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AprilLast Sunday of April· Holiday
Turkmen Horse Day
The festival of the world-famous Akhal-Teke horses, with races, beauty contests and awards for horse breeders; held on the last Sunday of April.
The Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest and most beautiful horse breeds in the world, known for its slender build, long neck and metallic sheen. Turkmens have called it the bedew for millennia and regard it as a national treasure; it appears on the state emblem of Turkmenistan.
Since 1992 Turkmen Horse Day has been celebrated every year on the last Sunday of April, with races at the Ashgabat hippodrome, beauty contests for Akhal-Teke horses and awards for the best riders and breeders.
Tradition and art
Turkmen horsemanship and the art of decorating horses are inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible heritage. During the festival, exhibitions and concerts devoted to equestrian traditions are held.
Video
Photos
An Akhal-Teke stallion · Heather Moreton from Louisville, KY, USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Akhal-Teke mare · EugeneHorsemanship / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 
A parade of Akhal-Teke horses on the racetrack · Ulruppelt / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 
A young golden Akhal-Teke horse · AKA MBG / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
Turkmen horse racing · Artur Baboev - give free of charge right for promouting of Akhal-teke article on / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 
An Akhal-Teke mare · Heather Moreton / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Turkmenistan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 27Defenders of the Fatherland Day
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 21National Spring Festival (Nowruz)
- May 9Victory Day
- May 18Constitution and State Flag Day
- May 25Ashgabat City Day
- MayTurkmen Carpet Day
- June 27Day of Culture Workers and Magtymguly Pyragy's Poetry
- September 27Independence Day
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- October 6Remembrance Day (1948 earthquake)
- NovemberHarvest Day
- December 12Neutrality Day
- December 21Memorial Day of the First President S. A. Niyazov
- 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