March 5· Holiday
Ak-kalpak Day
A celebration of the white felt hat, a national symbol: people across Kyrgyzstan wear the ak-kalpak, with concerts and festivities.
The ak-kalpak — a tall Kyrgyz hat of white felt trimmed with black velvet — is the people's best-known national symbol. Its shape is said to recall snowy mountain peaks and its white colour purity and wisdom, while its patterns indicate the wearer's age and lineage.
Since 2011, 5 March has been celebrated in Kyrgyzstan as Ak-Kalpak Day. In 2019 the craft and tradition of making and wearing the ak-kalpak was inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
How it is marked
Men and boys wear the ak-kalpak, and towns hold ak-kalpak marches, craft exhibitions and contests. The president and officials appear in the hat too, and Kyrgyz communities abroad celebrate together.
Video
Photos
Kyrgyz man wearing an ak-kalpak · Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
The ak-kalpak, the Kyrgyz national hat · Nurlan kyzy Anargul TSI / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
A Kyrgyz elder in an ak-kalpak · JohnNewton8 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Elders playing chess in Osh · Adam Harangozó / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
An embroidered ak-kalpak · Zeynel Cebeci / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
An ak-kalpak close up · Clément Bucco-Lechat / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kyrgyzstan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 7Orthodox Christmas
- February 23Defender of the Fatherland Day
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 21Nooruz
- April 7Day of the People's April Revolution
- May 1Labour Day
- May 5Constitution Day
- May 9Victory Day
- May 29Armed Forces Day
- August 31Independence Day
- September 23State Language Day
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- November 7Days of History and Commemoration of Ancestors
- 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Adha
- 1 Shawwal in the Islamic calendar — the end of the Ramadan fast; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Fitr