Ulaanbaatar
Nauryz welcomes new spring
SocietyUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On March 22, the Mongolian Kazakhs mark the "Nauryz"--a celebration of the beginning of spring for the Kazakhs throughout the world. A word "Nauryz" means “New Day” in Iranian language, indicating the first of the two equinoxes that happen in a year. The Kazakhs consider that the nature and the wildlife revive their energy of life on the Nauryz, when the day and the night equal.
On the Nauryz, the Kazakh people dress up in their traditional costumes, congratulate and greet each other with wishes for health, happiness and success. Men hold hands and bring their chests together for greetings, while women embrace each other.
The eldest in the family or among the gathered should cut the first slice of the ceremonial meal–the boiled head of a sheep. The eldest must also distribute pieces of the meat, at first to the hosts and to the people gathered from the eldest down to the youngest ones.
The main meal of the celebration is called “Nauryz-Keje” (Nauryz soup), made from the “seven elements of life”--water, salt, fat, flour, white and red rice and milk. Each of them symbolizes happiness, wisdom, fortune, luck, health, blessings from god and many children.
Drinking alcohol is a taboo during the Nauryz. As a tradition, the Kazakh people should visit their relatives and friends and eat Nauryz soup until they have full stomach, as an omen for having abundance of food in the coming year.
The Mongolian Kazakhs' center is in Bayan-Olgii aimag formed in August of 1940 in accordance with the Lower House of People’s Khural of the Republic of Mongolia.
