THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS IN REVIVING FORGOTTEN KAZAKH TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines Kazakh customs and traditions as a fundamental cultural code that has historically shaped national identity, moral values, and social order. Drawing on ethnographic, historical, philosophical, and religious perspectives, the study explores the structural and functional significance of customs (adet), traditions, and rituals in Kazakh society, emphasizing their role in education, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and the formation of national mentality. Particular attention is given to the interaction between Islamic values and pre-Islamic belief systems, demonstrating how their synthesis contributed to the emergence of a distinctive cultural model rooted in moral responsibility, social solidarity, and respect for communal norms. The purpose of this research is to examine the structural and functional foundations of customs and traditions and to determine their role and significance in the formation of national spirituality. The research highlights the evolution of Kazakh traditions from unwritten social laws to cultural practices that continue to inform contemporary identity, despite processes of modernization and globalization. Special focus is placed on the role of museum institutions and ethnographic exhibitions as mediators between past and present, capable of preserving and revitalizing both material and intangible cultural heritage. By contextualizing forgotten or declining traditions within their historical and symbolic frameworks, museums contribute to cultural continuity and youth education.