Mother's Day in Kazakhstan is observed every third Sunday of September as an official holiday dedicated to honoring mothers. The holiday was initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2012, following an event where he presented the Altyn Alka (Golden Pendant) Award to mothers of many children. This award recognizes mothers who have given birth to or adopted and raised seven or more children. The timing of the celebration was chosen to occur in the fall, after the harvest season, to emphasize the role of mothers as guardians of family traditions. On this day, Kazakhstanis express their gratitude to their mothers and celebrate their contributions to family and culture. The holiday aims to highlight the importance of preserving national traditions and educating the youth about marriage and family values.