Culture, customs and traditions of the Tatar people: briefly

Each people has its own customs and traditions. Many of them are unusual and interesting. To live in peace with their neighbors, people need to know about what features they have and respect them. In this article we will consider the customs and traditions of the Tatar people.

In one scenario

On the expanses of our homeland, its representatives live almost everywhere. They are found from Tambov to Omsk, from Perm to Kirov, in Astrakhan. The religion of this people is Islam. Although there are groups converted to Orthodoxy. The culture and traditions of the Tatar people are associated with both religion and secular life. Usually religious holidays are very similar to each other. During their conduct, the customs and traditions of the Tatar people are observed. Briefly enumerate them:

• Morning prayer ;
• Visiting the cemetery;
• Preparation of food;
• Congratulations to all relatives and neighbors, paying special attention to parents;
• Distribution of gifts.

Religion and social life

A well-known religious holiday is Kurban-Bayram. On that day, believers must necessarily sacrifice an animal, as well as visit a mosque and give alms there. The holiday in honor of the birthday of Muhammad is called Mawlid. It is celebrated by all Muslims, so it is of great importance for this religion. On March 21 the Tatars celebrate Navruz. It is a holiday in honor of the spring equinox. On this day it is customary to have fun with the soul, because the more joyful the people will be, the more gifts they will get by nature. Another national holiday is the day of the Republic of Tatarstan. Its celebration is similar to our celebrations dedicated to the city's day, and ends with a salute.

Echoes of antiquity

Earlier, when the Tatars had pagan beliefs, they had interesting rituals aimed at appeasing spirits and making natural forces manageable. One of them was Yangyr Teleu. It was carried out if a drought occurred. To do this, the ritual participants gathered near the water source. They turned to Allah, asked for rain and a good harvest. Then they ate together the treats and poured water. For a stronger effect, a ritual of sacrifice was performed. Also in our time there is still a tradition of mutual assistance. Tatars come together to build or repair a house, to participate in meat preparations. However, in our time, people who want to help become selflessly less and less.

Universal joy

Probably the most famous is a holiday called Sabantuy. It is widely celebrated in the cities where the Tatars live, even in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is connected with the beginning of agricultural work. When the spring came, people rejoiced at the end of the winter, the fact that you can again start to work on the ground, to grow a crop that will feed their families in the cold season. If you translate the name of the holiday into Russian, you will get a "wedding plow". After all, "Saban" is a plow, and "tui" is a wedding. Nowadays customs and traditions of the Tatar people have undergone changes, therefore Sabantuy means the end of spring works, and not their beginning, and is carried out in the summer. This holiday consists of two parts. Although in large cities passes in one day. In the village, first they collect gifts, and then the maidan comes. Traditions and customs of the Tatar people in different regions always differed slightly from each other. Therefore, in one district, gifts were collected by a walking young man, in another - a young man on horseback, in the third - an elderly man.

Every woman who married within a year after the previous Sabantui prepared a richly embroidered and ornamented towel. It was considered the most valuable gift. On the second day the Maydan was held. Traditions of the Tatar people suggest that on this day there will be a variety of competitions: a national wrestling corset, jumps in length and height, jogging, jumps. They were intended only for men, women remained outside observers. Customs and traditions of the Tatar people can be seen even in these sports competitions. The best horses take part in the races, because this competition is considered very prestigious. The spectators and participants gather at a special place at a distance of 5 kilometers from the village. Riders are usually boys 8-12 years old. The finish line is traditionally located near the village, and the start is in the field. The prize was a towel sewed by a married woman, received during the collection of gifts.

Other competitions

By tradition, the Tatar people, in the race compete, divided into three age groups - from boys to old men. As you know, men compete not just for fun. It is very important for them to determine who is the strongest. The best part in this is helping to participate in the fight corset. This kind of match very well illustrates the customs and traditions of the Tatar people. This is a national struggle on the sash, instead of which now used towels. In this kind of power competitions, men of any age, beginning from five-year-old boys, can take part. The only limitation is the old age. Participants became pairs and started to fight, hugging the opponent with a towel around the waist and trying to put it on the shoulder blades. The fight lasted until one of the fighters was defeated or recognized himself as such. Then the winner was recognized as a batyr and was awarded one of the best prizes. Customs and traditions of the Tatar people, allowing to organize such a holiday, the preparations for which are going on all over the world, are worthy of respect.

No one is hurt

During the Sabantuy, not only men should have fun, so, besides the main competitions, many others were held, in which women could take part. This tug of war, climbing to a smooth post for a gift, comic competitions. Many of them are familiar to other nations. They are often used at weddings by the toastmaster. For example, running with an egg on a spoon, which is kept in the mouth, running in bags, fighting with cushions or sacks of straw. If we continue the description of the above-mentioned tradition of the Tatar people briefly, then we can say that Sabantuy is a bright and cheerful folk festival, something reminiscent of carnival. Dancing with driving roundelays, competitions of singers, dancers, and at the end of the treat with delicious dishes - that's what the participants of this holiday are waiting for.

Customs and traditions of the Tatar people in their family life

Such families are patriarchal. In them, the main role is given to men. In this sphere, the traditions of the Tatar people are reduced to two holidays, such as a wedding and the birth of a child. The combination of marriage is a bright event, having its own rites: redemption of the bride, getting a dowry, Nika and others.

Unit of society

Such a wedding has a number of features. During its conduct, the customs and traditions of the Tatar people are observed. Nikah is a rite accepted by Muslims, performed by a mullah in a mosque or in a house. Nowadays this is a tribute to the ancestors. It does not have legal force and requires official registration in the registry office. For it to be held, it is necessary to observe certain conditions. The bride and groom should not have intimacy before him, let alone live together. At such a wedding do not drink alcohol and do not eat pork. Only freshly prepared dishes are used for food, among which are those that are accepted, observing the customs and traditions of the Tatar people. Briefly: peremyachi, gubadi, kaimak, tokmach ashi, balesh, ochpochmaki, court, katyk, chak-chak, kosh-body, bread from sour dough. In fact, the treats on the table are much more than listed.

Men in the rite of Nick are sure to wear skullcaps. The bride puts on a closed dress with long sleeves, the head must have a handkerchief. The rite is conducted by the mullah. After he declares the bride and groom husband and wife, the parties exchange gifts. They are given to each of the relatives, men are given skullcaps, and women are scarves or shirts. Then the general feast begins, at which all guests eat and have fun.

When a baby is born

Traditions and customs of the Tatar people for children are associated with the rite, during which the child receives a name. They have been going on for a long time, and their order to this day does not change. At the festival, dedicated to the birth of a child, a mullah is necessarily present. He must read the prayer and name the baby in the name that the parents chose. After the end of this rite, guests are offered refreshments on a tray. They should take a treat, and instead of it, put money for a gift to the child.

How to become a man

If a boy was born, at the age of 3-6 years he will be circumcised. This tradition is associated with the prescriptions of the Shariah and is strictly in accordance with them. Probably, that the boy was not so bitter, this day passes very solemnly. Close and native people of the child are prepared in advance. Previously, for a mini-operation, a special person called a hunters was invited home. Now the boy is taken to the surgical department where circumcision is performed in sterile conditions, which reduces the risk of postoperative complications. After everything is done, the child is laid in a clean bed, wearing a long shirt. After the wound heals, they hold a special celebration. Previously, such a celebration was held on the same day. Perhaps two scenarios for the celebration. On the first of them, men and women sit separately. There are no alcoholic drinks on the table. The second one is more cheerful. Guests are treated to sweets, invite musicians, sing, dance.

A sad ritual

Not all rituals of the Tatars are associated with celebration and celebration. If a mourning event occurs in the family, farewell to the deceased relative passes through a long established tradition. First you need to wash the deceased. This is done by people of the same sex with him. Then they put on special clothes - kafenleu. It is a fabric sewn by hand on the body of the deceased. To do this, take a white cloth, the length of which for men is 17 meters, for women - 12 meters.

Bury usually on the day of death. Only men are present at the burial. Muslims do not usually bury in a coffin, so in order to bring the deceased to the cemetery, use a special stretcher. In the Muslim graveyards, the graves are directed from the north to the south, they are digged strictly on the day of the funeral. The tradition to put the deceased head to the north, and feet - to the south is associated with a similar arrangement of holy places of Muslims - Mecca and Medina. In the grave, a deepening is arranged, in which three close male relatives lay the body. By tradition, the land should not fall on it. A wake is arranged on days 3, 7, 40 and year. On the first date, the guests are few. They are mostly elderly men, on the seventh day they invite women. On the fortieth and a year from the date of death, everyone who wishes to remember the deceased comes.

What traditions still exist for the Tatar people?

The main custom is respect for elders, especially for parents. Also, from childhood Tatars are taught to help the younger, not to offend the disadvantaged. The mother enjoys special honor in the family, but the father's requests must be carried out without question, because he is the head of the family and all the households are subject to him. Tatars are able and like to receive guests. If a person is in their house, then he will not be denied anything, even if it is the enemy of their family. According to the tradition of the guest, first they give water, then they offer to wash, and then they treat them. In the Tatar families, modesty and decency are in favor, especially among young girls. For the wedding, women prepare in advance, learn how to cook, to farm.

Tasty food

In the Tatar families, her recipes of national cuisine are kept and handed down from generation to generation. The best dishes are made from meat, so they are hearty and tasty. The application finds mainly lamb, beef, poultry. The Tatars are former nomads, so they learned how to harvest animal products for future use-katyk, ertek, etremchek, kurut, kumis, are prepared from milk for goats, cows, camels and goats. Tatars and various broths which fill with greens love. From drinks they prefer tea, like green, black, and herbal. For him, many plants are collected and dried: dog rose, currant, linden, thyme, oregano, St. John's wort and others.

As a first dish, soup is usually cooked. For example, the Kullam. For him, a meat broth made from three kinds of meat is prepared: goose, beef and lamb. When it is ready, it is filtered and add onions, potatoes and noodles. Cook until ready and season with sliced meat. Served with kurutom and greens. Pies are baked to tea both sweet and with meat, and also serve sweets, chak-chak, honey, sweets.

Beautiful clothes

The culture of any people can not be imagined without a national costume. A feature of it for the male part of the Tatars is skullcap. This headpiece is home and festive. Between the lines of the skullcap it is customary to lay a cord or horse hair. Fabrics for her are used different, as well as decorations. Typically, young people sew skullcaps of bright colors, and for the elderly choose a material of calm tones.

Women's hats allow you to determine the age and status of their proprietress. Girls wear a calfak with a tassel decoration. Married ladies cover the headdress with not only the hair, but also the head, neck, shoulders and back. Coverlets for top hats are usually worn by elderly women. They are obliged to wear traditions and customs of the Tatar people on holidays. Photos of these headdresses can be seen in this article. In addition, the national costume of the Tatars is distinguished by bright colors, rich ornamentation, quality jewelry, a variety of shoes. Its appearance depends on the kind of people's subgroup that includes the person who wears it.

In this article, we examined the customs and traditions of the Tatar people. Briefly, of course. Because it is impossible to tell about all the features, rich culture and identity of the Tatars within the framework of one article.