This
book provides brief and interesting information about the Kyrgyz way of life. It
starts with the Akyns. These were the
Kyrgyz epic tellers who combine singing, improvisation and musical composition.
They were the figures who participated in story telling contests. The
pre-eminent Kyrgyz epic is the 1000-year-old Manas trilogy which is known for its length (16 times longer the
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey). The Kyrgyz epic trilogy of Manas, Semetey and
Seytek describes the unification of the scattered tribes into one nation.
The
Kyrgyz population lives in yurt. Yurts
are Turkic nomadic dwellings which remain the symbol of family and traditional
hospitality, fundamental to the identity of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples. Yurts are made from natural and
renewable raw materials. Felt is also used by Kyrgyz for making items such as
carpets, cloths and headwear. Sheep wool is used for felting. The Kyrgyz male
headwear is Kalpak and the female one
is called elechek. In the past Kalpak
showed the social status of a person.
Komuz
is the most popular and wide-spread string musical instrument in Kyrgyzstan. Metalworking
masters are called usta or zerger. I might be a Persian word. For
Kyrgyz people the most valued metal is silver, which is also as white metal. Silver
is also used as an amulet against evil spirits.
The
Kyrgyz have many traditional games. One of them is Besh tash, which literally means a game of five stones or group of
stones). It is also mentioned in the Manas epic. Another game is Kyz kuumai, a game in which a woman
rides a horse as fast as she can, while being chased by a male participant.
First a man chases a woman. After reaching a certain point the woman chases the
same man. If she manages to catch up with him, she whips him with a horse whip.
When
a child is born, every child in the surrounding wants to be the first one who
brings good news about the childbirth to other relatives. Genealogy played an
important role in Kyrgyz culture, especially in choosing a partner for marriage.
All Kyrgyz people must know at least seven generations of their forefathers.
Islamic
Nikah is the main wedding ceremony. A cup of water is prepared for this ritual.
Some sugar is added to water and sometimes a silver coin is placed at the
bottom of the cup. After reciting verses from Quran, the newly-wed couple
drinks water from the cup. The meaning of sharing water is that the couple
agrees to live through thick and thin.
Some
of the few Kyrgyz quotes are
“whoever
does not know one’s forefather becomes a slave.”
“a proverb is a father of words.”
“the
one without a horse is like the one without legs.”
For
food the Kyrgyz people eat lamb, beef, horse, meat, camel and yak meat. The
most valued meat is lamb and horse meat. Horse meat is usually used for big
celebrations. Chuchuk is a horse meat
sausage which is made out of horse intestine stuffed with horse meat and fat. Traditional Krygyz cuisine has seasonal
variations. In spring and summer, most of the food is made out of fresh meat
and the main beverage is Kymyz,
fermented mare’s milk. Krygyz nomads use dried and jerked meat in winter. The
winter beverage is bozo, a beer-like
thick slightly alcoholic beverage. The main ingredients in Kyrgyz cuisine are
meat, milk and flour. The youngest person goes around with a jar with water and
a flat bucket and pours water to the hands of those sitting around the
tablecloth.
Chuchuk,
one of the main delicacies is a horse meat sausage. This is made out of horse
intestine stuffed with horse meat and fat. Horse stomach, mane and boiled meat
are also served as a meat plate. When Kyrgyz eat food the most respected person
receives the sheep head. Gulazyk, is
another meal of the Kyrgyz people. It is meat made into powder. This was done in
the olden times for longer journeys. Kurut
is also produced by Kyrgyz people. Kymyz- a drink made from horse, cow and
camel milk. The one made out of mare’s milk is considered to be the best. Kymyz is considered to be the beverage
of heroes.
This
publication contains information on the intangible cultural heritage of the
Kyrgyz people including traditional knowledge related to everyday life,
livelihoods cultural practices as well as arts and crafts. This book could be
of use to university students, scholars, tourists and the general public.
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