Most of Uzbekistan’s holidays are recognizable from the old Soviet calendar, although they have been moved, refocused, and/or renamed to now celebrate Uzbekistan’s independent, post-1991 history and culture rather than that of the USSR. The major exceptions to this are two major Islamic holidays and the ancient Persian New Year celebrations that have now been […]

Kyrgyz holidays include many inherited from the USSR (although most of those have changed their form at least slightly). Kyrgyz holidays also include many adopted from Russian culture. However, many holidays have now been added to the calendar to celebrate patriotism toward independent Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan’s long-held Muslim heritage. Thus, Soviet, national, Orthodox, Muslim, modern, […]

Tajik cuisine draws influences from Persian, Turkic, and Afghan culinary traditions, as well as from the broader Central Asian steppe culture. Many dishes are held in common with Uzbekistan in particular. Of all the countries formerly a part of the Russian Empire and USSR, Tajikistan’s cuisine shows the least Russian influence. The Tajik diet heavily […]

Tajikistan’s holiday calendar is a vibrant reflection of the modern country. These holidays blend ancient Persian traditions and Islamic observances with Soviet legacies and contemporary patriotism. Celebrations of unity run deep in this calendar, both as a reflection of shared labor and support in ancient rural life to a healing process as country recovers from […]

Halva, the rich dessert well-loved across many cultures, is so densely filling it almost manages to feel like a meal – and not an entirely unhealthy one at that. There are more than one hundred varieties of halva, an ancient dish whose base can be flour, ground seeds or nuts, or fruit, depending on where […]

Russia and Central Asia offer what can seem to be a bewildering selection of dairy products in their transnational food cultures. An area of special note, and often one of the strangest to Westerners, is the seemingly never-ending assortment of fermented milk drinks and products in the gastronomic repertoire. To cut down on the brow-furrowing […]

Turkish food balances hearty, aromatic flavors with simplicity and seasonal ingredients. Proteins typically come from lamb, beef, and chicken—pork is not traditionally consumed for religious reasons—while seafood is more common along the Aegean and Black Sea coasts. Yogurt, legumes like lentils and chickpeas, and eggs also play major roles in providing protein across the country. […]

For those obsessed with all things pumpkin — pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice-cream, pumpkin-spice lattes — oromo (оромо) is sure to please. Oromo is a rolled, layered, steamed pastry that comes with various fillings (pumpkin being common and our favorite). It evokes everything we love about pumpkin season back home in the States. This main dish […]

The Talking Phrasebook Series presents useful phrases and words in side-by-side translation and with audio files specifically geared to help students work on listening skills and pronunciation. Below, you will find several useful phrases and words. To the left is the English and to the far right is the Turkish translation. In the center column for […]

Central Asia’s rich tradition of carpet weaving reflects the region’s history, culture, and identity. From the ancient nomads of the Pazyryk Valley to the artisans of Kyrgyz yurts and the urban weavers of Samarkand, carpets have long served both practical and symbolic functions. Their materials, techniques, and motifs reflect centuries of interaction between nomadic and […]

The Talking Phrasebook Series presents useful phrases and words in side-by-side translation and with audio files specifically geared to help students work on listening skills and pronunciation. Below, you will find several useful phrases and words. To the left is the English and to the far right is the Uzbek translation. Uzbek is currently transitioning […]

The Talking Phrasebook Series presents useful phrases and words in side-by-side translation and with audio files specifically geared to help students work on listening skills and pronunciation. Below, you will find several useful phrases and words. To the left is the English and to the above right is an English transliteration of the Kyrgyz translation. […]