May 9 1945· Holiday
Victory Day
The day of victory over fascism in the Second World War in 1945; in Azerbaijan it is called Victory over Fascism Day. Tens of thousands of Turkic sons fell in that war.
On 9 May 1945 the Second World War in Europe ended with victory over fascism. The day is a public holiday by law in Azerbaijan (Victory over Fascism Day), Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan marks it as the Day of Remembrance and Honour.
The Turkic peoples made huge sacrifices in the war: more than 600,000 people went to the front from Azerbaijan alone, and about half never returned. Baku oil fuelled the victory, and hundreds of Turkic soldiers — Hazi Aslanov, Mehdi Huseynzade, Baurzhan Momyshuly among them — were awarded the title of Hero.
How it is marked
Flowers are laid at soldiers' graves and eternal flames, surviving veterans are congratulated and festive concerts are held.
Video
Photos
9 May ceremony in Baku, 2019 · Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 
Victory Day ceremony in Baku · Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 
Honouring veterans · Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 
Eternal flame on Victory Square in Bishkek · A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons · FAL 
Victory Square in Bishkek · Davide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Eternal Glory monument at the People's Memory complex · Presidential Press and Information Office of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 
The Mourning Mother memorial in Tashkent · BeshevI / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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 7Defender of the Fatherland 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