State symbols - National emblem, Flag, Anthem - are of great sacred significance for any nation, as they represent its sovereignty, reflect the national spirit, form a civic identity and instill pride in their country.
However, we often have a somewhat detached attitude towards state symbols, more associated with officialdom - state institutions, protocol events, official forms, etc.
But this is far from the case! To prove my words, I will give one small, but fresh illustrative example from personal experience. At the end of March this year, our capital hosted the match of the qualifying tournament of the European Football Championship "EURO-2024" between the national teams of Kazakhstan and Denmark. Taking into account that Denmark takes 19th place in the FIFA rating among 210 national teams, and Kazakhstan is only in 120th place, it was no wonder that the guests dominated on the pitch. We had a little more than 15 minutes left to finish the match. We were 0-2 down. Only a miracle could help us. And the miracle happened!
At some point, our fans unfurled a huge sky-blue national flag. And at that moment, it was like something had changed in the atmosphere of the stadium. We all - the players and the fans - felt united, behind which stands a vast country, all our people, all our centuries-old history. It was an incomparable feeling of unity, capable of moving mountains.
And the result was not long in coming: a fantastic comeback of 3:2 and a sensational victory over one of the strongest teams in Europe!
Therefore, speaking of state symbols, let's always remember that the flag is not just a piece of cloth, and the anthem is not a kind of motif with words, and carry in your heart a sense of pride and sincere respect for them.
Happy National Symbols Day! Let our Kazakhstan prosper, our Flag fly high, our National Anthem sound proudly and our Emblem shine radiantly!
Regards,
Director of the Library
of the First President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Bakytzhan TEMIRBOLAT