Every second resident of Kazakhstan associates public holidays primarily with the country's official symbols, El.kz reports.
This data was obtained by the Kazakhstan Institute for Social Development during a large-scale survey.
What the survey showed
Kazakhstan Institute for Social Development conducted a study titled "Public Holidays as Tools of Symbolic Politics" among 3,000 respondents across the country. Participants were asked what they primarily associate public holidays with.
51.2% of those surveyed named the State Flag and Coat of Arms as the main symbols of holiday dates. The national anthem was chosen as a key association by 44.1% of respondents.
Cultural code vs. entertainment industry
he national costume was identified as an important element of the festive atmosphere by 38.1% of survey participants. The desire to showcase traditional clothing suggests a need to maintain generational continuity without administrative pressure from above.
Historical figures and heroes of the national pantheon inspire 22.0% of respondents when mentioning key dates.
Concerts and mass street festivities attract only 24.3% of Kazakhstanis. Traditional holiday treats received a similar share of mentions, stopping at 23.8%. Society is demonstrating a clear priority for internal substance over external festive forms.
Changes in consumer behavior
Fireworks remain an important attribute of the evening for only 17.1% of surveyed residents. A gradual decline in interest in expensive spectacles opens up space for more eco-friendly celebration formats.
Gifts and material greetings motivate a minimal number of citizens to participate in celebrations, garnering only 7.7% of responses.
Formal posts of images on social media interest the smallest group, which made up 4.1% of respondents.
Why it is interesting
The gap between state symbols and entertainment formats in the ranking is quite noticeable. The flag and coat of arms outperform fireworks by more than three times.
The survey results show how citizens themselves set priorities when it comes to
the meaning of holiday dates.
