Culture & Identity of Kyrgyzstan
Introduction
For much of history the Kyrgyzs have been settled and life has been centered on the lands as daily schedules have been determined by mother nature. The Kyrgyzs have been very rural for centuries and remain so today as nearly half the working population is employed in agriculture.
For these farmers, and others who work in the agricultural sectors, life is based on the seasons, the weather, and the sun light. The people take what nature gives them and when nature doesn't give much they unite together to survive and make the most of what they have. In these rural areas community is incredibly important as everyone seems to help out during busy times of the year and communities unite, particularly during the long cold winters.
Under Soviet rule many Kyrgyzs moved to cities, but even today only about a third of the people live in urban centers. For these people life no longer revolves around the seasons and sun light, but instead is focused on work hours. For school children the hours are also fairly regulated as children attend local schools and are off from June to August, as many still help out on the farm during the summer months if the family has one.