Bashkir traditions. Family traditions and life of the Bashkirs

23.07.2019

For centuries, the best examples of human wisdom have been collected and perfected in the works of oral folk art, dressed in a surprisingly condensed form of saying in the form of proverbs and sayings. With great power, briefly, clearly and clearly, they reflected all the diversity of people's life: good and evil, light and darkness, love and hate, truth and lies, hard work and laziness, courage and cowardice, joy and grief ...

The first written information about the existence of legends, various beliefs and stories about the Bashkirs date back to the 10th century. The travel records of Ibn-Fadlan contain remarkable statements about the beliefs of the Bashkirs, as well as a retelling of one of the versions of the ancient legend about cranes.

Travelers, explorers of the region, writers rightly note that the Bashkirs had their own legend about almost every noticeable place, and, perhaps, there is no such river, mountain about which there would be no legend or song. But like the legends of other peoples, the Bashkir ones, including those about the emergence of tribes, clans, are built on fiction, fantasy, and religious stories. Everyday and moralizing tales usually denounced injustice and violence. Their heroes were distinguished by high moral qualities: selfless devotion to the homeland, courage and courage.

The oral folk art of the Bashkirs was distinguished by the richness and variety of content. It is represented by different genres, among which there were heroic epics, fairy tales, songs. Fairy tales differed in certain cycles - heroic, everyday, moralizing, legendary tales.

However, over the years, epic poems of "heroic" content lost their style and poetic form. The heroic plot of the Bashkirs began to dress in a prosaic form inherent in a fairy tale. Fairy tales and stories were filled with the struggle of man with the hostile forces of nature. The heroes of fairy tales in this struggle were helped by magical things and objects: an invisible hat, a self-sawing sword, which revived water, from which blood flowed when the hero was in trouble, and milk when luck came to him. As usual, the heroes of fairy tales emerged victorious.

The South Ural was an arena where complex ethnic processes took place, historical events that left a deep imprint on the minds of the Bashkir people. The places of these events were kept in the people's memory, overgrown with legends and traditions, such as, for example, about Magnitnaya Mountain, Uchaly (2, p. 283).

The Abzelilov region has long been known for its legends, tales, songs, and other works of folklore. There is a curious legend about the history of the name of the region. In ancient times, the brothers Abzelil and Askar, in search of the best lands for founding a new village, went out and settled on the site of the present regional center. Their possessions began to be called Abzelil, and the village - Askar.

The legends reflected people's belief in the existence of spirits - the "masters" of nature. The natural objects themselves were animated. According to legends and legends, rivers “talk”, “argue”, “get angry”, “jealous”, which can be read about in some of them - “Agidel and Yaik”, “Agidel and Karaidel”, “Kalym”, etc.

In the legends "Singing Crane" and "Voronenok" birds act as wonderful patrons of man. The cranes with their dances and kurlykans once warned the Bashkirs of the impending danger, and the crow nursed a newborn child left on the battlefield, did not let him die. In this vein, attention is drawn to the cult of the crow, which is quite widespread among the Bashkirs.

Dancing. The dances of the Bashkirs were distinguished by their specific features. In terms of content, they were subdivided into ritual and play. The first included girls' round dances at the festival "Crow Porridge", which was held in Beloretsk, Abzelilovskiy, Baymaks-kom, Ishimbai and other Bashkir regions and cities.

Various dance elements, rhythmic movements, gestures were used in the rites of expulsion of the disease from the human body, called "The expulsion of the albasta", "Treatment of the lower back", "Treatment for fright" and others. All these ceremonies were linked together with the impromptu dances of the kuryazi, accompanied by theatrical performances and percussion music. The dances "Cuckoo", "Dove", "Black Hen" reflected the ancient rituals of worship of ancestral totems.

The Bashkirs have recorded a number of girls' dancing games, which seem to be associated in the past with magical dances, including Swans, Mother Goose, and I'll Take a Chick. Among the game dances, the most popular were the militant "Perovsky", "Dance of the Hunter", "Bank", wedding - "Gostinets", "Dance of Daughters-in-law", "Complaints of the Bride", comic - "Rittay", "Chizhik", "Face to face ".

The Bashkir men of the South Urals imitated horse riding, horse riding, horse racing, hunting down prey, and the habits of animals and birds in their dances. The latter was clearly manifested in the dances "Dove" (Baymaksky region), "Glukharinoe tookanie" (the village of Utyaganovo, Abzelilovsky region). The originality of male dances was determined by their flightiness, swiftness, alternation of light moves in a circle with a shot in the center of the site. Women's dances are built on imitation of such their daily activities as pulling wool, spinning, winding threads into a ball, churning butter, making kumis, and ayran.

The most popular among the Bashkirs were dances imitating the behavior of a rider on horseback. Similar dances were performed under different names: "Horseman", "Shepherd", "Hunter". In them, smooth movements alternated with barely noticeable body vibrations, swift and sharp, as well as fast fractions. The performer with a continuous movement conveyed a sense of daring alertness, constant readiness for a throw, an action. In the dances, the Bashkir gravitation towards plot and depiction was manifested.

The structure of both male and female dances is identical: in the first half of the melody, an alternating move was performed, in the second - draw-bush. This is the main leg movement in all Bashkir dances.

Since the 16th century - the annexation of Bashkiria to Russia - there have been significant changes in the development of folk choreography. On the one hand, there was a gradual separation of the Bashkir dance from the ritual content, the ancient pagan ideas of the people, on the other hand, Russian creativity exerted an increasing influence on its choreography.

By the end of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th centuries, the dances "Circular Game", "Cuckoo", "Dove" and others were performed not only in connection with this or that ceremony, but also at all public festivals, girls' games. The dances were clearly losing their connection with rituals.

The service of the Bashkirs in the Russian army, joint military campaigns, their close communication with Russians in everyday life paved the way for the perception of such dances by the Bashkirs as Trepak, Kazachok, etc.

Rituals... As an object of study and knowledge, folk customs have always been of priority importance for ethnographic science. Today, not only ethnographers and folklorists, but also sociologists, historians, demographers, philosophers, art historians, culturologists, and specialists in other sciences are engaged in folk customs and rituals (traditional and new).

A custom is a generally accepted order, traditionally established rules of behavior, and a rite is a set of actions established by custom, in which some everyday traditions or religious ideas are embodied. In everyday speech, these concepts are often used as identical.

It is more correct to consider the rite as a kind of custom, the purpose and meaning of which is the expression (mostly symbolic) of some idea, feeling, action, or the replacement of a direct influence on the object with imaginary (symbolic) influences. In other words, any rite is also a custom, but one that has the property of expressing some idea or replacing some action. Every rite is a custom, but not every custom is a rite.

Of the national holidays of the Bashkirs, Sabantuy (the holiday of the plow) enjoyed special honor, which has been coping since pagan times and has survived to this day. It was arranged as a wide celebration before the arable land and the departure to the koshi. The holiday lasted for several days. During it, there were gambling competitions of the strong and dexterous, frantic races, various games, singing, dancing. Everyone, from small to old, ran a race, jumped like a frog, in sacks, and did other spectacular amusements. The main thing was that there was a good opportunity to eat a good meal; the case, according to M.A.Krukovsky, came to gluttony.

In the days of Sabantuy, the Bashkirs went to each other, congratulated on the holiday. The most plentiful treats are everywhere. Each owner has a ram slaughtered, delicious dishes are prepared, a lot of kumis is prepared, which flowed like a river. Wine, forbidden by the Muslim religion, also penetrated. The volume of food eaten by each villager, wrote the same M.A.Krukovsky, reached an incredibly large amount.

After the end of sowing, the summer cycle of agricultural work and related rituals began. To protect crops from drought, the Bashkirs resorted to various magical rituals of "making rain". On a certain day, by the decision of the old people, the whole village gathered by the river. They cooked dinner in a common cauldron, prayed to Allah, asking him for rain. Prayer was accompanied, as in the case of the Nagaybaks, with a sacrifice. Then they doused themselves with water, threw, apart from old men and women, each other into the river.

The Bashkirs also celebrated the so-called saban festival. It happened in a rather original way. Again, before the beginning of arable land, young people in the evening mounted the best horses, went round the village and, returning, stopped in front of every house and loudly demanded some kind of feed. The owner could not reject their demands - to give them cool, ayran, booze or honey.

Having traveled all over the village, the young people returned to their homes and the next morning they left for a field five miles away from their residence. After that they set off at a gallop back to the village, where on both sides of the street the entire village population was eagerly awaiting them. One young man or one young girl was holding a pole, to which was attached a white scarf embroidered with multi-colored silks. Those who jumped to the pole the fastest and tore off the handkerchief received it as a reward. There were loud exclamations of the audience - "Bravo!"

It often happened that two or three horsemen jumped up to the pole and grabbed the handkerchief at the same time. Then a struggle flared up between them. The one who won received the handkerchief from the hands of the youngest married woman. After the end of the ceremony, the men went to the mosque to pray to Allah and ask him for an abundant harvest of bread. Then a public feast began, at which they had fun in different ways: they sang, danced, played national musical instruments, fought, competed in target shooting.

Customs and rituals, as a kind of storehouse, contained many different components. They characterized the degree of development of the culture of this or that nation, the era of its life.

Natalia Staninova

Software content:

To acquaint children with the culture and traditions of the Bashkir people(costumes, songs, dances, customs, dishes).

Develop creativity, interest in traditions of fraternal peoples, curiosity.

Foster a sense of respect for peoples other nationalities, based on the study of national cultural traditions.

Preliminary work:

Examining illustrations with pictures Bashkir ornaments.

Conversation about life Bashkir, their customs, traditions.

Reading Bashkir folk tales.

Listening Bashkir melodies.

Vocabulary work:

Enrichment of vocabulary stock: Chuvash, Mordovians, Udmurts, yurt, holiday "Sabantuy".

Anchoring: Bashkirs, Tatars.

Event progress:

Cold sky, transparent distance

Lumps of frozen rocks.

It is not for nothing that this land was given

The proud name is Ural.

Ural means the Golden land.

The Ural is a vast expanse of rivers.

These are forests that are like packs of wolves,

The foothills of the mountains were surrounded by a ring.

The distance sparkles with the light of factories,

Trains rumble between the blocks of rocks.

It is not for nothing that this land was given

The glorious name is Ural.

(V. Nikolaev)

You and I, children, live in the Urals. The South Ural is considered the Motherland Bashkiria, since it is located on Bashkir lands... This is the land of free steppes and forests, deep rivers and light lakes, fertile plains and mountain ranges rich in various minerals.

People of different nationalities live here (what kind). (children's answers)... Yes. One brotherly family live here Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars, Chuvashs, Mordovians, Udmurts - representatives of more than 100 nationalities.

Today we want you to acquaint with the culture and traditions of the Bashkir people.

Bashkirs call themselves« bashkort» : "Bash"- head, "court"- Wolf.

Bashkirs are famous as wonderful farmers, experienced livestock breeders. For a long time they grazed herds of horses and sheep on free pastures.

For a long time Bashkirs are also engaged in beekeeping. Scented and fragrant Bashkir honey.

Behind the loose sands

Beyond the Nogai steppes

The mountains rise high

With emerald valleys

Rivers, light lakes,

Fast streams

There are undulating steppes

Spread with grass - feather grass

Disassembled by flowers

That is my native land

Free Bashkir country.

Have the Bashkir people have many national traditions... In the spring, when the sowing work ends in the fields, Bashkirs celebrate a folk holiday"Sabantuy" where you can hear their favorite melodious songs about their native land, about their loved ones.

Performed Bashkir song

For this holiday Bashkirs put on their national costumes and perform folk dances.

Girls perform Bashkir dance

They also have their own national games. Let's play one of them. The game is called "Yurt".

The game is being played

The game involves four subgroups of children, each of which forms a circle at the corners of the playground. In the center of each circle there is a chair, on which there is a chair, on which a scarf with a national pattern is hung. Holding hands, everyone walks in four circles at a variable pace and sing:

We are funny guys

Let's all gather in a circle.

Let's play and dance

And we'll rush to the meadow.

On a melody without words, the guys move in variable steps into a common circle. At the end of the music, they quickly run to their chairs, take a scarf and pull it over their heads in the form of a tent (a roof, it turns out a yurt.

With the end of the music, you need to quickly run up to your chair and form a circle. The first group of children to build a yurt wins.

Keeps many legends and traditions Bashkir land... We introduce you from one of the legends.

Staging Bashkir fairy tale"Why is the water in Lake Atauda salty?"

Bashkir people are very hospitable... They love to gather guests at the festive table and treat them with their national dishes, such how: tank belyash, kekry, kystyby, chak-chak. Today we invite all our guests to the festive table.

Belyash tank

Kystyby

- 44.09 Kb

Introduction 3

2. Customs and rituals of the Bashkirs 9

Conclusion 16

Bibliography 17

Introduction

Family customs and rituals are an integral part of the culture and life of any ethnic group. They reflect the way of life, social structure, cultural history, traditional worldview; psychological, social and moral meaning is laid. Customs and rituals regulated human behavior throughout his life, people believed that the health and well-being of the whole society depends on how correctly they are observed.

In the cycle of family rituals, funeral and memorial rites are the final ones. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. the burial and commemoration of the dead among the Bashkirs was carried out according to the canons of the official religion - Islam, although it contained many elements of ancient beliefs. At the same time, Islam itself, like other world religions, borrowed a lot from the early religious systems, therefore, various religious layers are closely intertwined in the funeral and memorial rituals, which are distinguished by a syncretic nature.

Each national people has its own customs and traditions, dating back to antiquity and having a deep cultural meaning, which serves them to strengthen and improve the spiritual and moral communal system. The Bashkirs are no exception in this regard. At this time, the Bashkir culture is not very popular among the national youth, and the elders do not promote the ancient holidays. But our culture and holidays are not lost, forgotten and not prohibited.

The statehood of the Bashkirs dates back to the 9th - early 13th centuries - the formation of the union of Bashkir tribes dates back to this time. In 1219-1220, the lands of Bashkortostan became part of the empire of Genghis Khan. In the middle of the 16th century, the Bashkirs voluntarily became part of the Russian state. By this time, they lived in the Nogai Horde, Kazan and Siberian, partly, the Astrakhan khanates. The process of the region's entry into Russia was not one-step; it spanned several decades and affected an area much larger than the territory of present-day Bashkortostan. Letters of gratitude from Ivan the Terrible to the Bashkir tribes became the basis of their contractual relations with the tsarist government. Despite the fact that the primary documents themselves have not yet been found and, perhaps, have not survived, they are mentioned in the shezher (genealogies) of the Bashkirs, both sides referred to them for a long time.

1. About national and traditional holidays

The most ancient Bashkir holiday is yiyin (national assembly). At popular meetings, issues of peace and war were resolved, the borders of tribal territories were clarified, and disputes were settled. The public meetings ended with a holiday. Inhabitants from other distant auls were invited to the yiyyn. This was done to establish friendly relations with other clans, as well as to establish acquaintances. Among the Bashkirs, marriage within the clan was strictly prohibited, and acquaintances in yiyyn allowed choosing a bride from a different clan. ... In ancient times, Sabantuy was celebrated directly on the day of migration from winter pastures to summer pastures. The main importance at the holiday was attached to military sports games, the identification of young batyrs, defenders of the clan, tribe, people. The festival was led by aksakals, who occupied the most honorable places on the festive Maidan. Batyrs of the former Sabantuys brought to the holiday scraps of fabrics, which they received for winning the competitions at the previous Sabantuys. In the event of a new victory, the patches sewn onto the ribbon were shown to the audience. This is how the victories were counted. On the day of the holiday, the old people went to pray at the mosque, asking God for a rich harvest. There were no strict rules on sabantui, the old people usually sat down to drink kumis, and the rest had fun - each according to his age. ... The first spring holiday was celebrated in early spring, a day or two before moving to summer pastures. It was called Crow's holiday or crow's porridge. This holiday was dedicated to the awakening of nature, the onset of the new year. Only women and children (boys under 12 years old) took part in it. The holiday contributed to the formation of an ecological culture in the younger generation, developed the need for communication with nature, knowledge of the real world, determined to some extent the positive behavior of people in nature. On this day, women fed the birds, hung still bare tree branches with various objects, as if predicting the well-being of nature, lush flowering. The artistic part of the holiday was also of great importance: crowded round dances, games, competitions, songs, dances. It is noteworthy that the songs and dances at the festival were composed from generation to generation by the women themselves.

Nardugan, translated from Turkic - the beginning of the new year, from Persian - new year. This one of the brightest and most colorful ancient holidays falls on the first day of the month of Farvardin according to the ancient Iranian solar calendar, and according to the Gregorian on March 21-22 or less often on March 23 (in 2009 - March 22). On the first day of the year, it is customary to go to each other with New Year's wishes, dance. The hosts present guests with trifles and sweets. If on the first day of the new year a man enters the house first, it means that the year will be generous, prosperous. The guest is plentifully treated, served with mash, mead, etc.

Iske is yang, and the girls are thinking about the groom. Signs are recorded: if there are many stars in the sky on New Year's Eve, then berries and poultry will be good: geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens.

Kar kheuye (for melt water) - celebrated in April. On the eve, they determine the place where you can take water or snow with a red ribbon. Everyone took part in this, horsemen trample the path, girls with rocker arms go for melt water. Grandmothers say that this water is very useful, it was rubbed to the waist, face, they believed that water relieves ill health, witchcraft. On this day we danced, drank tea and ate pancakes.

Kakuk saye (cuckoo tea), Bashkir rite of the spring-summer cycle. Distributed in southern Bashkortostan and the Trans-Urals. In the east of Bashkortostan (Uchalinsky district) it is known under the name "yoma seye" ("tea, on Friday"), in the northern regions of the Republic of Bashkortstan and in the Perm region - "seyesme" ("tea drinking"). Cuckoo tea is a kind of meeting of spring and falls on the so-called month of the cuckoo. Traditionally, cuckoo tea is a collective tea drinking, accompanied by games, songs, dances, fortune-telling. The villagers gathered for tea in a certain place (on the banks of the river, on the side of a mountain), or each hostess arranged a treat on the lawn in front of the house. It was believed that the more hospitality the hostess showed, the more prosperous the year would be for her family. Kukushkin tea, like Kargatui, goes back to archaic beliefs and rituals associated with the worship of birds and ancestors.

Sorrel festival. This holiday is held in the spring. How nature gave the first food. This is the custom of spring for the first fruits of nature - sorrel. A person also has such a time when the first tooth appears for the first time, the first word, the first step, first mounts a horse, etc. - all this is accepted, both as a holiday, and spring has its first fruits, the first snow, rain, thunder, rainbow, etc. - which are enshrined in custom. Therefore, when you first taste wild onions, sorrel, wild radish, borshchovka in spring, you express your gratitude to nature. The Bashkirs thanked Spring, Autumn, Summer for those food products (plants) that they received from nature. Also "wild onion soup" and "wild radish" are dedicated to the thanksgiving of nature for the first plants for food. If you eat the first greens of spring, you will not get sick. Six May herbs save you from sixty diseases; - said the ancestors.

The people appreciated the benefits of medicinal herbs, berries, fruits of trees that Mother Earth, nature gives. Nettle for heart pain, elecampane for stomach, birch bark for joint pain. Nature saved people from hunger, drought and disasters, and on holidays nature rejoiced with the people. From conquerors, war - children, old people, women fled in the forests, steppes and caves. Mother Nature is Alive, because she grows, blossoms, grows old, cries, laughs, dies, and then grows again.

Since the X century, Islam has spread among the Bashkirs, which became the dominant religion in the XIV century. The most significant holiday for Muslims is the Bashkir holiday - Eid al-Adha. All celebrations related to Islam are celebrated according to the Muslim lunar calendar. Eid al-Adha begins on the 10th of the month of Dhu'l Hijjah. It coincides with the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday of Eid al-Adha is set in remembrance of Abraham's attempt to sacrifice his son to God and is celebrated for four days. The beginning of the holiday is determined by the appearance of a new moon. They watched the appearance of the moon in various ways, in some places they looked at the water (in a pond, lake, river), in others they went down into a deep well or pit and looked out for the moon from there. The person who first came to the mullah with a statement that he managed to see the crescent of the young moon received the award. On the first day of the holiday, only close relatives and neighbors are invited to visit, and then walking around the guests begins, first by invitation, and then they come easily, to whom they like. The host himself does not participate in the meal with the guests, but must stand all the time, moving from one guest to another, until he is invited by the guests themselves to take part in the meal. A holiday is a joyous event. On this day, Muslims prepare traditional national dishes, gifts are presented to friends and relatives, and they should not be expensive. In every Muslim home, there is a spirit of such hospitality and generosity that any person who enters the house will not leave without having tasted the festive treat.

Why do we need holidays anyway? observance of traditions, an additional occasion to meet relatives and friends, or "to show yourself and to look at others !?" Probably everyone chooses for himself, regardless of nationality and religion. But my opinion of the author claims that on these holidays the main thing is to pay attention to all your good friends and close relatives. And as the old and hackneyed proverb says, "The main thing is not a gift, but attention!" and would like to add the statement of one philosopher "the person who is sure that he can live without society is mistaken, and those who think that society cannot live without them are mistaken in twins!" Do not forget about your best friends who are walking next to you and your immediate family who will always support you and are ready to accept you as you are.

2. Customs and rituals of the Bashkirs

The family customs and rituals of the Bashkirs reflected various stages in the history of the people. The Bashkir wedding ceremony consists of several stages: negotiations on marriage and its conditions (choice of a bride, matchmaking, conspiracy); the wedding itself, accompanied by a wedding ceremony (nikah); post-wedding ceremony.

There was a whole cycle of ceremonies associated with the birth of a child: laying in a cradle, giving a name, circumcision, cutting the first hair, treats in honor of the appearance of teeth, the first step, etc.) symbolized the connection between the child and his mother with society, the team.

In the cycle of family rituals, funeral and memorial rites are the final ones. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. the burial and commemoration of the dead among the Bashkirs was carried out according to the canons of the official religion - Islam, although it contained many elements of ancient beliefs. At the same time, Islam itself, like other world religions, borrowed a lot from early religious systems, therefore, various religious layers are closely intertwined in the funeral and memorial rituals, which are syncretic in nature.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries. among the Bashkirs, in parallel, there were large patriarchal families, which included several married couples with children, and small (individual) families that united one married couple and their children (the latter over time became predominant).

The father was considered the head of the family. He was the keeper of family foundations, manager of property, organizer of economic life and had great authority in the family. The young members of the family were strictly subordinate to the older ones. The position of women was different. The older woman, the wife of the head of the family, enjoyed great honor and respect. She was privy to all family affairs, disposed of women's work. With the arrival of the daughter-in-law (kilen), the mother-in-law was freed from household chores; they were to be performed by a young woman.

Work description

In Bashkiria, the decision to marry children was traditionally made by parents, and there were cases when the young did not even see each other before the wedding day. The wedding ceremony usually took place at home. For this purpose, the mullah was invited for the official conclusion of marriage and the corresponding entry about this in the register of births. The traditions of the Bashkir wedding have a long history, but, as now, before the ceremony could take place at home or in a mosque.

Wedding traditions and rituals of Bashkiria

Parents had plans for a future wedding when their children were still 5 years old. Traditionally, the Bashkirs held the "syrgatuy" rite - the engagement of future betrothed. When the time of the betrothal approached, families began to thoroughly prepare for the celebration: they collected the dowry, sewed outfits, prepared the house for the arrival of guests. The Bashkir wedding ceremony includes several stages:

Negotiation and designation of the conditions of the wedding (matchmaking, collusion).
Wedding ceremony (nikah).
Post-wedding traditions, rituals and customs.

The conspiracy of parents about the wedding of children

According to Bashkir traditions, the father of the young man, after consulting with his wife, asked the future groom if he agreed to the marriage. The head of the family determined who would become the bride. Moreover, the mother, although she participated in the selection process, but only indirectly. After determining the future daughter-in-law, the father went to the potential father-in-law to arrange a wedding. As soon as the consent of the girl's father was obtained, negotiations about the kalym started.

To confirm the conclusion of the marriage agreement, both families (bride and groom) traditionally drank kumis or honey from the same bowl. After that, the girl became a bride, and her parents no longer had the right to give her in marriage to another, even if in the future the chosen groom became an unsuitable couple (for example, when the financial condition deteriorated). If the father decided to refuse the wedding contract, then, according to tradition, he had to pay off by giving the man money or cattle.

Talks on kalym

The size of the wedding Bashkir kalym was determined by the financial capabilities of both families. It traditionally consisted of livestock, shoes, clothing and other goods. All gifts went to the bride, except for the horses. One of them was given to the girl's father, and the second was stabbed to the wedding dinner. The bride's mother received a fox fur coat as a ransom for her daughter. Despite the fact that the size of the kalym for a Bashkir wedding, according to tradition, could fluctuate, obligatory gifts were provided that the groom had to present to the family of the future wife. These included:

Mothers - a fox fur coat.
Father - a horse.
For a traditional wedding meal - a second horse (sometimes it was replaced by a ram or a cow) and 10-15 rubles for expenses.
Fabric for the bride's dress and money for jewelry.

The rest of the ransom (if any) was transferred to the bride's father, who in return gave the young family money and cattle. The bridegroom's name, in addition to everything, received a “small kalym” in the form of a scarf, tablecloth, dressing gown, boots and other traditional things. The conclusion of conditions related to the size of the ransom was traditionally marked by some modest treat.

Visiting the bride's house

A couple of days before the first visit of the groom to the bride, when the mullah is formally married, the girl's father, according to the Bashkir tradition, invites relatives to his house and talks about the arrival of matchmakers. When the invitees agree to help in organizing the wedding, the young family calls guests from the groom's side. The groom's father, when he first visits the daughter-in-law's house, brings with him a horse (which is later slaughtered). All the guests who came to the wedding stayed at the house of the bride's family. They were treated to traditional bishbarmak, after which the presentation of the gifts brought to the young began.

At night, the guests were distributed to the houses of the relatives of the bride's family living in the same village. The next day of the wedding, according to tradition, the horse was slaughtered. This process involved not only men, but also women who checked whether the meat was fat. The guests, knowing what awaited them, wore simple clothes. When the invitees came to the appointed place, matchmakers were thrown at them with a shout, and a mass brawl began, which was the traditional wedding fun of the Bashkirs.

The arrival of the father-in-law with the mother-in-law to the father of the groom

After staying with the matchmakers for a couple of days, the guests go home. Later, the father-in-law with the mother-in-law go to the young father. Moreover, special rooms for men and women were prepared for their reception. The girl's mother, according to the Bashkir tradition, brought a chest containing a scarf, chintz rags, threads and a shirt. After dinner, the men went to the women's room, where the bride's mother invited one of the women present to open the chest.

For this, the woman who agreed received a scarf as a gift, and the matchmaker sold scraps of fabric to men for a symbolic payment. The threads were presented to the old women, who did not give anything in return, but accepted them with prayers. And the shirt was traditionally given to the groom's father, in return he gave the girl's family some cattle. After distributing the gifts, the matchmakers said goodbye and went home.

Small wedding

Traditionally, the Bashkir wedding ceremony took place in the house of the bride's father. Here the old people gathered, who were previously present during the matchmaking. The mullah came and asked the young father if he agreed to marry. If the answer was yes, then the mullah read part of the Koran and entered the marriage contract in the register of births. For this he was traditionally paid 1% of the amount of kalym. After that, the groom received the legal right, as a husband, to visit the betrothed in her father's house.

Tui festival

After paying the wedding kalym, the groom and his relatives came to the father-in-law's house for his wife. He prepared in advance for the arrival of the groom, arranging the traditional Tui holiday. However, if the head of the girl's family was not rich, then he limited himself to offering a modest treat. The Bashkir holiday Tui, according to tradition, took place for 2-3 days. Wealthy parents arranged wrestling, horse racing, games, and general lavish meals.

Departure of the bride to her husband's house

When the time came for the departure of the young, according to tradition, the young sister and other relatives arranged various intrigues and obstacles. To do this, they carried the girl's bed into the forest and tied it with tight knots with a rope, the ends of which were hidden under the roots of trees. The newlywed herself was put on the bed, after which the friends and relatives of the groom began to fight for her. This is an ancient tradition of Bashkir weddings, which often caused serious damage to both sides in the form of torn clothes.

Before leaving, the young, according to tradition, said goodbye to her relatives. She went around the houses of all relatives in the village. The girl was surrounded by 4 friends, who held a scarf over her head by the corners and raised a cry. The young woman gave each relative a tablecloth, a towel, and threads. In return, women traditionally gave the betrothed money and other values. After that, the girlfriends put on the best suit of the young woman and took her to the cart, which was supposed to take her to her husband. Moreover, the girl showed active resistance until the brothers and father gave her something.

According to the Bashkir tradition, the young woman was accompanied by one relative who “sold” her for ransom to the father of the young woman. When the girl first crossed the threshold of her husband's house, she had to kneel down three times in front of her father-in-law, who, after each next time, raised the newlywed. After which she presented her husband's relatives with gifts, and in return they presented generous gifts to her.

The day after the wedding

In the morning, according to tradition, the newlywed was sent with a yoke and buckets to the well for water. She took with her a silver coin tied to a string. A young Bashkir wife threw this symbolic object into the water as a sacrifice to the water spirit. The children who surrounded her at this time were actively trying to fish the coin out of the water. From that moment on, the girl could open her face in front of her husband without hesitation.

What is customary to dress young people in Bashkiria for a wedding?

They prepared very carefully for the Bashkir wedding. For the newlyweds, elegant clothes were sewn, which after the ceremony they could wear on special occasions. The traditional holiday was full of bright colors, which were brought to it by colorful women's dresses with a fluffy skirt, decorated with multi-colored satin ribbons, patterns, stripes and frills. In some regions of Bashkiria, wedding dresses were traditionally decorated with chain stitch embroidery. Robe and camisoles were worn on top of the main outfit.

The traditional dressing of the bride in a woman's costume was important in the Bashkir wedding custom. This ritual took place before the performance of the young lamentation, after which she was taken to her husband's house. Of particular importance was the bride's headdress. Often at a wedding, a girl's dress was removed and a woman's dress was put on. In the southeastern part of Bashkiria, the bride's head was covered with a scarf, over which a helmet-shaped kashmau made of silver and coral was worn. In other areas, the role of a headdress was traditionally played by a cap embroidered with beads.

Bashkir clothing items that served as gifts had iconic symbols. Before the wedding, the bride presented her future husband with a shirt, the collar and sleeves of which she had previously embroidered. In addition, the girl handed the groom a skullcap and woven pants. The colors of wedding clothes meant a lot, so traditionally, bright shades of red, blue or green were used. The groom for the wedding was girded with a red sash, and for the Bashkir betrothed a belt was sewn from bright shreds.

Video: traditional Bashkir wedding

Traditionally, the Bashkir wedding and the birth of healthy offspring were considered the deeds of a worthy person who cares not only about his personal happiness, but also about the share of his people. If earlier the celebration took place on a grand scale and lasted for several days (and sometimes weeks), then the modern Bashkir wedding is held much more modestly, without observing all traditional rituals and with the absence of a generous dowry.

November 6, 2016

The ancient Turkic people, the Bashkirs, were able to preserve many traditions, language, rituals over their centuries-old history. Bashkir holidays are a complex mixture of pagan and Muslim origins. The culture of the people was also influenced by the years of existence as part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet past. Let's talk about the main holiday traditions of the Bashkirs and their features.

History of the Bashkir people

Many ancient sources mention a people living in the South Urals, breeding livestock and carefully guarding their territories. Historians believe that these are the Bashkirs. Documented sources confirm that already in the 9th century, an independent people lived on the slopes of the Ural Mountains near the Volga, Kama and Tobol. The Bashkirs spoke their own language, worshiped the forces of nature and numerous gods, were not aggressive invaders, but fiercely guarded their lands. By the 9th century, the gradual Islamization of the people began, but the old pagan traditions were harmoniously woven into the new religion.

There was no single conversion of the people to Islam, it was a soft replacement of existing beliefs with new rules and customs. In the 9th century, part of the Bashkirs moved to Hungary and eventually became part of the Hungarian people. The Ural Bashkirs in the 13th century actively resisted the Tatar-Mongol invasion and received the right to autonomy. After the collapse of the Golden Horde, the Bashkirs were part of several khanates, and from the middle of the 16th century, a gradual incorporation into the Russian Empire began.

First, the Bashkirs of the west and northwest became subjects of the Russian tsar, and later the entire people took Russian citizenship, but retained the right to their way of life, language, and faith. But the further life of the people was not entirely prosperous. Many Russian tsars tried to deprive the Bashkirs of their privileges, this provoked fierce resistance. But the entire subsequent fate of this people was associated with Russia.

Culture and traditions

A long and complex history has formed a unique Bashkir culture. This people initially led a semi-nomadic lifestyle, and this influenced their everyday habits. Islam has largely shaped the ethical foundations. Among the Bashkirs, family relations have always been the main ones, they are surrounded by a huge number of rules and rituals. The older generation is held in high esteem and plays an important role in the life of the entire family. The way of life of the people influenced the formation of culture.

The Bashkirs, who for a long time existed as an unwritten culture, have preserved a very rich and complex epic that tells about the appearance of the people and its heroes. Bashkir traditions and holidays incorporated into their structure and ideology not only Muslim customs, but also ancient pagan, totemic notions. The Bashkirs are very hospitable and peace-loving people, this was the result of a long coexistence of the people with a variety of neighbors, Tatars, Russians, Bulgars, Mongols, Kazakhs, and it was necessary to establish relations with everyone. Therefore, the Bashkirs still believe that you need to be able to maintain peace with everyone and be able to negotiate with them. At the same time, the people retained their identity and pride, not yielding to any outside pressure.

Festive and household rituals

The Bashkirs have a clear distinction between holidays and everyday life. If every day they lead a very simple life, content with the simplest food and things, then the holidays are celebrated widely, with various traditions. The Bashkirs have preserved detailed plot rituals for all important occasions: the birth of children, weddings, funerals, the beginning and end of the agricultural year.

There are peculiar scenarios of holidays in the Bashkir language, which have preserved a description of a clear sequence of actions for all occasions. The plot is characteristic of the dances and songs that accompany the rituals. Even the Bashkir costumes are filled with deep symbolism and semantics. The long Soviet period led to the fact that traditions began to go out of use. But today there is a revival of primordial traditions, and all significant holidays are celebrated in the republic noisily and according to all the rules, and there are many of them.

Eid al Adha

Like many Bashkir folk holidays, Eid al-Adha came along with Islam. This is one of the most important holidays of the year, on this day breaks the fast after a long fast. In Bashkiria, this holiday is celebrated very widely. In the morning, all people go to the mosque, then rich tables are laid in their homes, part of the food is necessarily distributed to the needy, and the poor need to be given money so that they have something to praise Allah for. The holiday is associated with the help of elders and those in need, with good deeds. Bashkirs on this day always prepare dishes from beef and horse meat, wear festive costumes, and dance a lot. There is no place for despondency on this day.

Eid al-Adha

This Muslim and Bashkir holiday is celebrated in September, and it is associated with sacrifices and pilgrimage to Mecca. It means the highest point of the path to holy places. From the morning in all the mosques of Bashkortostan, festive services and a special rite of sacrifice are held. Then tables are laid in every house, on this day it is imperative to present someone in need. Often the head of the family buys the carcass of an animal at the market: a ram, a cow, a horse, and, cutting a part of it, gives it to the poor. After that, the Bashkirs go to visit each other, where they praise the Lord at the festive table.

Kargatui

Almost all cultures have a holiday that marks the end of winter. Kargatui is a Bashkir holiday dedicated to the arrival of rooks. In translation from Bashkir this day is called “Rook wedding”. It is customary to have a lot of fun on this day. People dress up in national costumes, go out into the streets to sing and dance together. Traditionally, the Bashkirs decorate trees on this day with ribbons, silver, beads, scarves. Also, food for birds is prepared and laid out everywhere. Bashkirs on this day ask nature for favor, a good harvest. Festivities on this day consist not only of dances and songs, but also include various competitions of men in strength and dexterity. The holiday ends with a lavish meal of national dishes.

Sabantuy

Many Bashkir holidays are associated with seasonal agricultural cycles, Sabantuy or the plow festival is one of them. It marks the end of spring work in the field. People pray for a good harvest and try to appease the gods. Festivities are held in large areas where the entire population of the village can gather. It is customary to come to this holiday with families. The fun includes traditional songs, rituals and dances. Also on this day it is customary to hold comic competitions in wrestling, running in bags, and other types of competitions. The prize for the most agile and strongest is a live ram. On this day, you must definitely smile and joke a lot, the Bashkirs have special songs that invoke the grace of the gods.

Yiyin

If many holidays of the Bashkir people arose under the influence of other cultures, then Yiyin is a primordial, very ancient holiday of this particular people. It is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice. The holiday originated from the people's meeting, at which all important issues of the community were resolved. Only men took part in it; later this tradition was weakened. For the celebration, a platform was made in the form of a circle, where all the respected men of the village could sit down. Today the holiday has ceased to be a kind of folk veche, but it has remained a gathering, during which young men proved their worth as dexterous, skillful and strong members of the community. Various tests are carried out for them. Often during Yiyin, decisions are made about future weddings.

Public holidays

In addition to the fact that Bashkir national holidays are celebrated in the republic, over the years of existence within the framework of Russian culture, traditions have emerged to celebrate public holidays. The celebration of the New Year (January 1), Defender of the Fatherland Day, March 8, Victory Day, and National Unity Day are held in a completely customary format. The main difference is the holiday menu. The Bashkirs are very fond of their national cuisine and therefore, even on such secular, civil holidays, they put their favorite folk dishes on the table: kazy (sausage), gubadiya, baursak, balish with meat.

Religious holidays

Bashkirs are Muslims, so they celebrate events that are significant for this religion. So, in Bashkortostan, the already mentioned Uraza and Eid al-Adha, as well as Mavlid, Safar, Arafat Day and others are celebrated. Bashkir holidays are in many ways similar to similar events in Tatarstan; cultures have developed very similar religious traditions. The difference lies most of all in the songs, costumes, dances, which the Bashkirs have retained their national flavor.

Family holidays

Since the family is the most precious and important thing that the Bashkirs have, there are many complex and unique traditions here to celebrate ancestral events. Family Bashkir holidays are distinguished by a long history and carefully prescribed rituals. Even modern city dwellers return to their origins on the day of their wedding or the birth of a child and repeat the rituals with centuries of history. Weddings, births of children, funerals are always celebrated by all families, i.e. 3-4 generations of the family are going. Each holiday is associated with presenting gifts, treats, and praising the gods. For each of these events, there are special costumes, many special songs and a strict sequence of actions.