Azerbaijan
Türkiye
Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Hungary
May 7 1992· State day
Defender of the Fatherland Day
The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan were founded on 7 May 1992. The day is a public holiday.
On 7 May 1992 a presidential decree created the Armed Forces of independent Kazakhstan. Since then the date has been celebrated as Defender of the Fatherland Day and is a public holiday.
Kazakhstan's armed forces comprise the land forces, air defence forces, navy and other branches. The army looks to the ancient warrior traditions of the Kazakh people — the courage of Abylai Khan and the batyrs Kabanbay and Bogenbay — as its example.
How it is marked
On 7 May military units hold ceremonies, oath-taking and concerts, and in some years a large military parade takes place in Astana. Two days later, on 9 May, Victory Day of the Second World War is marked.
Video
Photos
7 May military parade in Astana, 2015 · Kalabaha1969 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
Military vehicles at the parade · Kalabaha1969 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
Reconnaissance vehicle at the parade · Kalabaha1969 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
Military parade in Astana · Kalabaha1969 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
Equipment of the Kazakh army · Kalabaha1969 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
The Samruk bird atop the Kazakh Eli monument · Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons · CC0
Kazakhstan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 7Orthodox Christmas
- March 1Day of Gratitude
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 15Constitution Day
- March 21Nauryz Meiramy
- May 1Unity Day of the People
- May 9Victory Day
- May 31Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression and Famine
- July 6Capital Day
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- October 25Republic Day
- December 16Independence Day
- 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Adha