Holidays of Kyrgyzstan - Ak kalpak Day (Ak kalpak kunu)

On March 5, all residents of Kyrgyzstan celebrate Ak kalpak Day, an event established in honor of the local headdress The holiday was established by a parliamentary decision in the summer of 2016 in order to preserve the significance of national clothing and support ancient customs For the first time, Ak Kalpak Day began to be celebrated in 2011 on the initiative of the popular director Rysbek Zhabirov in the republic In his opinion, the white cap, as one of the state symbols, should remain in the memory of subsequent generations, so he needs to allocate a separate date for the celebration And March 5, the beginning of spring, when snowdrops bloom, was chosen as the most ideal day for this With each new year, the holiday became more popular, and in 2016 it finally received official status Since ancient times, a white cap has been considered the basic headdress of Kyrgyz men, the heritage of our great-grandfathers, which contains a deep national philosophy Its design has not changed for decades, passed down from generation to generation By the headdress one could learn about the status and age of its owner And today this wardrobe element is incredibly popular among Kyrgyz people It is given as a memorable gift on special dates, worn to work, worn on holidays and when visiting And some time ago, the custom of giving a cap became part of national etiquette - they are presented to honorary foreign ambassadors When taking office or electing deputies, these hats are also used, and the dress uniform of athletes at world tournaments certainly includes a light cap Ak kalpak is a symbol of mountains and purity The shape of the headdress is similar to the snow-capped peaks of the mountainous Republic The Kyrgyz have a special attitude towards this clothing - they keep it clean, do not throw it, do not wrinkle it, take it off exclusively with two hands and place it in a specially designated place or near themselves It is forbidden to give or sell your headdress; only inheritance is allowed It is believed that along with a lost cap, its owner loses his intelligence, piety, and self-respect Despite the fact that modern ak kalpak have a varied cut, as a rule, they are made from 4 wedges that widen downward The wedges are not stitched at the sides, allowing the brim to rise and fall Silk threads are used to embroider patterns; the fields are usually lined with dark velvet; the upper part is decorated with a tassel hanging from the front Behind the external brevity of the cap lies time-tested comfort and practicality Modern craftsmen sew hats of various styles, from casual to elegant, for people of any age There are about 80 varieties of ak kalpak, differing in design, complexity of production and other characteristics Although the original caps are sewn only from felt of natural origin, for the manufacture of which cleaned, combed, freshly processed fine white wool is used It is thanks to the density of the material made from natural wool that the headdress warms well in cold weather, cools in hot weather, and retains moisture in rain The cap is very easy to assemble, holds its shape well, and is therefore incredibly convenient to use Every year on March 5, ceremonial events are organized in the Republic, mainly in Bishkek, dedicated to the holiday - mass celebrations, fun fairs, entertaining concerts and performances, interesting flash mobs Thematic lessons and educational lectures dedicated to Ak kalpak are held in schools and institutes On this spring day, most Kyrgyz people wear national hats to study, work, or go for a walk