The May Day holiday in Kazakhstan has undergone minor changes since the times of the Soviet Union, and now it is celebrated annually under the name of the Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan and is a state holiday.
The purpose of the holiday — is to strengthen stability and interethnic harmony, demonstrate the achievements of the Kazakh model of intercultural dialogue.
On this day, festive events are always held to unite all peoples living in the Republic, because Kazakhstan is a multinational state. More than one hundred and fifty nationalities and nationalities live there.
May 1 — International Workers' Day — in the countries of the former Soviet Union had many years of «political overtones» and was celebrated with demonstrations, mass celebrations, decorated with portraits of political figures, production leaders, slogans, calls, posters and diagrams about achievements in one or another sector of the national economy, science, culture.
With the acquisition of independence by the Republic of Kazakhstan, this spring holiday was preserved and became known as the «Festival of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan», according to the decree of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev dated October 18, 1995. The holiday began to be celebrated in 1996, and accordingly the celebration of Labor Day on May 1 was cancelled.
Today, this bright spring holiday takes place in every city of Kazakhstan with a friendly procession along the central streets of cities, as well as many entertainment, cultural, socio-political and ceremonial events.