The Snow Festival, Yurtyzstan's annual week-long winter holiday, ended this past Saturday.
 |
An extinguished candle display near Gingmai Square
in Yurtpyitaw.
|
The Snow Festival begins with the winter solstice and ends seven days later. It is characterised by a solemn tone, as Yurtyzstanis set aside the week to remember their ancestors. Trees, considered the spiritual ancestors of Yurtyzstan, are honoured, as is the natural environment in general. Candle vigils and offerings are ubiquitous in Yurtyzstan during this holiday.
 |
| A nativity scene at the Foreign Residence. |
Christmas, which is celebrated by the large Yurtyzstani Catholic community, also falls during the Snow Festival. Yurtyzstani Christians generally do not follow American secular Christmas traditions, and Yurtyzstani custom stipulates that gifts be spontaneous, so trees and presents are not particularly common. Rather, Christians in Yurtyzstan follow the general attitude of the Snow Festival, with a special focus on the strengthening of faith.
The Snow Festival concludes an important year for Yurtyzstan, beginning with the end of Reunification and the ratification of the new constitution, and ending with Chairman of the Presidium J.J. Hakimoto's cultural development programme. Chairman Hakimoto is expected to publish an address regarding Yurtyzstan's progress and future developments this week.
