National Bashkir holidays: history, description and traditions

Ancient Turkic people, Bashkirs, managed to preserve many traditions, language, rituals for their centuries-old history. Bashkir holidays are a complex mixture of pagan and Muslim origins. The culture of the people was influenced by the years of existence in the Russian Empire and the Soviet past. Let's talk about the main festive traditions of the Bashkirs and their peculiarities.

History of the Bashkir people

Many ancient sources mention the people living in the Southern Urals, engaged in breeding cattle and carefully guarding their territories. Historians believe that this is Bashkirs. Documented sources confirm that already in the 9th century an independent people lived on the slopes of the Ural Mountains not far from 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 intertwined in the new religion.

There was no single conversion of the people to Islam, it was a mild 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 nation. Ural Bashkirs in the 13th century actively resisted the Tatar-Mongol invasion and got 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 gradual incorporation into the Russian Empire began.

First, the Bashkirs of the west and north-west became subjects of the Russian Tsar, and later all the people accepted Russian citizenship, but retained the right to their way of life, language, faith. But the further life of the people was not entirely prosperous. Many Russian tsars tried to deprive the Bashkirs of their privileges, this caused fierce resistance. But all the subsequent fate of this people was connected with Russia.

Culture and Traditions

A long and complex history formed a unique Bashkir culture. This people initially led a semi-nomadic way of life, and this affected his everyday habits. Muslims have largely shaped ethical basic principles. Bashkirs have always been the main relatives, they are surrounded by a huge number of rules and rituals. The older generation is surrounded by great honor and plays an important role in the life of the whole family. The way of life of the people influenced the formation of culture.

The Bashkirs, who for a long time existed as a non-written culture, preserved a very rich and complex epic that tells about the appearance of the people and its heroes. The Bashkir traditions and holidays incorporated not only Muslim traditions into their structure and ideology, but also ancient pagan, totemic notions. The Bashkirs are very hospitable and peaceful people, this was the result of the long coexistence of the people with the most diverse neighbors, Tatars, Russians, Bulgars, Mongols, Kazakhs and all needed to establish relations. Therefore, the Bashkirs still believe that it is necessary 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 pressures from outside.

Festive and everyday rites

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, the holidays are celebrated widely, with a variety of traditions. Bashkirs have preserved detailed plot rituals for all important occasions: the birth of children, the wedding, the funeral, the beginning and the end of the agricultural year.

There are original scenarios of holidays in the Bashkir language, which retained the description of a clear sequence of actions for all occasions. The plot is peculiar to dances and songs accompanying rituals. Even Bashkir costumes are filled with deep symbolism and semantics. The long Soviet period led to the fact that traditions began to disappear from everyday life. But today there is a revival of primordial traditions, and in the republic it is noisy and by all the rules to celebrate all the symbolic holidays, but there are many of them.

Eid al Adha

Like many Bashkir folk festivals, Uraza-Bairam came along with Islam. This is one of the most important holidays of the year, on this day there is a breakdown 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 set in their homes, some of the food is surely distributed to the needy, and the poor need to be given money so that they have something to praise Allah for. The holiday is connected with help to the elder and needy, with good deeds. Bashkirs on this day necessarily prepare dishes from beef and horse meat, put on holiday costumes, dance a lot. On this day there is no place for despondency.

Kurban Bayram

This Muslim and Bashkir holiday is celebrated in September, and it is connected with sacrifices and pilgrimage to Mecca. It means the highest point of the way to holy places. Since morning in all mosques of Bashkortostan there are celebratory divine services and a special ceremony of sacrifice. Then in each house tables are laid, on this day it is necessary to give someone from the needy. Often the head of the family buys an animal carcass at the market: a sheep, a cow, a horse, and, cutting it off, 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 in all cultures there is a celebration marking the end of winter. Kargatui is a Bashkir holiday dedicated to the arrival of rooks. In translation from Bashkir this day is called - "Grachai wedding". It's a lot of fun on this day. People dress up in national costumes, go out into the street to all sing and dance together. Traditionally Bashkirs adorn the trees with ribbons, silver, beads, scarves on this day. Also, food for birds is always prepared and laid out. Bashkirs on this day ask nature for favor, good harvest. The folk festivals on this day are not only dances and songs, but also include various competitions of men in strength and dexterity. The holiday ends with a lavish meal of national dishes.

Sabantui

Many Bashkir holidays are associated with seasonal agricultural cycles, Sabantui or a plow festival is one of them. It indicates the completion of spring works in the field. People pray for a good harvest and try to propitiate the gods. The festivities are held on large squares where the whole population of the village can gather. Families are welcome to come to this holiday. Fun includes traditional songs, rituals and dances. Also on this day it is customary to hold comic competitions in wrestling, running in sacks, other kinds of competitions. The prize itself to the cleverest and strongest is a live sheep. On this day, you need to smile and joke a lot, Bashkirs have special songs that call for the mercy of the gods.

Yyyn

If many holidays of the Bashkir people arose under the influence of other cultures, then Yyyin is an ancient, very ancient holiday of this people. It is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice. The holiday came from a people's congress, at which all important issues of the community were decided. Only men participated in it, later this tradition was weakened. For the celebration, a playground was arranged in the form of a circle, where all the respected men of the village could sit down. Today the holiday ceased to be a kind of people's veche, but remained a gathering, during which the young men proved their worth as clever, skilful and strong members of the community. For them, various tests are carried out. Often in the course of Yyyin 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 appeared to celebrate public holidays. In a very familiar format, the celebration of the New Year (January 1), Defender of the Fatherland Day, March 8, Victory Day, National Unity Day are held. The main difference is in the festive menu. Bashkirs are very fond of their national cuisine and that's why even on such secular civil holidays they put their favorite national dishes on the table: kazy (sausage), gubadia, baursak, belish with meat.

Religious holidays

Bashkirs are Muslims, so they celebrate the events that are significant for this religion. So, in Bashkortostan celebrated already mentioned uraza and kurban-bairam, as well as mawlid, safar, day Arafat and others. Bashkir holidays are similar in many respects to similar events in Tatarstan, cultures have developed very similar religious traditions. The difference is most in songs, costumes, dances, which the Bashkirs retained the national flavor.

Family holidays

Since the family is the most expensive and important thing that Bashkirs have, there are many complex and unique traditions to celebrate birth events here. Family Bashkir holidays are distinguished by a long history and carefully prescribed rituals. Even the modern inhabitants of cities on the day of the wedding or the birth of the child return to their origins and repeat the rituals with a century-long history. Weddings, the birth of children, funerals are always celebrated by the whole family; Going 3-4 generations of the family. Each holiday is associated with the presentation of gifts, treats, praise of the gods. For each of these events there are special costumes, a lot of special songs and a strict sequence of actions.