New Year's Day in Kazakhstan

Legal status and days off

Kazakhstan’s Holidays Law classifies New Year as a state holiday on January 1 and 2. The law describes state holidays as dates connected with events of social and political importance and days traditionally celebrated by Kazakhstan’s citizens; it also designates holidays as non-working days.[1]

The law provides that when a weekly day off coincides with a holiday, the day off moves to the next working day after the holiday. The Labour Code also allows the authorized body to transfer days off to other working days to make efficient use of working time around holidays. For a particular year, check the official calendar for any adjustments.[1][2]

Employees may work on a holiday in some circumstances. The Labour Code generally permits holiday work with the employee’s written consent or at the employee’s request, and provides for another rest day or increased pay; it also sets exceptions for certain shift work and urgent cases.[2]

History and meaning

New Year’s Day has a modern civil-calendar role in Kazakhstan and a history shaped by Soviet customs. January 1 became a Soviet non-working holiday in 1947, after families had already celebrated New Year during earlier Soviet decades. The holiday remains part of a broader Soviet-era legacy in Kazakhstan.[3]

New Year’s Day is distinct from Nauryz, the spring holiday associated with renewal and a new year in older traditions. Kazakhstan recognizes Nauryz as a separate state holiday in March; the two occasions therefore carry different histories and calendar meanings.[1][3]

How people celebrate

Christmas-tree decoration, exchanging gifts, Olivier salad, champagne, a televised presidential address, bells and fireworks are among the Soviet-era customs associated with New Year in Kazakhstan.[3]

Some families choose not to celebrate New Year because of its foreign and Soviet associations. Customs therefore differ, and views vary about the holiday’s place in cultural and religious life.[3]

Closures and practical planning

Because January 1 and 2 are statutory non-working days, plan ahead for public offices and other services that follow the official work calendar. The law establishes the holiday status, but it does not set opening hours for individual banks, shops or transport operators; check directly with the service you plan to use.[1]

Some services and workplaces may continue operating on holidays under the Labour Code’s rules for holiday work. Schedules can vary by employer and service, so confirm arrangements before travelling or relying on a particular office being open.[2]