CULTURE OF KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKH CULTURE AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS

CULTURE OF KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKH CULTURE AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS

NATIONAL DISHES AND MEALS bauyrsak beshbarmak

KAZY-KARTA Kazakhs especially cared for horses which they intended to slaughter, keeping them separate from other cattle. Horses fattened for eating often became so large they had difficulty moving. In order to bring fattened horses from the mountains, first of all they'd wrap his stomach, because going through mountains his kazy would split, so they'd bridle it carefully. For this kind of job, wealthy people hired only experienced zhigits. Kazakhs never used to eat the horse' s head, but in order to document for others ones wealth (i. e. , that a family was wealthy enough to slaughter its own horse in the Autumn), the horse's head would be kept in a shady place or in a mud-hut for years and years. Kazakhs measured the fatness of the kazy by fingers. For example, the sausage might have a diameter like that of a small finger, a large finger, etc. It was difficult to put larger amounts into an intestine. Kazy is tasty either hot or cold. And since horses' fat is difficult to freeze, it is very good for the traveller. Kazakh people preferred kazy to mutton. While serving meat, Kazakhs first of all prepared kazy for everybody to enjoy. It was also good for treating kinsmen. Nowadays people slaughter a horse too. Kazy is a very dear and delicious meal but the tastiest part is the fat stomach. So, people serve kazy with karyn (stomach). In old times people liked to drink fresh meat broth with kurt. Even in winter after drinking this one felt full and warm.

ENTERTAINMENT, NATIONAL GAMES KAZAKH CULTURE AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS Kazakhs, like other cultural groups, have inherited various forms of entertainment and games from their forefathers. As you will observe, most of these cultural forms were based on life situations and national peculiarities: and their intent was to teach succeeding generations to be healthy, strong, brave, smart, observant, resourceful, resilient and humane, Entertainment is one of the branches of Kazakh national culture, Here we will briefly describe some of them.

ASYK This game was played both in summer and winter. Let me describe the terms of the game. Two boys would have a target and attempt to hit it with a saka from three step distance. If one hit the target, an asyk from his opponents arsenal would be his. He would then continue throwing until he missed, taking an asyk from his partner until missing. Then it would be his opponents turn to win back lost asyks. Asyk is also forgotten by many children, but in rural places of Kazakhstan some boys still play it. Often boys would be so engrossed in the game that they would ignore eating, going to school or helping parents to finish a game. As we discussed earlier, parents brought up a child to hold work in respect. So they would complain about those who constantly played asyk or ball as laggards, and extol boys who rather spent their time grazing sheep as successful. Everything should rather be done in moderation and in its own time. So Asyk is not a bad game, but it mustn't be turned into an extended game of chance.

KYZ KUU (CATCH UP WITH A GIRL) "Kyz kuu" is another game typical of Kazakh tradition which is still to be found. People would gather at a race course, and young ladies and zhigits would have their racehorses prepared. Kyz kuu was usually held in conjunction with other big celebrations, as during Kurban and Oraza Aits. People prepared much food plenty of kumiss. Of course, as it was a celebration, everybody would wear his or her best clothes. People in attendance would eat and watch Kyz Kuu.

NATIONAL FEASTS KAZAKH CULTURE AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS Nauryz is the celebration of the new year practiced in most eastern countries, but it was mostly forgotten in Kazakhstan until four years ago. This wonderful holiday has now been reinstituted, enhancing our rich tradition. This holiday is celebrated in Spring, when day and night are equally divided, and when mother earth, people, cattle, insects, and all of nature begins to blossom and revive. Cranes and geese return during this period from warm places, and signs of Spring are everywhere. Nauryz is celebrated on the twenty second of March, just before the coming of April and May bring forth the fragrance of flowers to tickle one's nose. Uighir people call this celebration "Kuit kezi. " During Nauryz festivities, zhigits would joke with the ladies, cows would calve, and birds would lay eggs. Everybody would be happy and joyful that the cold winter days were over. During Nauryz, people would be very kind and hospitable, forgetting about previous quarrels, making friends, and wishing each other happiness. Hostesses would prepare Nauryz koje (thin porridge) and invite neighbors to taste it. They would greet each other with congratulations upon the beginning of the new year, and wish one another prosperity and happiness. During my childhood I remember that we lived in a valley. When Nauryz arrived, the sun shone brightly and there was no trace of snow. Poor old women would open the tuirlik (the felt which covered the lower cylindrical part of the hut) and begin patching the fabric. This meant that they were eager to move to the summer pasture and were doing all the preparations required for the move. The quickest families were already in their summer pastures, preparing for the nauryz celebration. By this time all meat from the previous Autumn's slaughter would have been eaten, with just enough for nauryz koje left over.

TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS IN KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKH CULTURE AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS Kelin Tusiru Following her wedding the bride needed to dismount from her horse a distance from her groom's house and walk the rest of the way. She would be wearing a big white shawl with fringes, and would be accompanied by many young girls. One of the groom's brothers would hurry to ask shuinshi, telling them the bride was coming. When the bride arrived, some women would through shuinshi. As we above mentioned wealthy people would prepare separate yurts for the young. The bride would be wearing a veil, as she was not allowed to show her face until Bet ashar, and she was not allowed to look straight to anyone. If she sat the wrong way the women would gossip, for she was required to be a bit childish and shy.

KAZAKH NATIONAL MUSIC The most popular kazakh musical instrument is the dombra - a twostringed instrument with an oval or more rarely triangle body. The strings are made from twisted sheep's intestines. It appeared first when Kazakhs were nomads and thus is hardy and simple in design. It can be played sitting, standing or on horseback. Another popular instrument is the kobyz - a bowed instrument with a concave neck and a big dipper-like body with an open upper side, and the lower side of which is tightened with camel leather. A carved stand for strings, which do not touch the neck, is placed on the lower side. For strings and bow (shaped like a bow) people use horsehair. In the past the shamans also used this instrument for making nasal, gloomy and penetrating sounds. The favorite wind instrument was the sybyzgy. It had the shape of a longitudinal flute. It was made of hollow cane or soft kinds of trees by cleaning the inside part. Also there was an impact tool called dauylpaz. It was a small drum which had a tightened leather on its upper side. It was mainly used during war campaigns and hunting. Starting from the second half of the 19 th century the Kazakhs created new instruments - the accordion ( syrnay ) and violin among them.

Professional singers ( yelenshi, enshi ) and musicians ( kuyshi ) used to travel among auls, this contributed to spreading music. The most popular were the performers who were skillful not only in singing and playing musical instruments, but also who could improvise about vital subjects. When telling legends and fairy tales, epic or historical sagas, the narrators and poet-improvisers were not only singing, but also narrated and played instruments with expressive gesticulation and mimicry.

Traditions and customs associated with gift giving Guests are very often have to receive or give presents; in addition, there are often times, when gifts should be given in some special occasions according to the traditions. Some examples are given below: Suyіnshі - a custom according to which a traveller or any other person who brought home a good message (news) receives a valuable gift from the owners in gratitude. Sometimes before telling good news a person says ‘Suyunshi’ or ‘what would you give me for a Suyinshi? ’, thus implying that he or she has something great to tell. “At mingizip shapan zhabu" is a high honour. According to the tradition, a respected visitor, who may be a poet (akin), a hero, warrior (batir) or other very respected man receives a gift from local residents: a horse and a splendid shapan (robe of camel's hair with a cotton lining) in recognition of their merit. Baygazy - a tradition of giving a gift to a person, who acquired a new valuable thing.

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