Tatar traditions and customs: weddings, folk, holidays. Presentation for children and adults, photo

Characteristic features of the Tatar people

Each nation has certain characteristics that distinguish it from the rest, and the Tatar is no exception. Regarding the appearance of Tatars, it is a fairly common opinion that most representatives have dark hair, brown eyes and pronounced cheekbones.

But this is not always true, since in addition to this type of appearance, there are also completely opposite ones. It is very important to take into account that the Crimean, Kazan, Astrakhan and other Tatars are completely different peoples and have many differences among themselves.

Almost all representatives of this ethnic group are united by such character traits as deep patriotism, reverent attitude towards family and homeland, and hard work. National self-awareness and pride in one’s origins are especially noticeable.

Tatars honor the history of their nation; most can boast of excellent historical knowledge . Patriotism is also manifested in interest in national holidays, customs and traditions. They are carried through generations and not forgotten, thereby preserving their unique culture.

In communicating with people, Tatars show themselves as people who are confident in themselves and their family, who also have a developed sense of self-esteem. Sometimes they can be too persistent and inflexible, due to which they effortlessly achieve what they need.

A particularly important quality for which the Tatars are famous is their love of work and high ability to work. If they are particularly interested in a task, they can put in a lot of effort without even noticing how they are immersed in the process. This attracts employers and helps you develop rapidly in your career.

The differences between the varieties of the Tatar ethnic group are especially evident in their interaction with other peoples. For example, Crimean and Polish-Lithuanian Tatars are more prone to misunderstandings and resentment.

They can quickly solve the problem, but nevertheless show some aggression. Representatives from Kazan and Siberia, on the contrary, make new acquaintances with people from other ethnic groups without any difficulties. They can easily develop relationships into closer ones, or establish professional and work connections.

Religious holidays

Let's start looking at the traditions of the Tatar people with religious holidays. Here you can find many similarities with Muslim customs. So, the morning on such a day begins with prayer, in which only men take part. After this, they get together and go to the cemetery, where they offer prayers at the graves of their departed relatives.

At this time, women are at home with their children and preparing the festive table. By the way, here the culture of the Tatar people has a slight intersection with Russian traditions. We are talking about close communication with neighbors, who always come to visit each other during the day, bring some gifts or simply congratulate each other.

For example, on the holiday of Kurban Bayram (day of sacrifice), people treat each other to the meat of a killed lamb. It is believed that the more people can be treated to delicious food, the better the year will be for that family.

Let us remember that the religion of the Tatar people is Islam. Although, to be precise, this is Sunni Islam. But among these people there is an exception in the form of a fairly large number of baptized Tatars who were converted to Christianity.

Rules of conduct among the Tatar people

In public life, Tatars, as adherents of Islamic traditions, greet each other with the common greeting “Aassalam aleikem!” Aleikem assalam." This is especially common among older generations, and younger ones can use other interpretations.

It is important to note that Tatars shake hands with both hands. Especially in relation to the elderly, this rule should under no circumstances be violated.

According to Tatar customs and traditions, you need to greet a respected person with both hands.
In an official setting, representatives of the Tatar ethnic group conduct a conversation while sitting opposite each other, keeping a sufficient distance. During this, it is considered bad form to gesticulate too actively, sit in a relaxed position and use inappropriate gestures.

At the end of the meeting, the interlocutors ask each other for understanding for possible violations of clearly established aspects of etiquette. You also need to thank them for their time, treats and wish you all the best.

A particularly important place in Tatar etiquette is occupied by behavior when receiving guests and feasts. Representatives of this ethnic group are extremely hospitable and open to people, which implies constant interaction with them.

Previously, Tatars gathered guests not only for such important events as holidays, weddings or funerals, but also for no reason. Also, for example, slaughtering livestock, making cheese, butter and other products should have been an occasion to gather with loved ones and relatives.

An important place in guest etiquette is played by the obligatory gifts that visiting guests give to the owners of the house. They don't have to be expensive, but it's important to target specific interests, hobbies, and ages. Also, all children of the family and younger relatives of the owner should not be deprived, since they are also entitled to gifts.

According to the Tatar tradition, unlike other nationalities, gifts are given not only to the owners, but also received in return. They should be approximately equal in value to show their mutual respect.

Tasty food

In Tatar families, her recipes for national cuisine are kept and passed on from generation to generation. The best dishes are made from meat, so they are filling and tasty. It is mainly used in lamb, beef and poultry. The Tatars are former nomads, so they learned to prepare livestock products for future use - katyk, ertek, eremchek, kurut, kumis are prepared from the milk of goats, cows, camels and goats. Tatars also love various broths seasoned with herbs. As for drinks, they prefer tea, both green, black and herbal. Many plants are collected and dried for it: rose hips, currants, linden, thyme, oregano, St. John's wort and others.

Soup is usually cooked as a first course. For example, kullamu. A meat broth is prepared for it from three types of meat: goose, beef and lamb. When it is ready, it is strained and onions, potatoes and noodles are added to it. Boil until done and season with chopped meat. Served with kurut and greens. For tea they bake pies, both sweet and with meat, and also serve sweets, chak-chak, honey, and candies.

Traditions of the Tatar people in nutrition

The cuisine of the Tatar people has been formed over a long period of time due to its geographical location, ethnicity and religion. It is famous for its versatility and a huge variety of flavor combinations.

Throughout the development of the culture of their people, the Tatars were engaged in agriculture, which is why the presence of grain crops was especially prevalent in the diet. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the predominance of various potato dishes in the diet noticeably increased.

As for vegetables, for a long time the Tatars paid very little attention to gardening, which is why the cultivation of crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage and onions was limited to small harvests.

Livestock and poultry breeding have always occupied the most important place in the Tatar economy. Because of this, a cuisine has emerged in which there are many ways to prepare meat, both large animals and small ones. The use of eggs, butter, and cheese is equally popular. Almost no meal is complete among the Tatars without products of animal origin.

Tea drinking is not only the end of lunch or dinner, but also the most important part of Tatar traditions and customs. The phrase “The tea table is the soul of the family” is extremely common, which clearly shows the importance of tea as a drink for representatives of this people.

They prefer it freshly brewed and always hot, which is why they drink it from small cups. Add milk, sugar, honey, candied fruits or apple slices to taste.

Regarding table etiquette, any meal should begin and end with hand washing and prayer. It is necessary to start eating immediately after all the dishes are ready and put on the table, so as not to keep yourself waiting. But at the same time, it is important to note that if senior, respectable people are present, then they should start.

All Tatar dishes are divided into several parts:

• first (borscht, soups: fish, millet, meat, rice, pearl barley);
• the second (meat, except pork, poultry, fish, various cereals, potatoes, vegetables as a side dish);
• baked goods with a savory filling, which is served with main courses (belyashi, samosa, bukken, kurnik, pasties);
• sweet baked goods (pancakes, pancakes, katlama, chak-chak, baursak, pies with sweet filling);

• drinks (mostly tea, but this also includes compotes, beet and bread kvass).

According to the rules of Ramadan, Tatars over 12 years of age must fast for a month and prohibit eating before sunset. But the influence of Islam also extends to the rest of the time, calling for moderate amounts of food and alcoholic drinks.

Music

It is distinguished by melody and is divided into several varieties:

• Baits;
• Dance motives;
• Tutorials;
• Instrumental pieces;
• Tunes of poetic works;
• Spiritual rhythms that differ in tempo and intonation.

The gusli, kubyz and dumbyra are used to play national music. When performing modern motifs, classical instruments are used. A characteristic feature of the music of the Tatar people is monophony.

Holidays in Tatarstan

Tatar traditions and customs include the attentive and respectful attitude of Tatars to national holidays. The most important of them are officially fixed and marked with days off. These include historical ones - Republic Day and Constitution Day of Tatarstan, as well as national ones - Sabantuy, Kurban Bayram, Nowruz.

Republic Day is celebrated on August 30, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Tatarstan. In 1990, on this day, the region received the status of the Tatar Soviet Socialist Republic. When the USSR collapsed, Tatarstan did not separate, but continued to be part of the Russian Federation.

This holiday plays an important role in the historical development of the Tatar people, so it is celebrated accordingly. Various events and concerts begin in the morning, and the evening ends with a large fireworks display.

Another important public holiday is the day of adoption of the Constitution of Tatarstan, celebrated on November 6. It was adopted in 1992, at the 12th session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. As for any country, this day is considered one of the most important in history, therefore it is a day off and is celebrated by the population.

Regarding national holidays, Sabantuy is especially widely celebrated - a large-scale entertainment and sports event in which anyone can participate. This holiday does not have an exact date, but generally it falls at the end of spring, as a symbol of the end of field work.

At this time, the Tatars feel the special unity of their people, and also pay respect to their history and traditions.

There are also some other Tatar holidays that are not so widely known, but are nevertheless celebrated every year:

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Religious traditions of Tatarstan

Islam is preached in the country. Muslims begin the days of religious holidays with collective prayer in the morning. Only men take part in the procedure. Then they go to the graveyard and again offer prayer near the graves of their relatives. At this time, the women are preparing dinner.

As in our country, on holidays it is customary for the Tatars to visit their relatives and congratulate them. Return to contents

Ramadan and Ramazan

In the Turkic dialect the name of the ritual sounds like “uraza”. The ninth month in the Muslim calendar. According to legend, it was at this time that the angel Jibril conveyed the first divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad. It is included in the holy book of Muslims - the Koran. It is customary to pray for the season every day.

Fast

During Ramadan, Muslims adhere to strict dietary restrictions. This is required to strengthen self-discipline. It also helps to learn how to faithfully carry out the orders of Allah. Throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset, it is strictly forbidden to eat food, drink water, smoke or indulge in other pleasures.

While the luminary illuminates the earth, Muslims must work and pray, study the Koran or engage in pious crafts. It is also mandatory to give something to charity.

Eid al-Adha

Feast of Sacrifice. Celebrated on the tenth day of the twelfth month according to the Muslim lunar calendar. The celebration is held at the end of the Hajj. According to the holy book, the angel Gabriel came to the prophet Ibrahim in a dream and told him the will of Allah.

As it turned out later, it was just a test. And when the father was ready to kill his son, Allah had mercy on the man, allowing him to replace the boy with a lamb.

Eid al-Adha symbolizes the mercy and greatness of God, once again confirming that the best sacrifice is true faith.

Kids and traditions

In early spring, the little ones went to the houses of their village, collecting cereals, eggs and flour. From the collected products, adult girls cooked porridge in a huge cauldron. A little later, the holiday of “colored eggs” began.

They started preparing for it the day before. Housewives used improvised means to paint eggs in different colors. Most often they used onion peels or birch leaves.

On the same day, buns and pretzels were baked. Early in the morning, the children again went home and scattered wood chips on the floor, accompanying their actions with cheerful songs. A similar ritual was carried out in order to avoid an “empty yard.”

Plow Festival

The most massive and popular celebration in Tatarstan. It includes festivities filled with games and dancing. Representatives of the nationality call the event Sabantuy, because in translation from the local dialect “saban” means plow, and “tui” means holiday.

Previously, it was celebrated before the start of field work in the spring (April). Nowadays, folk festivals take place in June, after sowing is completed.

Sabantuy and its celebration

Tatars start celebrating early in the morning. The girls dress up in beautiful dresses and take out the best jewelry. Bright ribbons are woven into the horses' manes, and ringing bells are hung on the bow.

A huge number of people gather in the meadow (Maidan). There is a wide variety of entertainment available here. The main spectacular event is kuresh (national wrestling). To win a competition, strength is not enough; cunning and dexterity are required.

Kuresh has strict rules that cannot be broken. Opponents are wrapped in wide belts called a sash. The essence of the competition is to hang the opponent on your belt in the air, and then lay him down on his shoulder blades.

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Sabantuy traditional competitions

In addition to kuresh, the Plow Festival is filled with other fun and interesting events:

• Running in sacks.
• Pair competition: one leg is tied to the partner's limb. In this position, you need to be the first to reach the finish line.
• Walking along a swinging log, at the end of which there is a valuable present.
• Game "Break the pot". The participant is blindfolded and given a long stick, with the help of which he must break the pottery product.
• You need to climb a log with prizes attached to the top.
• Running with an egg and a spoon. The cutlery is placed in the mouth and the testicle is placed on it. Whoever reaches the finish line first without breaking the fragile “passenger” wins.
• Competitions for girls. For example, who can cut the noodles faster and smoother?
• Fighting with bags of hay while sitting astride a log. The main task is to sweep the enemy down.

In the clearing, where the main festivities are concentrated, you can eat shish kebab, pilaf, homemade noodles and national dishes (chak-chak, peremyach).

Family traditions of the Tatar people

Following family traditions, the house of representatives of this ethnic group must be divided into two parts. The first is intended for the woman, necessarily including the stove for cooking, and the second is the male half.

It is here that important guests are received, and opposite the entrance there are bunks, considered the most honorable place in the house. If housing allows, then the man and woman live in separate rooms. Otherwise, the parts are separated from each other by a partition or screen. Etiquette states that you can only enter each other's territory if necessary and after asking permission.

Due to the fact that previously there was practically no furniture in the home, during meals or family meetings, the Tatars sat on carpets laid on the floor. Here, too, they adhered to a special etiquette, which is still common in some families. Men had to sit in the lotus position, and women had one leg tucked under them, the other leg resting on the floor and the knee pulled up to the chest.

Great importance is attached to relationships with relatives, both through one’s own line and through marriage. The oldest members of the family, who are the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge, are especially revered. Previously, Tatar etiquette was particularly strict and disciplined.

For example, women were not allowed to eat with men, and in wealthier families, they were not even allowed to leave their homes unaccompanied. Regarding the husband's older relatives, the wife did not have the right to call by name, appear without a headdress, in revealing clothes and with an open face.

At this time, family etiquette can be widespread among the Tatars, both according to the old model and more gentle. Some families have long since begun to move away from the usual Tatar traditions and customs, abandoning, for example, the division of a home into two halves. But the majority continue to observe them without violating the listed foundations.

Sad ritual

Not all rituals among the Tatars are associated with triumph and celebration. If a sad event occurs in a family, then farewell to a deceased relative takes place according to a long-established tradition. First you need to wash the deceased. This is done by people of the same sex. Then they dress in special clothes - kaphenleu. It is a cloth hand-sewn onto the body of the deceased. To do this, take white fabric, the length of which for men is 17 meters, for women - 12 meters.

They are usually buried immediately on the day of death. Only men are present at the funeral. It is not customary for Muslims to bury in a coffin, so in order to carry the deceased to the cemetery, they use a special stretcher. In Muslim churchyards, graves are directed from north to south; they are dug strictly on the day of the funeral. The tradition of placing the deceased with his head to the north and his feet to the south is associated with a similar location of the Muslim holy places - Mecca and Medina. A depression is made in the grave, into which three close male relatives place the body. According to tradition, soil should not fall on it. Funeral services are held on the 3rd, 7th, 40th day and year. On the first date there are few guests. These are mostly older men; on the seventh day they invite women. On the fortieth anniversary and one year from the day of death, everyone comes to remember the deceased.

Wedding traditions of the Tatar people

A wedding is the most important event in Tatar families, so it is almost always celebrated on a grand scale. The date is scheduled in advance in order to have time to complete all preparations and hold the celebration with dignity.

The very first stage is matchmaking and parental negotiations on the part of the bride and groom. Tatar traditions and customs involve fairly strict rules, where newlyweds play a less significant role than their fathers and mothers. They are the ones who approve the marriage, discuss all the nuances of the wedding celebration, and divide the budget.

At the same time, at such a family gathering, the bride’s devotion is not discussed, but remains a secret. Only after this the newlyweds learn about the results of negotiations between the parents and the set wedding date.

Organizing a wedding celebration and preparation takes at least a month. During this time, the groom must have time to buy gifts for the bride, her family and all close relatives who are invited to the holiday. The bride, together with her parents, continues to prepare the dowry, which is of utmost importance in Tatar culture.

Due to the fact that the holiday lasts more than one day, many families prefer to organize it at home, but only if the space of the home allows. Tatars do not like constraint and cramped conditions, so otherwise they would prefer not to save money on a restaurant.

Regarding decorations, classic wedding ones are most often combined - balloons, panels of flowers, serpentine - along with those traditional for Tatar culture. These can be tablecloths with various embroideries, pillows, collages, dishes with a characteristic ornament.

Great attention is paid to the outfits of the newlyweds, which are strictly selected in accordance with the traditions of Tatarstan. The groom's image is not very different from the usual European type - a black or dark blue suit, white shirt and tie are required. But the national headdress, the skullcap, is obligatory.

It can be either plain or with embroidery. The bride's wedding dress should clearly represent the innocence, modesty and complaisance of the woman herself. An outfit made of thick white fabric should cover all parts of the body except the hands and face. Under no circumstances should you leave your shoulders, neck or head exposed.

Unit of society

This type of wedding has a number of features. During the event, the customs and traditions of the Tatar people are observed. Nikah is a Muslim ritual performed by a mullah in a mosque or home. In our time, this is a tribute to our ancestors. It has no legal force and requires official registration in the registry office. For it to take place, certain conditions must be met. The bride and groom should not have intimacy with him, much less live together. At such a wedding they do not drink alcohol or eat pork. Only freshly prepared dishes are eaten, including those that are customary to eat, observing the customs and traditions of the Tatar people. Briefly: peremyachi, gubadi, kaymak, tokmach ashi, belesh, ochpochmaki, court, katyk, chak-chak, kosh-tele, sour dough bread. In fact, there are much more treats on the table than those listed.

Men at the Nikah ceremony must wear skullcaps. The bride wears a closed dress with long sleeves and a scarf on her head. The ceremony itself is performed by a mullah. After he declares the bride and groom husband and wife, the parties exchange gifts. They go to each of the relatives, men are given skullcaps, and women are given scarves or shirts. Then a general feast begins, where all the guests eat and have fun.

Musical traditions of the Tatar people

Tatar traditions and customs include many different events, which are accompanied by music and songs. They, in turn, are divided into lyrical and epic.

In the lyrics, drawn-out songs are the most common, thanks to which a unique Tatar motif is immediately recognizable. This genre was formed over many centuries and eventually became a real musical heritage. The texts most often have a romantic orientation, but can also be dedicated to nature, parents, and home.

Short tunes are contrasted with drawn-out ones and are a combination of rhythmic music and clear text, often with humorous or love content. Village tunes are an intermediate form between the two listed. The name was given to them due to the lack of fixed texts, which may change slightly.

Despite the fact that after 1917, folk songs began to be rapidly replaced by Soviet hits, the Tatars eventually managed to preserve their musical heritage. In the modern world, representatives of this ethnic group continue to pay enough attention to their national music, taking part in various festivals and concerts.

Wedding

The Tatar traditions in celebrating this event are somewhat similar to the Russians. Much attention is paid to the bride price. If in our country it is symbolic, then in Tatarstan the groom has to really fork out and pay the bride price. This is only a preface to the celebration; then a luxurious banquet is organized for invited friends and relatives.

At the beginning of the holiday, guests get to know each other and jointly choose a toastmaster, that is, the most cheerful and playful person at the wedding. This tradition has practically become obsolete. In the modern world, young couples prefer to entrust the organization of the holiday to professionals.

The central dish on banquet tables is the national sweet chak-chak. An incredibly delicious cake is made from crispy cake layers, sprinkled with monpensier sweets on top. The main hot dish is baked goose with pilaf.

After a hearty lunch, it’s time for a ritual called caressing. The bride sits in the center of the room and begins to sing sad songs about her difficult fate. Every relative comes up to her to pet her, cheer her up, or give her parting words.

The guy stays in the girl’s house for four days, during which he must win over his future relatives. At this time, the bride presents the groom with gifts made with her own hands. After the bride price is fully paid, the celebration smoothly moves to the guy’s house. Shows are held here, to which all relatives are invited.

The Tatar people celebrate a wedding according to one of three scenarios. The first, discussed above, consists of matchmaking. In this case, the bride and groom marry by mutual consent, want to be together and observe all the ancient customs.

The second version of the holiday is when a girl leaves her father’s house without the consent of her father and mother. In the third case, the bride is simply kidnapped. Of course, you practically won’t find this in big cities. But in remote settlements, “theft” sometimes happens.

Traditions in the clothing of the Tatar people

Folk costume is an integral part of Tatar culture. From it you can find out about a person’s approximate age, his character and hobbies. In the course of historical development, a feature has emerged that is common to men and women - the trapezoidal shape of the national costume.

It consists of a shirt, knee-length for men, ankle-length for women, and pants. Depending on income, various materials can be used to sew a suit. Women's shirt-tunics are often decorated with ribbons, embroidery and lace.

Since headwear is obligatory in Tatar culture, special attention is paid to it. A man's wardrobe must include home and weekend wear.

The first type of headdress is the skullcap, which is a small cap worn on the top of the head.

Already on top of it is worn an “upper” cap, hat or turban. For unmarried girls, the most common is the kalfak, the cone-shaped part of which is thrown over the shoulder.

Married women should wear a completely different headdress. It is more voluminous due to the fact that in addition to the head and hair, it also covers the neck, shoulders and part of the back.

The national shoes of the Tatars are considered to be chitek and also ichigi. The first are special boots made of soft material, which most often contain Tatar ornaments.

They can be either pronounced or almost invisible. Ichigi is a more simplified option for everyday wear. Most often they are black or brown in color and reach the knee in height.

How to become a man

If a boy is born, he will be circumcised at the age of 3-6 years. This tradition is associated with the requirements of Sharia and is carried out strictly in accordance with them. Probably, so that the boy would not feel so bitter, this day is celebrated very solemnly. The child’s relatives and friends prepare for it in advance. Previously, a special Sunnetchi person was invited home to carry out a mini-operation. Now the boy is taken to the surgical department, where the foreskin is circumcised under sterile conditions, which reduces the risk of postoperative complications. After everything is done, the child is put into a clean bed, putting a long shirt on him. After the wound has healed, a special celebration is held. Previously, such a celebration was held on the same day. There are two possible scenarios for the holiday. According to the first of them, men and women sit separately. There are no alcoholic drinks on the table. The second one is more fun. Guests are treated to sweets, musicians are invited, they sing and dance.

Unusual and strange traditions and customs of the Tatar people

Tatar traditions and customs are striking in their diversity, and some of them seem unusual for representatives of other ethnic groups. For example, Tatars tend to pay great attention to the gates of their house. At the same time, they strive for a bright, inviting appearance, which can tell a lot about their hospitable hosts.

The entrance gates are not only painted in rich colors, but are also often decorated with Tatar ornaments and various designs.

It is important to note here that Islam prohibits the depiction of living beings, so plant and natural motifs are most often used.

Also unusual for other nations is the habit of the Tatars to drink a lot of tea and attach great importance to this drink.

Very often they not only end lunch or dinner with tea, but also start it with tea.

Culture

As we know, every nation has its own specific traditions and rituals that are characteristic only of it. And very often, people who have many of these characteristics become recognizable. The roots of all traditions go back to the distant past, which in modern times comes to life thanks to the national holiday.

The Tatars have two main words that mean some kind of celebration. They call their religious holidays the word “gayet”, and all folk holidays that do not relate to religious issues are called “beyrem”, which literally translates as “spring holiday” or “spring beauty”.

True and false stereotypes about the Tatar people

Stereotypes about the Tatar people that most often turn out to be true:

• hardworking and resilient;
• thrifty and thrifty, which is why most of the population has approximately the same income;
• always wear a national costume and headdress;
• strictly follow the traditions of both the Tatar people and Islam.

False stereotypes about Tatars:

• all representatives have black hair, brown eyes and dark skin;
• most men have a beard;
• Polygamy is common.

Despite the mixture of cultures of different ethnic groups, Tatar traditions and customs were preserved thanks to the reverent attitude of the representatives of this people. The Tatars carry their original and unusual culture through the centuries, passing it on to subsequent generations and being proud of their history.

Article design: Mila Friedan

When is the baby born

The traditions and customs of the Tatar people for children are associated with the ceremony during which the child receives a name. They have been going on for a long time, and their order has not changed to this day. At the celebration dedicated to the birth of a child, a mullah is always present. He must read a prayer and name the baby with the name chosen by the parents. After the end of this ceremony, guests are offered a treat on a tray. They should take the treat and instead put money towards a gift for the child.

National holidays

Now let's talk a little about folk holidays and traditions that have nothing to do with faith. The culture of the Tatar people is characterized by the fact that most of these holidays occur in the spring.

The fact is that at this time nature itself awakens, life changes, everything is renewed. And if the spring is good, then this means that people will have a harvest, and, therefore, a good life throughout the year.

Bright life

Tatars profess the Muslim faith, but their women do not wear any black clothes. On the contrary, even in everyday life the Tatars have a lot of bright colors. These are also chests in which dowries are usually kept - they are bright red or green. And hand-embroidered tablecloths, bedspreads and curtains. But Tatars never have images of people or animals on their carpets or towels—this is forbidden by Islam. But the patterns can be the most intricate.

There are no icons in the Tatar house, but there is a special place, like an altar. This is called “shamail” - on a special stand there is a sheet from the Koran and amulets against evil spirits.

Tatar rituals associated with the birth of a child

The birth of a child among the Tatars is associated with numerous rituals, which were considered necessary to ensure the protection of the mother and child from the influence of evil forces...

This was the act of introducing the child to the family and partly to the wider community. In addition, these rituals expressed feelings of joy and hope in connection with the arrival of a new family member.

At the mosque in Uchaly (Bashkiria). Photo by Sergey Sinenko

The Tatars believed that a woman should give birth and thereby contribute to the growth of the family and the population of the village as a whole. A young barren woman became the object of gossip and gossip from those around her. Such women were called “koryk” (barren flower).

In the absence of children, the woman was always considered guilty. Large families met with public approval. The birth of a child was considered an important event. The birth of a son brought especially great joy to parents; the birth of twins was also considered a good omen.

The pregnant woman was surrounded to a certain extent with care. So, in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, she was entrusted with relatively easy work; she was not left alone in an empty hut at night, since, according to existing beliefs, evil spirits could replace or kill the child even in the womb. Therefore, in the absence of her husband and other family members, an old neighbor was invited to stay with her for the night.

The cycle of rituals associated with the birth of a child usually included the following elements:

childbirth,

birthday party (babi tuye),

naming,

first hair cut,

first tooth celebration

circumcision,

rituals against the evil eye.

As sources note, births were attended by midwives everywhere2. The birth took place at home on planks. The midwife or experienced elderly woman cut the baby's umbilical cord, placing it on a silver coin. This custom, according to the Tatars, provided the newborn with strong, metal-like health and wealth. The umbilical cord along with the afterbirth was wrapped in a clean rag and buried in the ground, choosing a clean place in the yard for this. In some places, the Tatars had a custom of preserving the umbilical cord of a newborn: it was wrapped in a rag or leather and stored in the gap between the mat and the ceiling boards. According to legend, this umbilical cord protected the life and health of the child.

The newborn was bathed by the midwife and wrapped in his father's shirt.

This was done with the wish that the child would be close to his father and loved by him. After the first bath, the midwife lubricated the child’s mouth with butter; more often, she wrapped the butter in gauze and gave it to him to suck. In some villages of the Kryashen Tatars, a child was given chewed bread with butter wrapped in a rag to suck. In the villages of Zakazanya, the closest relative or mother of the woman in labor brought “Vlbђ” - a delicacy made from flour fried in boiling oil with the addition of dissolved honey or sugar.

Immediately after childbirth, on the same day or the next, a bathhouse was always heated, which was called the newborn bathhouse - “babi munchasy.” In some villages, relatives and neighbors were invited to the bathhouse, and tea was prepared for them. In others, their family washed themselves in the bathhouse. And when she became too hot, the midwife helped the woman in labor wash and bathe the baby, for which she received a special gift.

The most important, honored guest on this day was the mother of the woman in labor. For the first-born, she brought a child's dowry, consisting of a blanket, pillow, diapers, and food.

If the child was not the first, then there might not be a dowry. In some villages, the mother of the woman in labor also brought shaky. More often the mother-in-law or the child’s father prepared the shaky soup.

In the first days after giving birth, the woman was visited by neighbors and relatives. They brought food with them. This custom was called “babi ashy kerti.” The treat could consist of baked goods, as well as eggs, butter, etc. It was believed that the more women came with the treat, the more milk the mother would have.

During the first forty days of life, the child was bathed every day, alternating warm soapy water with slightly salted water. The required water temperature was determined by the elbow or the back of the bather's hand. From forty days to one year, the child was bathed once every two to three days. For a week, starting from the child’s first birthday, a bathhouse was heated, where the midwife washed the woman in labor.

In the first 3-4 months of the child's life, the child was swaddled. It was believed that swaddling retains warmth and protects the baby's limbs from bending. After the child was 40 days old, he was placed in a cradle, and until that time he lay on a pillow next to his mother on a bunk.

The first shirt for a newborn was made from an old one, as they believed that in this case the child would wear the clothes carefully without wearing them out.

The shirt was worn only in the early days. It was impossible to go longer, otherwise the newborn could be whiny and painful. Then the shirt was washed, ironed and saved for the next child, “so that the children would be friendly with each other”3. Children under six months of age, regardless of gender, wore a vest. From the age of 1-2 years, the clothes of boys and girls began to differ.

If in some families children died, then after the birth of the next child, in order to “protect” him, they performed the ritual of “selling” the newborn: the midwife took the wrapped child out into the street, put it on a pile of garbage, and returned home. Another woman immediately picked him up, approached the window and offered the owners to “buy” the child.

After a short bargaining, the woman handed the child out the window. This ritual, widespread among all the peoples of the Middle Volga and Urals, was obviously intended to deceive evil spirits, to convince them that the child does not belong to the woman they are pursuing.

Among the peoples of Central Asia, the birth of a child was also the most joyful and important family event. A woman who had many children and grandchildren was considered the happiest. In the past, no special conditions were created for a pregnant woman. The only thing she was not allowed to do during this period of her life was lift heavy weights.

It was believed that from the moment of childbirth, the mother and child were especially actively threatened by evil spirits. Therefore, no one was informed that the woman was going into labor, otherwise the birth would be very difficult and long.

For this reason, sometimes even the midwife was called at the very last moment. In addition to the midwife, the mother of the woman in labor and two or three close relatives were present at the birth. If they were not there, they invited a neighbor who had many children and experience in helping women in labor. A healthy woman was preferred as a midwife so that her properties would be magically transferred to the woman in labor and the child.

The midwife, having received the child, tied and cut the umbilical cord, and sprinkled the wound with ash from the burnt threads of the silkworm cocoon. For their work, the midwife was given one piece of soap, a piece of fabric for a dress and some cotton wool.

To facilitate childbirth, they opened doors and locks in the house, and during difficult, protracted labor, they unexpectedly broke a teapot next to the woman in labor, hoping that, being frightened, she would give birth faster.

To ward off evil spirits, amulets such as a knife, pepper, onion, garlic, and caraway seeds, widely known in Central Asia, were placed under a woman’s pillow. All this was done so that the woman in labor would not have bad dreams, so that evil spirits would not come to her, so that there would be peace. There were other ways to protect and help a woman in labor. For example, if a woman had a difficult birth, they took a prayer written on a piece of paper from the mullah, wrapped it in a rag and tied it to the leg of the woman in labor. To facilitate childbirth, the woman in labor had her completely unbraided braids lowered onto her chest, or only the ends of the braids lowered onto her chest were unbraided.

After the birth of the child, the midwife bathed him in a basin in heated water. Salt, clay from the walls, coins, and egg shells were added to the water to protect the newborn from illnesses. The midwife, having bathed the child, took out the coins and took them for herself. In some areas the child was bathed immediately after birth, in others this was done seven days later. After washing, the mullah read a passage from the Koran, and this completed the ritual of the first bath.

The newborn was wrapped in rags left over from old shirts, dressing gowns, or in an old person’s quilted shirt or dressing gown, which was supposed to contribute to the child’s longevity.

The joyful news of the birth of a child was most often conveyed to relatives and friends by teenagers aged 10 to 15 years. Among the Uzbeks of Northern Khorezm, the birth of a child (especially a son) was first reported by the midwife to the grandfather, and then to the father.

Before the mother put the baby to the breast, he was given a piece of butter in his mouth. On the first day after the birth of a child, a treat was arranged, to which guests brought gifts in the form of fried eggs or raw, and sometimes boiled eggs, sweets, sugar, and in some places money. The main dish at this holiday was scrambled eggs with fried meat.

During the forty-day period after childbirth, according to existing beliefs, the fifth, seventh and ninth nights were considered the most dangerous because of evil spirits: the fifth night was especially dangerous. That night, a lot of people gathered around the woman in labor with her child, and relatives came. That evening they usually ate pilaf or rice porridge.

On the 5-7th day after birth, when the child’s umbilical cord fell off, he was bathed for the second time, clothes were put on him for the first time and a holiday was held - “bishek-tui” - “lullaby wedding”, at which the child was put into the cradle.

The mullah, who was invited even before the “bishek-tuya”, pronounced the call to prayer - azan - in the child’s ear and called his name.

A woman with many children or a midwife placed the child in the “bishek-tui” cradle. At the same time, she said: “Don’t be afraid of anything, grow up healthy, be brave, live long.”

When the child was already tied to the cradle, dried fruits, sugar, and sweets were poured over the blanket covering it, while saying: “Bismillah” I. The sweets were picked up and eaten by the women present in the hope that this would help them also give birth to a child. The child was not shown to the guests. In the morning, before the thuy, very long noodles were prepared, and in the afternoon they were distributed to the guests. The long length of the noodles was supposed to magically contribute to the longevity of the child. In Samarkand, there was also such a custom: a long thread, almost to the ground, was left at the collar of a child’s shirt, which was also intended to ensure his longevity.

After the end of the forty-day period, the mother and child went to their closest neighbors and relatives, who gave her various sweets. Guests came to the house of a woman who gave birth to congratulate her and look at the child. Guests gave money as a reward4. The Tatars had a fairly persistent belief that the first forty days of a baby’s life are especially dangerous, and therefore the child should not be left alone, so as not to cause trouble. The same was typical for the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Turkmen and some other Turkic-speaking peoples.

The child was carefully protected from the evil eye, so they did not take him to places where it was crowded and did not show him off.

In addition, “preventative measures” were used: the shaky tree was hung on a rowan pole. A sprig of rowan or bird cherry was tied to a fluffy tree, sewn to a child’s hat, and they were credited with the property of being a talisman against the evil eye. For the same purpose, a shell and a bright button were sewn to the cap.

Numerous beliefs of a magical nature were also present in the customs of the Bashkirs. Their main goal is to ensure the safety and health of the newborn. To protect a pregnant woman from the influence of evil spirits, various amulets were sewn onto her clothes, and to facilitate childbirth, they tapped her with an empty leather vessel or shook an empty bag over her.

In the past, when child mortality was high and especially many children died in early childhood, the death of a child was most often attributed to the action of evil forces. That is why many magical rituals were aimed at preserving the life of a child and his health by scaring away evil spirits. For this purpose, various amulets were attached to the cradle: body parts of various animals, as well as rowan fruits, rings, arrows, stones from sacred places.

The idea of ​​the magical power of an arrow capable of driving away evil spirits existed among many peoples. Just like other sharp piercing objects (a knife, a dagger, scissors placed under a baby’s pillow), the arrow, according to the Bashkirs, was an effective means for protecting the health and well-being of children.

After the birth of a child, all sorts of measures were taken to protect him from the evil eye: they tied the child’s wrist with red threads, smeared his forehead with red paint or soot, or crushed a rowan berry on it, etc.

Juniper, oregano, and birch chaga mushroom were endowed with magical properties, with the smoke of which a child was fumigated if there was a suspicion that he had been jinxed6.

The first days and months after birth were extremely significant in the mythological and ritual traditions of many peoples. They were especially afraid of the appearance of a person with a “bad fate” in the home. Among the Tomsk Tatars, for the first forty days the woman in labor did not leave the house and did not show the child to strangers. After this period, the child was washed with “40 spoons of water,” adding them to the bathing water. At the same time they read a prayer.

The tradition of forty days was typical for the maternity rites of many Turkic peoples. The ceremony, known as “chilla” among the Uzbeks and Tajiks, “kyrkynan shykty” among the Kazakhs, “kyrk kun” or “kyrk” among the Kyrgyz, marked the end of the child’s period of greatest vulnerability.

On the fortieth day, the Kirghiz of the Atbashi region organized a festive meal, during which forty specially baked flat cakes were distributed to children. By this time, a special shirt was sewn for the child. It was assembled from forty pieces. The mother begged for them, going around the neighboring yurts. An obligatory part of the celebration was bathing the child in forty spoons of water. In traditional thinking, 40 days apparently corresponded to the 40 weeks of the lunar gestation cycle7.

The Tatars named the child a few days after birth. Leaving him without a name any longer was considered dangerous, as he might get sick.

The naming ceremony - “isem kushu” was carried out with the invitation of the mullah and honorary elders, relatives and neighbors. The baby was brought to the mullah on a pillow, and he, reading excerpts from the Koran, loudly pronounced the name of the newborn several times and immediately made an entry in the newborn registration book. The predominant names were from the Muslim birthday party.

The naming ceremony was concluded with a treat - “ash”. This was the only feast to which men were invited, and even then mostly older ones. The feast for women was more crowded, which was sometimes held after the men were treated. Women always came with a gift for the newborn. They brought a piece of cloth, soap, a scarf, etc.8

The naming ceremony is described in the work of K. Fuchs: “After three days, on the fourth, a mullah is invited to perform a religious ceremony, in which the mullah holds the child in his arms in front of him and loudly shouts the azan into his right ear, and then whispers a stone into his left ear , the same as adhan, and at the same time gives the child a name. The mullah is paid for this, each according to his condition, and he is treated luxuriously.

All male acquaintances are invited to this feast. Over the course of several days, all the women they know come to the mother in labor and each one brings a tooth just like the Russians. In addition, they bring a shirt for the newborn, the rich - silk, the poor - calico, many also give blankets, chaplashas, ​​skullcaps and caps. They say that a rich mother in childbirth receives so many such gifts that she fills a considerable chest with them.”9

And here is what this ritual looks like as described by Ya. D. Koblov:

“After some time - after a week, and sometimes earlier - after three or four days, the ceremony of naming the newborn takes place. The father of the newborn goes to the mullah and asks him to come to the house to name the baby. They prepare for this day as if it were a holiday. Relatives and close friends are invited, mainly those who have previously brought gifts to the mother and the child... Upon arrival, the mullahs carry the child out and place it on a bunk or on the floor facing Mecca. The mullah asks the parents what name they want to give the baby. Parents appoint the name of a prophet, a companion of Muhammad or a saint, famous for his exploits and learning... The religious celebration is accompanied by abundant refreshments.”

The ceremony of naming a child among the Siberian Tatars was quite modest. They invited a mullah, who read the necessary prayer and whispered in the child’s ear: “Let your name be...”. After this, the mullah wrote down the child’s first name, patronymic, last name and date of birth in the birth register. For naming a child, the mullah was paid a certain amount of money. A treat was arranged, at which, in addition to the mullah, the grandfather, father and other relatives of the newborn were present. There was no fun at all.

Similar to other groups of Tatars, the Mishars had a ritual associated with naming a child.

Turkic names appear in early documents. In the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. Muslim names associated with the names of Muhammad and other Islamic figures were more common. The displacement of ancient Turkic names by Muslim ones occurred as the influence of Islam increased12.

Naming in traditional cultures was, without a doubt, the main form of modeling social status. The name, containing a characteristic, an image of a little man, seemed to predict his future. It is no coincidence, according to the explanation of the Tomsk Tatars, that relatives, when giving a name, sought to ensure that the child’s namesake did not turn out to be an unworthy or poor neighbor.

Having received a name, the child was introduced into the system of kinship relations from the first days of life. The essence of his further existence was his gradual integration into the family, society, and clan collective. Rituals associated with the making of the baby's first clothes and the first hair cutting were important in this process.

For the Teleuts, these events coincided. The child’s first shirt and “boots” were sewn six months after birth.

Having dressed the child in the first shirt, the parents first of all paid a visit to the midwife. They tied a gift (scarf) to her right hand, “gilded her hands,” and then gave her a treat. The midwife gave the child 15-20 kopecks - “blessed with a tax.” The next to be visited were the parents of the newborn's mother. They gave the young family cattle. Only after these two obligatory visits could a woman visit her neighbors. When she first appeared with the child, each neighboring family gave something to the baby. This is how a circle of social connections developed.

A particularly close relationship was established between the child and his father, his maternal uncle.

Among all the South Siberian Turks, he took an active part in raising his sister’s children, in arranging their fate and material well-being. Close ties between the nephew and Tai arose from the first days of the child’s existence. The uncle had priority in naming his nephew. He also had to bring a cradle.

The uncle played one of the main roles in the ritual of the first haircut. This procedure was given special importance. The hair with which the child was born put him on a par with natural creatures. Their symbolic removal was a prerequisite for socialization. Parting with his baby hair, the little man moved away from another, wild world. Tuvans kept this hair for many years. Telengits, according to some information, burned them in their parents’ house or took them to a secluded place. They first had this haircut at about the age of one year.

Ty, cutting off a lock of hair from his nephew’s head, took it for himself. When the child was three years old, the mother took him to her brother. The nephew was on his way to “bath his hair.” Tai gave a return gift. This exchange cemented the relationship between the two sides. A three-year-old child received a kind of official recognition. He joined his mother's family. It is clear that the most important figure in this process was the mother’s brother: “through him, relationships were established with someone else’s family”13.

According to the observations of Ya. D. Koblov, the Tatars attached serious importance to the first haircut of a baby.

This ritual took place at different times - after two weeks, after a month, sometimes later. The hair taken from the head was weighed and alms to the poor were determined by this weight. People of average income paid alms in silver according to the size of the child’s hair, while rich people paid alms in gold.

Rituals on the occasion of the appearance of the first tooth, the first hair cut, or the first steps of a child are characteristic of many Turkic peoples. Here is how they were carried out, for example, among the Uzbeks of Southern Khorezm: “When a child’s first tooth erupted, they held a holiday to which only a small circle of the closest people were invited: relatives, neighbors (the mullah was not invited). It was believed that this holiday must be organized, then the child’s teeth would erupt faster and better.

The celebration of the first hair cutting of a child took place at different times, when the child turned from one to three years old. In families of the poor, sometimes such a party was not held at all, but the rich celebrated it with great pomp and invited many people. The celebration was usually attended by old people, relatives and neighbors with their families, a mullah and a hairdresser, who, when cutting off a child’s hair, left one bun on the boy’s crown. The girl’s hair was also cut off, leaving two strands on the top of her head on either side of her crown. For his work, the hairdresser received a shirt (or a piece of fabric for it), money in a scarf, and cakes.

The cut hair was given to the child's mother, who hid it.

Often, cut hair was wrapped in a piece of cloth and, having made amulets from it - tumar, the latter were sewn to the child’s cap or to his clothes on the back. In some areas, there was such an interesting custom: the mother kept the tumar made from the boy’s hair, cut off on a toy, in a chest until her son’s wedding, and then gave it to her son’s wife, and she hung it on a chain around her neck.

Mullah, invited to the meeting, read a prayer. Sometimes it was not the hairdresser, but the mullah who cut off a little hair from the child, which his mother then hid in a chest or some crevice in the wall. According to existing beliefs, it was dangerous to throw away or lose the first hair cut off from a child: firstly, because birds could carry it to their nests and then the child would allegedly have a headache for the rest of his life; secondly, if birds peck them, the child may go bald.

After the first haircut, the child's hair continued to be cut off by the parents themselves from time to time, but they did not touch the tufts of hair that were left to hang out.

The girl had her hair cut until she was 5-6 years old, then stopped. For a 5-7 year old boy, a tuft of hair left on the soch-toy was cut at sunnat-toy - a holiday on the occasion of circumcision, genetically associated with the boy’s transition to another age group.

When the child began to walk, his parents organized an ayak-toy festival (foot festival), at which the child was dressed by his mother. Usually only neighbors and relatives were invited to the ayak-toy, and they were treated to pilaf and shurva.”

The eruption of a child's first tooth was considered a joyful event among the Temnikov Mishars. The parents rewarded the first person who noticed the appearance of a child's tooth with a small gift.

The Turkic peoples attached great importance to such a rite as circumcision.

This is how K. Fuchs described this ritual: “After three or five years they perform circumcision. Tatars, by prejudice, believe that on an even number, such as at four or six years old, a circumcised child must die. Circumcision is performed by one of the mullahs chosen for this, who is paid for every ritual, whatever is possible: they give 50 rubles, others in gold, and so on. During circumcision, any surah from the Alkoran is read.”

The importance of performing this ritual for the Tatars was emphasized in his essay by Ya. D. Koblov:

“Circumcision is performed at different times - from 1 year to five years. This operation is rarely performed by mullahs; for the most part, this work is carried out by special specialists who are called “babai” (grandfather) and move from one village to another to perform circumcision. Sometimes in the village children remain uncircumcised until the designated “babai” comes. For his work, in the villages he is paid 20-40 kopecks, and, in addition, they give him meat or chicken and certainly a loaf of bread and salt, so that the newly circumcised person will be a hospitable person; In cities, rich people pay the circumciser more, of course.

It must be said that the position of “babai” in some areas is passed down hereditarily; people engage in this business with the permission of the previous “babai”.

Even Mohammedan doctors are treated with distrust by the Tatars if the doctor has not received the right to perform this operation from the “Babai,” and there are examples when doctors actually turned to the “Babai” for permission. In the Kazan province there is a village called Masra, almost all of whose inhabitants have been practicing circumcision for a long time.

Upon completion of the rite of circumcision, the child becomes a full member of Mohammedan society. Although circumcision has no dogmatic meaning - it is only Sunnat, that is, a commandment, the fulfillment of which is left to the arbitrariness of everyone, but this rite is so widespread among Mohammedans that an uncircumcised person in the eyes of Mohammedan society is not a real Mohammedan, even if he professed the tenets of Islam. Only a circumcised person upon reaching adulthood can perform, on an equal basis with others, all the religious rites of the Mohammedan community as an equal member of it.”

This ritual was carried out similarly among other Turkic peoples. Some discrepancy is observed only in the timing of its implementation. For example, among the Siberian Tatars, this event occurred in boys aged 5 to 7 years. The ritual was performed by “wandering specialists”, receiving a heifer, a sheep or money for their work. After the circumcision, the relatives gave the boy gifts according to their financial capabilities. A tray was placed at the boy’s bedside, on which visiting guests put small money and sweets.”

Among the Mishar Tatars, circumcision was performed in the third year of life.

On this day, guests congratulated the boy on his circumcision and gave him gifts. If the boy was the first grandson, then the grandfather gave him a ram or a foal for this occasion. Relatives and friends, in addition to gifts, also brought buza.

“The Krasnoyarsk Nogais perform circumcision on children no older than seven years of age. The circumcision operation is performed by a specialist in this part (bawa), and 5-6 women are always present. The child is placed on the bed and occupied with various gifts or toys, then a scarf is covered over his head, and the bawa quickly does his job.

The cut-off piece of the body is burned immediately, the ash from it is sprinkled on the wound of the child, but not the one on whom the operation was performed, but the one following him; his own wound is covered with ash from the child who preceded him.

After this, the relatives of the father of the circumcised child, who have gathered with him for Sunnat-Tui, congratulate him and the refreshments and racing begin. The owner who has a circumcision in his house must give a prize for the race, and the prize is good: sometimes they give a bull or a horse. This prize is called “bangi”. The holiday of Sunnat-Tui is considered mainly for old people, and then old people often get drunk on kumis”21.

As we can see, the rituals associated with the birth of a child among the Turkic peoples are largely similar and differ only in certain elements. Their history goes back more than one century. However, they turned out to be so tenacious that many of them have survived, albeit in a somewhat modernized form, to this day.

Authors: Rimma Sadykova, Kadyr Saifutdinov
2021-06-14T15:24:06+05:00 Sergey SinenkoEthnic studies and ethnographyTatarstanmythology, ritual, customs, Tatarstan, TatarsTatar rituals associated with the birth of a child The birth of a child among the Tatars is associated with numerous rituals, which were considered as necessary to ensure the protection of the mother and child from the influence of evil forces... This was the act of introducing the child to the family and partly to the wider community. In addition, these rituals expressed feelings of joy and hope in...Sergey SinenkoSergey Sinenko [email protected] In the Middle of Russia

Cultural heritage and family values

Tatar traditions of housekeeping and family life are largely preserved in villages and towns. Kazan Tatars, for example, lived in wooden huts, which differed from Russian ones only in that they did not have an entrance hall and the common room was divided into female and male half, separated by a curtain (charshau) or a wooden partition. In any Tatar hut it was obligatory to have green and red chests, which were later used as the bride’s dowry. In almost every house, a framed piece of text from the Koran, the so-called “shamail,” hung on the wall; it hung above the threshold as a talisman, and a wish for happiness and prosperity was written on it. Many bright, rich colors and shades were used to decorate the house and surrounding area; the interior rooms were richly decorated with embroidery, since Islam prohibits depicting humans and animals; embroidered towels, bedspreads and other things were mostly decorated with geometric patterns.

The head of the family is the father, his requests and instructions must be carried out unquestioningly, the mother has a special place of honor. Tatar children are taught from an early age to respect their elders, not to hurt their younger ones, and to always help the disadvantaged. The Tatars are very hospitable, even if a person is an enemy of the family, but he came to the house as a guest, they will not refuse him anything, they will feed him, give him something to drink and offer him an overnight stay. Tatar girls are raised as modest and decent future housewives; they are taught in advance how to manage a household and are prepared for marriage.

Eid al-Adha

Many traditions of the Tatar people are associated with this holiday. This, as already mentioned, is the festival of sacrifice. It is associated with the end of the Hajj, which is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th month of the lunar Islamic calendar. It is believed that on this day Jabrail appeared to the prophet Ibrahim in a dream and ordered him to sacrifice his son Ismail.

The man went on a long journey, exactly where Mecca stands today. All this turned out to be a strong test of will for him, but in the end he still made the sacrifice. After Allah saw that Ibrahim’s faith came first, she ordered to sacrifice only a lamb. The meaning of the holiday is to glorify the mercy and greatness of God. He seems to be saying that the best sacrifice for every person is his faith.

The celebration begins in the morning. All Muslims go to the mosque to pray - to perform namaz. After the prayer is completed, the imam asks Allah for forgiveness of various sins and goodness for all people, after which all believers begin to recite dhikr together. By the way, this ritual has special specifics. Dhikr can be read silently or out loud, but this is necessarily accompanied by some kind of body movements.

After this, Muslims go home. Around lunchtime, a ram, bull or camel is slaughtered and a meal is prepared. Also on this day, it is customary to give alms to the poor, and especially to share various lamb dishes.

The peculiarity of the traditions is that the believer keeps one third of the meat for himself and his loved ones, gives the second third to the poor, and gives the last third, as alms, to everyone who asks.