Dr Dilnoza Duturaeva is a historian from Uzbekistan and belongs to the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Scientifically she is interested in medieval Central Asian history, cross-cultural contacts between China and Central Asia, Khitan and Qara Khitai studies. As current fellow of the Gerda Henkel Foundation she does her research on the following topic: A Century of Chinese Rule in Islamic Central Asia: The Qara Khitai (1124-1218).
"For me personally it is a quite normal day"
L.I.S.A.: Dr. Duturaeva, you come from Uzbekistan, an almost Muslim country. How will you spend the coming Christmas days? Are these days quite normal for you or do they have any relevance in your personal or academic life?
Dr. Duturaeva: Christmas is not an official holiday in Uzbekistan and we have not a day off on this date. However it is a religious holiday for Christians in Uzbekistan, who are mostly Russian Orthodox using the Julian calendar. For this reason they celebrate Christmas not in December 25, but in January 7 by the Gregorian calendar. For me personally it is a quite normal day, however I do not forget to send my greetings to my friends and colleagues in Uzbekistan and abroad who celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday.