Rysbaeva G.K., Nusubalieva D.
Kazakh state women’s teacher training university, Kazakhstan
TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS OF KAZAKHSTAN
Tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed
down within a society, also a basic character of a society still maintained in the
present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or
impractical but socially meaningful clothes (like lawyer wigs or military
officer spurs), but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as
greetings. Traditions can persist and evolve for thousands of years---the word
"tradition" itself derives from the latin tradere or traderer
literally meaning to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping. While it is
commonly assumed that traditions have ancient history, many traditions have
been invented on purpose, whether that be political or cultural, over short
periods of time. Certain scholarly fields, such anthropology and biology, have
adapted the term "tradition," defining it more precisely than its
conventional use in order to facilitate scholarly discourse.
Traditions
are practiced in many distinct forms. Traditions are commonly known as
ritualistic practices that are passed on generation after generation; they're
passed through society, family and individual influences. Some traditions are
based on religious beliefs. Other traditions may provide an understanding of a
particular culture. Whichever way a tradition is learned, it will always define
the principles of customs for the people who practice them.
We
have such proverb as “Every country has its customs”. Every nation keeps its traditions. They have a social and
historical, cultural, and everyday life, ideological and pedagogical meaning,
are an integral part of the national personality, and reveal its basic nature. Kazakh people is very rich for
traditions and customs. Unfortunately,
during the last years many moral
standards and national traditions have been forgotten, which resulted in the spiritual declination of our nation. Kazakhstan is our Motherland. It is the
largest state in the Central Asia.
Kazakhstan has a
very diverse population so there are many different customs and traditions.
Each ethnic group has brought a special type of food for a certain holiday or
songs that symbolize their heritage. The Kazakh customs and traditions have
endured throughout the many hundreds of years of Kazakh culture. Kazakhs have always revered and highly valued their national customs and traditions. It is almost
impossible to describe all the traditions followed by Kazakh people in
one article, thus a brief introduction to Kazakh beliefs and customs is given
below.
Every nation ‘s
traditions were established during the centuries, deriving from its religion ,
peculiarities of national mode of life. For Kazakhs their customs and
traditions were the law. If requirements and rules were not fulfilled and neglected, it was also punished by
traditions. Toi, nauryz kozhe, konakasy, shashu, erulik are the ancestors’
traditions , and their applying in our daily life is called “guryp”. Traditions
of art, history, and culture – are a great inheritance of Kazakh nation. The role of traditions
and customs in many generations’ upbringing is vital.
The main tradition
of Kazakhs, which eventually transformed into a feature of national
character, is hospitality.
In the Kazakh society, there is an unofficial law voiced in ancient times,
which says “Meet a guest as the God's messenger”.
Hospitality is considered a sacred
duty in the Kazakh society. At all times, the steppe inhabitants did their best
to please their guest. Therefore, each traveler knew that he or she would be
welcomed anywhere in the Kazakh land.
Respect
for the elderly is another positive feature of Kazakhs.
Traditionally, a child from early childhood is taught to be moderate and honest
when dealing with older, wiser and life experienced people.
1.
Traditions and customs associated with the guest reception. Travellers
in Kazakhstan are most likely to be encountered with the traditions, associated
with guest reception. Here are some examples of them:
Konakkade - a tradition
under which a host has a right to ask a guest to sing a song or play a musical instrument (of course, as
long as a guest is known for his or her talent), thus ensuring some fun and joy
during the feast. “Kade” (present). At tois and big holidays winners of the
contests and games and guests receive presents. People call them ‘kade’. Everybody
has the right to hope for ‘kade’ is the disrespect, negligence in regard to the
tradition, and the violation of the custom. In Kazakh national culture there are very many kinds of “kade”.
Erulik - if new settlers
came to a village erulik was arranged in their honour, i.e. a small celebration
that allowed newcomers to quickly adapt to the new location. Also, the custom
erulik includes assistance in settling of the newcomers, when neighbours
provide them with firewood, drinking water, etc. for the time being.
Aul citizens
invited new-settlers for ‘erulik’, to
visit their place, for them to adapt
faster to the new surroundings. Here
neighbors come to aid.this custom characterizes one more fragment of the
attitude towards the needs of a human
being, tradition itself bears both social and virtuous meaning.
Toy
dastarkhan - a
special form of celebration, organized for holiday or during it. Sports
competitions, music, singing competitions (aitys) and horse riding competitions
are organised in addition to the gatherings during Toy dastarkhan. Very often, dishes of
Kazakh national cuisine are served during such occasions.
Toi is
a feast. Toi is arranged when a son is born, when he is circumcised, and when
gets married. Weddings are joyful
events, with games and contests of akyns-singers. There’s no person who wouldn’t be glad to hear a word “toi”. Many people gather for toi. Toi is
arranged also in Nauryz, Day of
Republic , Day of Independence and International Women’s Day.
Konakasy
“Konakasy” ( konak means guest, as means
treat). Kazakh people is famous for its hospitality. To meet the guest with
honor and to feed him is the evidence
of generosity. All the most delicious food Kazakhs always kept specially for
guests, and there were three kinds of them.
“Arnaiy konak” – specially invited or arrived from far away, “kudaiy
konak” – the guest from God, occasional person, “kydyrma konak” – the one who
specially waited for meals and come to have it. The person who didn’t give
“konakasy” was to pay a serious penalty - a horse, camel etc.
2.
Traditions and customs related to marriage. Kuda
tusu (Matchmaking). When a son is considered a grownup, his
parents seek a bride for him. They choose a potential match for their daughter
whose family is of the same financial position as theirs. Lets assume one
family has a son and they have friends with an eligible daughter. They know
each other very well, and until the end of their lives would like to stay
friends. For that purpose they say "we'll marry our children." The
tradition of Kuda Tusu has its own peculiarities. You know that Kazakhs are
very generous people, and their houses are always open to guests. In earlier
times, a person on a long journey could drop by any kazakh aul, and the host
would greet and feed him. After having a rest, the visitor would thank the host
and ride on his way. When matchmakers came to visit, they would also stay for
the night. These matchmakers, typically old man, would attach an awl (biz
shanshar) sometime during his visit, and he would take their host's whetstone.
After his departure, the host began'to look for his whetstone, but he would not
find it. Instead, he would find an awl attached to a rug. This meant that his
previous guest wanted to become related through the marriage of their son. If
the intended bride's parents did not ask about their whetstone, the old man
would return and speak more directly about his family's intentions. Why did
they attach an awl to a rug? It meant that they had a groom and he might be the
son of the intended bride's parents. The reason of their taking a whetstone is
they wanted to be a matchmaker or "Kudanda". A Kudanda is an oath in
front of god. Here "Kuda" means god, "anda" means oath in
arable. This was the beginning step of matchmaking.
The next stage of the ceremony
is sendoff of the bride Kyz
uzatu. Kyz uzatu –to give a daughter away for marriage
is a big toi. This day all parents
are both sad and glad. Glad
because they have brought up such a beautiful, clever, and worthy daughter , for
whom they will never be ashamed , and
sad because it is really a pity to give away a girl, when she still seems ao be
a little child. In the evening before
the Kyz uzatu matchmakers come to the bride's house again. Number of visitors
should not be even . The matchmakers usually arrive in the evening. Since the
moment of their arrival toi begins: games, songs, funs, traditional ‘kade’. The
same night the girl’s close relatives
officially invite the matchmakers to visit their home. Early in the morning, the bride with
matchmakers is sent to the groom's house, when the sun rises. The crack of dawn
is a symbol of a new day and new life. Before her departure the girl bids her
goodbye, singing a song to relatives, who are seeing her off.
Zhar-zhar. The traditional
song performed by youth during the
girl’s seeing off. ‘Zhar-zhar’ is performed in the form of aitys between girls and zhigits. Zhigits in their song ask the girl not to feel sorry about
deserting her father, because her good
father-in-law may successfully replace him. Girls sing in reply that father-in-law will hardly
replace her dearest father. Zhar-zhar bears the ritual character in the first
place and is performed in humorous way.
Betashar, or removing the bride's veil, was an important ritual. The bribe fully
dressed in her wedding outfit is brought to the yurta of the bridegroom’s
father, where all the guests are gathered. At both her sides. Holding her by
arms, well-bred and respectful daughters-in-law are standing. ‘Betashar’
includes the acquaintance of the
bride with her future husband’s relatives: here good pieces of advice and
wishes for happy family life are being expressed. A specially invited poet was
in attendance; someone familiar with the bride's father-in law, mother-in law,
and all the groom's relatives.
Korimdik is a gift that must be given for the seen for the first time young daughter-in-law , newborn baby.
Korimdik is derived from the word ‘koru’ – to look, to see. The meaning of this custom is not in taking
or giving the gift, but in the
expressing of good intentions of relatives and friends.
"Shashu" – is a very beautiful and joyful custom. It is done the following way:
during the great event, matchmaking the
heroes of the occasion are strewn with candies or money. When the groom came to
the bride's house, one of the respected woman of the aul would throw shashu or
special treats. Everyone would try to catch one, for this would indicate a
successful marriage for their daughter too. Just this is called shashu.
Everybody loves this custom very much, but children especially. Gladly they hurry to collect the scattered
candies. Adults do not mind to pick up the candies too, because they trust they
will bring them luck.
The ancestors of modern-day Kazakhs were nomadic or semi-nomadic,
and many of their customs reflect that lifestyle. Nowadays, people live mostly
in cities and villages, although many still lead an agricultural life. As a
result of their nomadic lifestyle, the Kazakhs developed one of the most efficient
and practical transportable dwellings - the yurt, which has many uses today. As
you travel through Kazakhstan, you will see different types of these low,
cylindrical felt and wood houses, still in use and beautifully decorated with
tapestries, and multicolored embroidery. Overnight excursions to yurt camps are
extremely popular with travelers. The Kazakh people have a long
tradition of peace, tolerance and co-existence. Children learn hospitality and
respect from a very young age, and this is reflected in the wonderful
hospitality offered to all guests and travelers. If you visit a Kazakh
household - whether or not you are expected - those present will stand up in
greeting as you enter the door. You will be seated on the tor - the special
guest seat and offered a cup of either kumiss or tea. At the end, I would like to say Kazakh people
proud own traditions and customs. You are welcome to Kazakhstan!
The list of
the used literature
·
Қàçàқ õàëқûíûң ñàëò-äәñòүðëåð³ Êåíæåàõìåòұëû Ñ. Àëìàòû, 2004.
·
Kazakhstan - International
Religious Freedom Report 2008 U.S. Department of State. Retrieved
on 2009-09-07.
·
Әæ³ғàëè Ñ.Å. «Қàçàқ õàëқûíûң äәñòүðëåð³ ìåí әäåò-ғұðûïòàðû» .Àëìàòû, 20057
·
Àғûëøûí ò³ë³ . 10 –ñûíûï.
Ò. Àÿïîâà. Àëìàòû: Ìåêòåï, 2014.
·
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5006444_what-is-tradition.html.