Ak Kalpak Day in Kyrgyzstan
March 5 · Level 4 · #1483 of 2238
Ak Kalpak Day honours Kyrgyzstan’s traditional men’s hat made from white felt. This distinctive headwear expresses cultural identity, and the celebration helps keep the skills behind it alive for future makers and wearers.
How it is celebrated: people wear ak kalpaks to festive gatherings, processions, exhibitions and cultural events. Craftspeople display their work and explain the hat’s shape, decorative patterns and felt-making traditions.
In 2019, UNESCO inscribed the knowledge and skills involved in making and wearing the ak kalpak on its intangible cultural heritage list. The recognition covers a living tradition, extending beyond the hat itself.