Kazakhstan celebrates Republic Day on October 25

The celebration of the Republic Day as a national holiday was restored just over a month ago: amendments to the republic law On Holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning the main holidays in the state were introduced in September 2022.
As Nur.kz reports, the Law (Article 2) states that the Republic Day is the main and only national holiday. It was established to commemorate the first step towards independence: the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the KazSSR. Independence Day, December 16, remains a major holiday, but its status has been changed to a state holiday.
October 25 as a holiday has had a difficult history. On October 25, 1990, Kazakhstan adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the KazSSR.
In honour of this event, in 1995 October 25 has been declared a national holiday, the Republic Day. In December 2001, the Republic Day was given the status of a state holiday. In 2009 the attitude to it has changed: the proclamation of state sovereignty began to be considered as an intermediate stage followed by a more important event: declaration of Kazakhstan’s independence.
Therefore, in April 2009 the celebration of the Republic Day was cancelled.
In June 2022, during the meeting of the National Congress (Kurultai), Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, proposed to restore the Republic Day celebration and reinstate its status as a national holiday, because it emphasizes the importance of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan which is considered the first significant step towards independence, the starting point of the modern history of Kazakhstan whose significance was unfairly forgotten.
In his congratulatory message on the Republic Day, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said, “The Declaration on State Sovereignty of Kazakhstan opened the way to our sacred Independence. Therefore, this document has historic significance. Beginning this year, we celebrate the Republic Day in a new way, it has acquired the status of a national holiday. I am confident that this initiative will be widely supported by society and will become a good tradition. The Republic Day is a cheerful holiday designed to elevate the people’s spirit, strengthen statehood and consolidate our unity and solidarity. We have begun building a Just Kazakhstan.
This lofty goal can be achieved only with the active participation of all Kazakhstanis, because the backbone and the greatest wealth of the state is its citizens! Regions will hold state flag hoisting ceremonies to mark the revived national holiday. This is an important event aimed at strengthening patriotism, the spirit of our people and national self-awareness. Our sky-blue flag embodies such values as sovereignty, freedom, unity and peace.”