and pavilions again.
In other places on our planet, the 21st of March does not just herald springtime, but it is also traditionally the New Year. One of the most significant celebrations around this time is Nauryz, a deeply rooted and vibrant tradition in Central Asia. Here's all you need to know about this special celebration and how it is linked to flowers.
The History and Significance of Nauryz
Nauryz is a very important holiday for Kazakhs, marking the beginning of a new year. It is celebrated for several days from 21 March, the day of the spring equinox. Nauryz means 'new day' and has been observed on the Great Steppes since ancient times. Long before the current Republic of Kazakhstan existed, these holidays were celebrated as a way to mark the rebirth of nature and a fresh start for communities.
Historically, Nauryz has been linked to the agricultural calendar, as the equinox symbolizes the return of warmth and the beginning of a new growing season. This was crucial for the nomadic and farming cultures of the region. In ancient Persia, this festival was known as Nowruz and shared many of the same themes: renewal, reconciliation, and nature’s revival.
During the celebration of Nauryz, past wrongs are forgiven and forgotten, and everyone makes a wish to leave all negativity behind and bring something beautiful into the new year. This philosophy of renewal is central to the holiday’s spirit and has helped keep the tradition alive for thousands of years. In recognition of its cultural importance, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized 21 March as the International Day of Nauryz in 2010. The festival is also listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
A Floral Celebration
For Kazakhs and other peoples who have lived on and around the Great Steppes, Nauryz is an occasion to put on beautiful clothes, eat delicious traditional dishes, visit friends and family, and exchange gifts. Flowers play a significant role in these celebrations, as they symbolize beauty, growth, and new beginnings. Homes are decorated with fresh blooms, and people exchange flowers as a gesture of goodwill and prosperity.
From tulips to lilies and narcissus, spring flowers are a key feature of Nauryz, just as they are in European traditions like Keukenhof’s annual tulip festival. Given that tulips originate from Central Asia, it is no surprise that they hold a special place in this celebration. The vibrant flowers that bloom during Nauryz echo the renewal of life and the promise of a fruitful year ahead.
For me, Nauryz was not a well-known public holiday, but since I became an official partner in the Netherlands and Belgium of 'Agrarnyi Sector', a trade magazine published in Astana, Kazakhstan, I have come to know and appreciate this festival. Flowers, as so often, are the link between cultures. They bring people together, whether in Kazakhstan or the Netherlands. Wonderful!
Header image by @dala_sound, feature image by @letty.sab.
