Halloween is Not a Kazakh Tradition
Zakon.kz is reporting that a member of Parliament has written a letter to the Prime Minister asking for a ban on Halloween [RU].
Kurmangali Uali wrote to Karim Massimov, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and to the Head of the KNB asking the government to actions to ban Halloween, citing the lack of roots in Kazakhstan for a Satanic holiday:
Some excerpts from his letter:
there are some problems in the teen area…In the street youth dress like demons, which come from the darkness of night. We understand that this is the influence of foreign culture, which is unacceptable to us. And we have to take some preventative measures to ensure that this negativity does not develop here..
At one time, all the worst things, according to the Kazakh mentality, was denoted by the word “Satan.”(demon, devil). And now it turns out that these demons walk among us. You know that Halloween is now celebrated in Kazakhstan. In Almaty, 17 clubs held celebrations of Halloween. And in Astana, this event was celebrated in [shopping malls] Khan Shatyr and Keruen…
This phenomenon has no roots in Kazakhstan; it was just copied. And it can lead to some inexplicable and unpredictable consequences. Because it is celebrated abroad, where this holiday does have roots and is celebrated to this day, our people can understand some notions [related to Halloween] and the celebration of Satan by youth completely differently [than foreigners do]….
Dear Government, we must take some action at the state level or, perhaps, systemic measures in order to properly explain the irregularity of the phenomenon. And we must pay attention to this problem. This is no joke.
Similar proposals to ban Western holidays or even TV shows have been taken up many times in Russia and even in Uzbekistan. From what we have of his request, it is unclear whether he thinks the holiday is bad because he thinks on Halloween, we actually worship Satan or because he thinks the costumes are too scary or just because it is a foreign influence are unclear. What do you think, dear readers? Should Halloween be banned? What about other Western holidays?
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I say ban it, along with Persian Novruz, Christian Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day, European Women’s Day and Arabic Eids.
The way things appeared while visiting, I can understand why there would be a push to move away from western holidays to keep the tradition and culture alive inside the borders. BUT the desire to ban certain holidays based on a politician’s perception of them seems inappropriate. Halloween may have dark roots; it isn’t that way now especially in developed countries. It’s more about a costume party , some candy, and booze… and it’s not even a state holiday here! Just something people recognize as a date to go out and have fun – much like Valentine’s day and Cinco de Mayo..more consumerism.
Also, I’m not trying to be critical of a political structure I know nothing about, but there are tougher things to be taking care of than spooky, fake holidays. I see a comparison here in the US which should allow me to pass that judgment – troops all over fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, HUGE deficit, rampant illegal immigration, but Congress drops everything to tackle the issue on gays in the military. Maybe I just don’t get the priority of governing powers anywhere in the world.
I agree. Almost all holidays were introduced at some point to a culture. Plus if you ban public celebrations, then anyone who does use Halloween as an excuse to do something bad will be driven home alone away from the public eye.
It is affirmative that “Halloween” is not a traditional kazakh holiday, and it is only a western holiday & religion holiday.
Western people can celebrate by them self and no need to push other people to celebrate it.
Please don not feel shocked about that, thanks.
if you want to check a holiday list of kazakh traditional holidays , just visit http://www.bulakh.com for details without hesitate.
—-
Kazakh Culture Innovation Site,
http://WWW.BULAKH.COM
But no one is forcing Kazakhstany to celebrate Halloween. And it really doesn’t have any religious meaning at all any more. My feeling is if you want to celebrate it, please. And if you don’t, you don’t have to. But it’s a bit silly to ban it.
why not allow ppls post here? very strange, whats your oppinion for this?!
No one has forced any holiday on anyone! There are many holidays that are not “traditionally” Kazakh – like all of them, because there are so few real Muslims here. They all drink alcohol, smoke, eat pork, follow none of the dress codes, follow few of the traditions. The only reason they celebrate the holidays is because they like to party – it holds no religious meaning, except for a very small, pious group.
As the member of parliament writes, “it was just copied.” That brings me to another point – many things here have been copied from other cultures. Why is that bad? Education, government, infrastructure, most of modern Kazakh language, etc. etc. were copied. And look what it has done! It has brought the people of Kazakhstan into a developing country. Had it not been for copying lots of stuff that wasn’t traditionally Kazakh, yurts, horses, dombras and an under-developed language would perhaps still be the norm today.
Basically, as another commenter wrote, governments have nothing better to complain about, so they waste time fighting stupid, meaningless battles
Peoples don’t like western holiday! that is the only reason:)