home Makeup Crimean Tatar national and religious holidays. Tatar holidays. Culture of Tatarstan. Spring New Year

Crimean Tatar national and religious holidays. Tatar holidays. Culture of Tatarstan. Spring New Year

Yil Gejesi

It occupies a special place in the system of calendar holidays - it is an ancient family celebration. Has simple rituals. Celebrated as the beginning of winter on the longest night of the year - December 22.

Crimean Tatars celebrated this holiday throughout Crimea, but in different regions they called it differently. For example, on the South Coast this holiday was called Kalenda (Latin for “first day of the month”), and the day of December 22 was called Kantar, which means “scales.” This refers to balance (winter solstice). In other places of Crimea it was called Yyl bashi or Yyl gejesi.

For the Yil Gejesi holiday, housewives prepare kobete - a pie with chicken meat and boiled rice. An unpainted egg is placed on top in the center of the kobete. White halva is being prepared. Before the festive table, family members try to discreetly smear each other's faces with soot from under the cauldron. Noise rises, jokes and fun begin. When darkness falls, the boys put on their fur coats inside out and walk in a crowd from house to house, shouting: “Kalenda, Kalenda!” Approaching the house, they say: “If you give me a treat, let you have a boy, but if not, then a bald girl.” The hostess gives the children nuts, candies and sweets. The girls sing carols this night. A guy secretly visits his girlfriend in the evening and asks her if she is ready to accept a match from him. If the girl agrees to marry him, then he gives her a coal as a sign of consent to take her as the mistress of his hearth. It is believed that dreams seen on this night come true.

In the morning, the housewife prepares a traditional soup of small dumplings, an obligatory component of which is an egg. This is how the Crimean Tatars celebrate the beginning of winter and the beginning of the astronomical year.

Navrez

An ancient holiday of farmers. Celebrated as the beginning of a new economic year and spring. Navrez is an Iranian word: nav - new and rez (ruz) - day. The holiday is held on March 21, the day the Sun enters the constellation Aries (Sheep), in Crimean Tatar - K'ozu, when day is equal to night. The custom of celebrating Navrez among Crimean Tatars arose no later than the 12th-13th centuries, along with the adoption of Islam.

The main stages of the Navrez celebration:

Farewell to the old business year

A week before the holiday, the housewife begins to prepare for it: she whitewashes, cleans the utility rooms, and sets aside old, unusable things for burning. Men are preparing for plowing, repairing agricultural equipment. The boys prepare masks and goat costumes (fur coat inside out with a tail attached to it). On the eve of the holiday, women boil eggs, but do not paint them. They bake kobete (layered meat pie) and all kinds of national cookies. On a festive evening, they make a fire, burn old things in it, and splash water on each other. At the beginning of darkness, the boys gather in groups of 3-7 people. One of them dresses up as a goat, the others put on prepared masks. In their hands they hold branches with strengthened snowdrop flowers. Boys move in groups from one yard to another and sing New Year's songs. The owners treat the children with sweets and nuts. Two days before Navrez, the girls gather in one of the houses where they make preparations for fortune-telling. New Year's Eve. To do this, they throw their rings or necklaces into a jug of water, and this jug is placed under a rose bush on the night before Navrez. The next night, on the eve of Navrez, the girls gather near this bush. The youngest of them is blindfolded, and she pulls out jewelry from a jug, jokingly predicts the fate of their mistress in the coming new year (whether she will get married this year, what her betrothed will be like, what house she will end up in)...

New Year's Eve

On the day of Navrez, after morning prayers, elderly people visit the cemetery, where they tidy up the graves, read funeral prayers in which they ask God and the spirits of the departed for a good harvest and an increase in the herd. Thus, the living seem to communicate with the souls of the departed. On the eve of the holiday, women boil eggs, prepare white halva, bake kobete, and prepare chicken noodle soup; It is considered a good omen if the noodles “run away” from the pan: this means that the year will be fruitful. On this day, girls and boys wear festive green outfits, symbolizing the awakening of nature.

First furrow

Navrez is the first month of the start of field work. The men went out into the field. The most respected elder, having read a prayer, made the first furrow and threw the first handful of seeds of the future harvest into the ground. Ethnographic materials indicate that Navrez (March 21) for the Crimean Tatars originally meant the economic new year, which ended on September 22 - after the Derviz holiday.

Hydyrlez

The Khydyrlez holiday reflects the complex ethnic history Crimean Tatars. Its rituals and customs trace the origins of beliefs, social life and economic activities of the people. The holiday is celebrated on Friday of the 1st week of the month of Kuralai (May). After Hydyrlez, the social year begins. The day before, the housewives begin a thorough cleaning of the entire house, since, according to legend, Hydyrlez does not visit a dirty house. It is believed that if a pregnant woman breaks this tradition, the birth may be difficult. In the evening, housewives bake round bread (kalakai), kobete. In villages near the jami (mosque), young people are preparing to light a fire. In the evening, residents of the entire village gather at this place. After the evening namaz (prayer), the most respected resident of the village lights a fire and is the first to jump over it, followed by the rest of the men, then the young men and boys. Jumping, they say: “Difficulties for the Gentile, but prosperity for me.” Then the men leave. During this time, the flames die out, and then women and girls begin to jump over the fire.

According to legend, on the night before the holiday, children, fearing terrible dreams, smear garlic on their heads, lips and feet and read prayers for the night. In the evening, housewives scatter a handful of wheat on the windowsill, the cattle are taken out of the barn and fumigated with smoke from the “evil eye.” On the day of the holiday, after morning prayer, the housewife milks the cow and sheep and sprinkles the entrance to the barn with milk. On this day, every family tries to plant a tree (men - an apple tree, women - a pear) or flowers. Crimean Tatars try to celebrate this holiday in nature, near a spring. A swing is pre-installed in the clearing. The girls cover them with flowers and swing on them. Women sprinkle each other with greens and slide down the slide. An integral part of the holiday is the descent of pre-baked bread from a hill. If the loaf falls face up, then there will be a good harvest, but if on the contrary, then the year will be a bad harvest. Men compete in wrestling (kuresh). At this holiday, boys and girls get to know each other, brides are viewed and their choice takes place. The general fun ends with the obligatory performance of the general dance Khoran (group dance forming a circle).

From ethnographic materials it follows that the Crimean Tatars spring holidays Navrez and Hydyrlez represent a complex of rituals and customs that are aimed at appeasing the forces of nature in order to obtain a rich harvest and increase the number of livestock. They show elements of the culture of the farmer and pastoralist.

Derviza

The specifics of calendar rituals are complemented autumn holiday- Derviza. It is celebrated on September 22, the day of the solar equinox. After this day, the “dying away” of the forces of nature begins, i.e. autumn begins. The name Derviz consists of two words: “der” means door, gate. The second word is “visa” - permission to enter. In other words, in accordance with the functional purpose of this day, Derviza means “entering a new world.”

Before the holiday, as usual, the house and yard are thoroughly cleaned. Housewives bake bread, kobete. On the day of the holiday, girls in elegant clothes scatter ashes on the field, in the vegetable garden, in the garden and vineyards. The boys clean the barn and fumigate it with smoke. This holiday is organized jointly by residents of several villages that are part of one community - “jamaat”. As always, the holiday begins with prayer and the sacrifice of a ram. After this, several girls aged 10-12 years put on sheepskin coats, symbolizing the approach of winter, while simultaneously announcing the beginning of the holiday. Women roll a sieve (elek) from the hills. If the sieve lies upside down, there will be a good harvest, but if upside down, then a small harvest is expected, if it stands on its side, the grains will grow tall. At this festival, competitions of dancers, singers, poets, and ditty connoisseurs are held, and competitions in national kuresh wrestling are organized. Only on this holiday they compete in throwing a stone into the distance, saying: “May the dark days return when this stone returns,” in other words, never. Fairs are a must. Usually the holiday ends with a general dance - a khoran, which appears as a dance of the unity of the people in achieving a common goal.

On this day, the Crimean Tatars sum up the results of their work from Khyderlez to Derviza, that is, they complete the sowing of winter crops, receive their sheep from the shepherds who have descended from the yayla, and the owners make mutual settlements with the shepherds. After this, the whole village chooses a new shepherd or remains the same. Then the wedding season begins.

Eid al-Fitr

Fasting is the fourth of the five obligatory conditions observed by Muslims. Fasting begins in the month of Ramadan (Ramadan) on the first day of the new moon and is observed for 30 days. The word Ramadan (Ramadan) means to burn, that is, during this month, when fasting is observed, all sins are “burned out,” the doors of heaven are opened, and the doors of hell are closed. Along with fasting, Islam encourages a Muslim to engage in good deeds: feed the hungry, invite at least one person to his house who is fasting, and feed him dinner in the evening.

After the 30-day fast, the Eid al-Fitr holiday begins. The day before Eid al-Fitr or on the day of the holiday, after the festive prayer, Crimean Tatars give fitr - alms - based on the cost of 1 kg of wheat for each family member. Fitr is distributed to the poor, orphans, and lonely old people. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for 4 days and falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. On this day, reconciliation occurs between those who were in a quarrel. Everyone asks each other for forgiveness for voluntary and involuntary insults.

4 days before the holiday, they begin to thoroughly clean the house, court premises, barns, and clean the livestock. After cleaning is completed, all family members are required to bathe, put on clean underwear, tidy up their hair, and cut their nails. Women dye their hair, the first phalanx of their fingers, with henna. This is how they prepare for the most sacred night of the month of Ramadan, which falls on the 27th of Ramadan - Kadir Gejesi, which means “the night of deciding human destinies, the night of power” - the night of predestination.

In the evening, housewives fry khatlama and chibereki. Children bring them to relatives, mutual exchange of dishes occurs. This custom is called “so that there is a smell of food in the house.” It is mandatory to feed this dish to your dog. On Eid al-Fitr festive table mainly consists of sweet baked dishes: khurabie, khatlam, sweets, fruits, all kinds of jams. Holiday coffee is a must.

Eid al-Adha

It is one of the main holidays of Muslims. Begins on the tenth day of the month of Dhu-l-Hijjah and is celebrated for 4 days. Every wealthy Muslim slaughters a sheep, goat, bull or camel, depending on his means. He distributes the meat to the poor, orphans, and lonely old people, wanting to atone for their sins and receive God’s blessing in their deeds.

During the sacrifice, certain rituals are observed. In Crimea, during the Eid al-Adha holiday, rams are most often sacrificed. The animal intended for this purpose must be without any defect, with intact teeth; if there are horns, they must not be damaged. The animal must be a one-year-old male. Beforehand, a special prayer is read over the animal. A number of rules are also followed:

Knives must be well sharpened in advance. You cannot sharpen a knife near a sacrificial animal.

The animal's eyes are tied with a scarf.

Henna is applied to the head and a lollipop is placed in the mouth.

It is necessary to dump the animal on its left side next to the hole, tie two front and one hind legs.

If there are several sacrificial animals, then the rest should stand at a distance from that place and should not see the act of sacrifice.

According to custom, the meat of a sacrificial ram is not washed. It is carefully checked and cleaned of adhered hairs, cut into small pieces (200-250 g). It is boiled in water, adding only onions and salt to the broth, and greens in the summer. Eaten with bread or flatbreads. For three days, the family consumes 1/3 of the meat of the sacrificial ram, treating all guests who came with congratulations on the occasion of the holiday, and 2/3 of the meat is distributed to the poor, lonely, whose income does not allow sacrificing a ram. The skin of the sacrificial ram is presented as a gift to the jami. In addition, trips to Aziz (holy places of the Crimean Tatars) are carried out.

Ashir kunyu

Crimean Tatars celebrate the Ashir Kunyu holiday, which comes after Ashir Gejesi (Night of Ashir), which is one of the 10 blessed nights revered by Muslims. Ashir Kunyu falls on the 10th day of the month of Muharrem (Ashir Ay). This day is celebrated as the day of remembrance of the fallen sons of the prophet Ali: Usein and Asan during one of the wars with the infidels. On this day, the Tatars, unlike the Shiites, do not reproduce the details of their murder, but limit themselves to lighting a candle and reading a prayer. This month, a ritual dish known as “ashir ash” (food on the day of Ashir) is prepared and consumed, and clean spring or well water is drunk.

According to the legend of the Crimean Tatars, during one of the wars against infidels, Muslim soldiers were surrounded by the enemy. The food ran out and hunger began. Everyone began to look in their pockets to see if there was any food left. And in the pockets of the seven warriors various products were found: grains of wheat, beans, corn, peas, walnuts, dried fruits. Having collected everything, we cooked food. In memory of this event, seven mandatory components are used when preparing this dish in the month of Ashir Ai:

Corn; purified, specially processed wheat; Crimean peas; beans; various dried fruits; Walnut; syrup.

Source

Navrez

An ancient holiday of farmers. Celebrated as the beginning of a new economic year and spring.

Navrez is an Iranian word: nav - new and rez (ruz) - day. The holiday is held on March 21, the day the Sun enters the constellation Aries (Sheep), in Crimean Tatar - K'ozu, when day is equal to night. The custom of celebrating Navrez among the Crimean Tatars arose no later than the 12th-13th centuries, along with the adoption of Islam.

The main stages of the Navrez celebration:

Farewell to the old business year
A week before the holiday, the housewife begins to prepare for it: she whitewashes, cleans the utility rooms, and sets aside old, unusable things for burning. Men are preparing for plowing, repairing agricultural equipment. The boys prepare masks and goat costumes (fur coat inside out with a tail attached to it). On the eve of the holiday, women boil eggs, but do not paint them. They bake kobete (layered meat pie) and all kinds of national cookies. On a festive evening, they make a fire, burn old things in it, and splash water on each other. At the beginning of darkness, the boys gather in groups of 3-7 people. One of them dresses up as a goat, the others put on prepared masks. In their hands they hold branches with strengthened snowdrop flowers. Boys move in groups from one yard to another and sing New Year's songs. The owners treat the children with sweets and nuts. Two days before Navrez, girls gather in one of the houses where they make preparations for fortune telling on New Year's Eve. To do this, they throw their rings or necklaces into a jug of water, and this jug is placed under a rose bush on the night before Navrez. The next night, on the eve of Navrez, the girls gather near this bush. The youngest of them is blindfolded, and she pulls out jewelry from a jug, jokingly predicts the fate of their mistress in the coming new year (whether she will get married this year, what her betrothed will be like, what house she will end up in)...

New Year's Eve
On the day of Navrez, after morning prayers, elderly people visit the cemetery, where they tidy up the graves, read funeral prayers in which they ask God and the spirits of the departed for a good harvest and an increase in the herd. Thus, the living seem to communicate with the souls of the departed. On the eve of the holiday, women boil eggs, prepare white halva, bake kobete, and prepare chicken noodle soup; It is considered a good omen if the noodles “run away” from the pan: this means that the year will be fruitful. On this day, girls and boys wear festive green outfits, symbolizing the awakening of nature.

First furrow

Hydyrlez

The Khydyrlez holiday reflects the complex ethnic history of the Crimean Tatars. Its rituals and customs trace the origins of beliefs, social life and economic activities of the people. The holiday is celebrated on Friday of the 1st week of the month of Kuralai (May). After Hydyrlez, the social year begins. The day before, the housewives begin a thorough cleaning of the entire house, since, according to legend, Hydyrlez does not visit a dirty house. It is believed that if a pregnant woman breaks this tradition, the birth may be difficult. In the evening, housewives bake round bread (kalakai), kobete. In villages near the jami (mosque), young people are preparing to light a fire. In the evening, residents of the entire village gather at this place. After the evening namaz (prayer), the most respected resident of the village lights a fire and is the first to jump over it, followed by the rest of the men, then the young men and boys. Jumping, they say: “Difficulties for the Gentile, but prosperity for me.” Then the men leave. During this time, the flames die out, and then women and girls begin to jump over the fire.

From ethnographic materials it follows that the Crimean Tatar spring holidays Navrez and Hydyrlez are a set of rituals and customs that are aimed at appeasing the forces of nature in order to obtain a rich harvest and increase the number of livestock. They show elements of the culture of the farmer and pastoralist.

"The Legend of Kydyrlez"

"Kydyrlez washed his face with water, looked into the stream. - How many years have passed, he is young again. Like the earth - every year the old one falls asleep, the young one wakes up. He looked around. The sky became blue, the forest became green, every pebble in the stream was visible.
“It seems I’m not late,” thought Kydyrlez and began to climb the mountain. A flock was grazing near the mountain. Young lambs bleated and called Kydyrlez to come. - Why is it that on this day they don’t touch the horses and oxen, they don’t harness them, but they take us to a barbecue? - the sheep stopped, asking. The shepherd urged them on: “There’s no point in standing around for nothing.” A snake was crawling along the path. “Kydyrlez is apparently close,” the shepherd thought. - When Kydyrlez was young, he killed a snake from his horse with a spear. Since then, when he walks, the snake always runs away from him.

The shepherd picked up a stone to kill the snake. Kydyrlez shouted to him:
- It’s better to kill a lie in yourself than a snake on the road. The word did not touch the shepherd’s heart, and he killed the snake.
- It turned out well, Kydyrlez will be very pleased. Kydyrlez sighed and looked down

Below, in the gardens, under the trees, people were sitting, preparing a young lamb for barbecue.
- Oh, it will be delicious; when Kydyrlez comes, there is something to treat him.
“Maybe he used to walk, but now he doesn’t walk anymore,” said one.

Another laughed:
- Our Abibullah is waiting for him. He thinks that Kydyrlez will show him the gold at night; will be rich.
Abibullah sat on the cliff, silent.
- Why are you silent, Abibullah? When I became old, I used to always sing a good song.
And Abibullah sang:
- We are waiting for you, Kydyrlez, we are waiting; fly, Kydyrlez, to us today; come on light streams; play, music of the heart. Chal, chant, chant!..
Kydyrlez listened and thought:
- A man is looking for gold, and gold is his every word.
Hands stretched out to the sun. Rays splashed onto the ground. The golden moon glittered on the minaret. Abibullah sang -
- A golden day has come to the poor man - Kydyrlez will not offend people. Chal, chant, chant!.. He sang and suddenly fell silent.
Hatice does not love him, although he sometimes says that he loves him. She needs someone else, she needs someone young, she needs someone rich.
“Rich means smart,” she says. - The first husband was rich - I want the second one to be even richer. Then I’ll do everything, everything will be in my hands.

Abibullah looks ahead, does not see - what is close, what is far - he sees where others do not see. He searches with his eyes for Kydyrlez among the mountains and forests. He believes that he will come. He promises to put a wax candle, balmumu, on an old stone for him. Kydyrlez understood what Abibullah wanted and shook his head. - Those who drink and eat in the gardens are happier than this. People drank and ate in the gardens and forgot about Abibullah and Kydyrlez. They didn’t notice how night came. Abibullah lit a candle on an old stone and waits for Kydyrlez. Waits a long time.

The golden moon rose; heard a rustling in the bushes; I noticed how the branches moved and how the distant fire illuminated them.
“You wanted me,” said the voice. - Here I come. I know why I called. I was young and only loved songs, but now I’m old and want a woman. You are looking for gold for her.
“For her,” Abibullah said to himself.
- Do you hear, Abibullah, how the stream rustles, the young stream, how the grass sways, fresh grass. Only you, the old one, won’t hear tomorrow.
- You hear how your heart is beating, it wants to keep up with another, young one. He just won't have time.
- You had gold in you, it was light. You wanted it from the ground, but will you pick it up?
Abibullah listened no further; rushed into the bushes where the light came from.
- Don't be late.
He ran towards the light through the forest, tore his clothes on an elm tree, and wounded himself.
- Now it's close. I heard Kydyrlez’s voice myself. Just two steps away.

And Abibullah saw how, under one, another and a third bush, piles of gold burst into flames. He ran up to them; He took the burning pieces with his hands and hurried to hide them on his chest. He cried with joy and called out to the beautiful Hatice. It was hard to carry. My legs gave way, I didn’t remember how I got to the village. I didn’t even have the strength to knock on Hatice’s door. Fell at the threshold.
- Kydyrlez gave a lot of gold. All is yours. I brought it to you, my wonderful one.
The words went quietly and did not reach Hatice. She slept soundly, her arms wrapped around another. She doesn't need Abibullah anymore. And Abibullah died. Abibullah-oldu. Maybe it’s better that he died without holding something beautiful in his hands. If I took it, maybe it would stop being like that. Who knows. As Kydyrlez left those places, he thought:
- Abibullah the singer left the earth, it’s okay, another will come in his place. One summer will pass, another will come. That is why Kydyrlez will never die."

Crimean Tatars are a people that originated on the Crimean peninsula and southern Ukraine. Experts say that these people came to the peninsula in 1223 and settled in 1236. The interpretation of the history and culture of this ethnic group is vague and multifaceted, which arouses additional interest.

Description of the nationality

Crimeans, Krymchaks, Murzaks are the names of this people. They live in the Republic of Crimea, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, etc. Despite the assumption of a difference between the Kazan and Crimean Tatars, experts claim the unity of the origins of these two directions. Differences arose due to the specifics of assimilation.

The Islamization of the ethnic group occurred at the end of the 13th century. It has symbols of statehood: a flag, a coat of arms, an anthem. On the flag blue color tamga is depicted - a symbol of the steppe nomads.

As of 2010, about 260 thousand were registered in Crimea, and in Turkey there are 4-6 million representatives of this nationality who consider themselves Turks of Crimean origin. 67% live in non-urban areas of the peninsula: Simferopol, Bakhchisaray and Dzhankoy.

They speak three languages fluently: Russian and Ukrainian. Most speak Turkish and Azerbaijani. Native language is Crimean Tatar.

History of the Crimean Khanate

Crimea is a peninsula inhabited by the Greeks already by the 5th-4th centuries BC. e. Chersonesus and Feodosia are large Greek settlements of this period.

According to historians, the Slavs settled on the peninsula after repeated, not always successful, invasions of the peninsula in the 6th century AD. e., merging with the local population - the Scythians, Huns and Goths.

The Tatars began to raid Taurida (Crimea) from the 13th century. This led to the creation of a Tatar administration in the city of Solkhat, later renamed Kyrym. This is how the peninsula began to be called.

The first khan was recognized as Khadzhi Girey, a descendant of the khan of the Golden Horde Tash-Timur, the grandson of Genghis Khan. The Girays, calling themselves Genghisids, laid claim to the Khanate after the division of the Golden Horde. In 1449 he was recognized as the Crimean Khan. The capital became the city of the Palace in the Gardens - Bakhchisarai.

The collapse of the Golden Horde led to the migration of tens of thousands of Crimean Tatars to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Prince Vitovt used them in military operations and to impose discipline among the Lithuanian feudal lords. In return, the Tatars received land and built mosques. Gradually they assimilated with the local residents, switching to Russian or Polish. Muslim Tatars were not persecuted by the church, since they did not interfere with the spread of Catholicism.

Turkish-Tatar Union

In 1454, the Crimean Khan concluded an agreement with Turkey to fight the Genoese. As a result of the Turkish-Tatar alliance in 1456, the colonies agreed to pay tribute to the Turks and Crimean Tatars. In 1475, Turkish troops, with the assistance of the Tatars, occupied the Genoese city of Cafu (Kefe in Turkish), and then the Taman Peninsula, ending the presence of the Genoese.

In 1484, Turkish-Tatar troops captured the Black Sea coast. The Budrzycka Horde state was founded on this square.

The opinions of historians regarding the Turkish-Tatar alliance are divided: some are sure that the Crimean Khanate turned into a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, others consider them equal allies, since the interests of both states coincided.

In reality, the Khanate depended on Turkey:

Sultan - leader of the Crimean Muslims;
Khan's family lived in Turkey;
Türkiye bought slaves and loot;
Türkiye supported the attacks of the Crimean Tatars;
Türkiye helped with weapons and troops.

The Khanate's long military operations with the Moscow state and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth stopped Russian troops in 1572 at the Battle of Molodi. After the battle, the Nogai hordes formally submitted Crimean Khanate, continued the raids, but their number was greatly reduced. The formed Cossacks took over guard functions.

Life of Crimean Tatars

The peculiarity of the people was the non-recognition of a sedentary way of life until the 17th century. Agriculture developed poorly and was mainly nomadic: the land was cultivated in the spring, the harvest was harvested in the fall, after returning. The result was a small harvest. It was impossible to feed people through such farming.

The source of life for the Crimean Tatars remained raids and robberies. The khan's army was not regular and consisted of volunteers. 1/3 of the men of the khanate took part in major campaigns. In especially large ones - all men. Only tens of thousands of slaves and women with children remained in the Khanate.

Life on a hike

The Tatars did not use carts on campaigns. The carts at home were harnessed not to horses, but to oxen and camels. These animals are not suitable for hiking. Horses themselves found food in the steppes even in winter, breaking the snow with their hoofs. Each warrior took 3-5 horses with him on a campaign to increase speed when replacing tired animals. In addition, horses are additional food for a warrior.

The main weapon of the Tatars is bows. They hit the target from a hundred paces. During the campaign they had sabers, bows, whips and wooden poles, which served as supports for tents. On the belt they kept a knife, a crosshair, an awl, 12 meters of leather rope for prisoners and a tool for orienting in the steppe. For ten people there was one pot and a drum. Everyone had a pipe for warning and a tub for water. During the hike we ate oatmeal - a mixture of flour from barley and millet. From this the drink pexinet was made, to which salt was added. In addition, everyone had fried meat and crackers. The source of nutrition is weak and injured horses. From horse meat they prepared boiled blood with flour, thin layers of meat from under the saddle of a horse after a two-hour race, boiled pieces of meat, etc.

Taking care of horses is the most important thing for a Crimean Tatar. The horses were poorly fed, believing that they were restoring their strength on their own after long marches. Lightweight saddles were used for horses, parts of which were used by the rider: the lower part of the saddle was a carpet, the base was for the head, a cloak stretched over poles was a tent.

Tatar horses - bakemans - were not shod. They are small and clumsy, but at the same time resilient and fast. Rich people used beautiful cow horns for their purposes.

Crimeans on campaigns

The Tatars have a special tactics for conducting a campaign: on their territory, the speed of transition is low, with the concealment of traces of movement. Beyond it, the speed dropped to a minimum. During raids, the Crimean Tatars hid in ravines and hollows from enemies, did not light fires at night, did not allow horses to neigh, caught tongues to obtain intelligence information, and before going to bed, lassoed themselves to horses to quickly escape from the enemy.

As part of the Russian Empire

In 1783, the “Black Century” began for the people: annexation to Russia. In the decree of 1784 “On the structure of the Tauride region,” governance on the peninsula is implemented according to the Russian model.

The noble nobles of Crimea and the supreme clergy became equal in rights to the Russian aristocracy. Massive land seizures led to emigration in the 1790s and 1860s, during the Crimean War, to Ottoman Empire. Three quarters of the Crimean Tatars left the peninsula in the first decade of power Russian Empire. The descendants of these migrants created Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian diasporas. These processes led to devastation and desolation of agriculture on the peninsula.

Life within the USSR

After the February Revolution, an attempt was made to create autonomy in Crimea. For this purpose, a Crimean Tatar kurultai of 2000 delegates was convened. At the event, the Temporary Crimean Muslim Executive Committee (VKMIK) was elected. The Bolsheviks did not take into account the decisions of the committee, and in 1921 the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed.

Crimea during the Great Patriotic War

During the occupation, since 1941, Muslim committees were created, which were renamed Crimean and Simferopol. Since 1943, the organization was renamed the Simferopol Tatar Committee. Regardless of the name, its functions included:

opposition to partisans - resistance to the liberation of Crimea;
the formation of voluntary detachments - the creation of Einsatzgruppe D, which numbered about 9,000 people;
creation of auxiliary police - by 1943 there were 10 battalions;
propaganda of Nazi ideology, etc.

The committee acted in the interests of forming a separate state of the Crimean Tatars under the auspices of Germany. However, this was not part of the Nazi plans, which envisaged the annexation of the peninsula to the Reich.

But there was also an opposite attitude towards the Nazis: by 1942, a sixth of the partisan formations were Crimean Tatars, who made up the Sudak partisan detachment. Since 1943, clandestine work has been carried out on the peninsula. About 25 thousand representatives of the nationality fought in the Red Army.

Collaboration with the Nazis led to mass evictions to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, the Urals and other territories in 1944. During the two days of the operation, 47 thousand families were deported.

You were allowed to take clothes, personal belongings, dishes and food with you in an amount of no more than 500 kg per family. In the summer months, the settlers were provided with food in exchange for the property they left behind. Only 1.5 thousand representatives of the nationality remained on the peninsula.

Returning to Crimea became possible only in 1989.

Holidays and traditions of the Crimean Tatars

Customs and rituals include Muslim, Christian and pagan traditions. The holidays are based on the agricultural calendar.

The animal calendar, introduced by the Mongols, depicts the influence of a specific animal in each year of a twelve-year cycle. Spring is the beginning of the year, so Navruz ( New Year) is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. This is due to the beginning of field work. On the holiday it is necessary to boil eggs as symbols of new life, bake pies, and burn old things at the stake. For young people, jumping over a fire and going home in masks while the girls told fortunes were organized. To this day, the graves of relatives are traditionally visited on this holiday.

May 6 - Khyderlez - the day of the two saints Khydyr and Ilyas. Christians celebrate St. George's Day. On this day, work began in the field, cattle were driven out to pastures, and the barn was sprinkled with fresh milk to protect against evil forces.

The autumn equinox coincided with the holiday of Derviz - the harvest. Shepherds returned from mountain pastures and weddings were held in the settlements. At the beginning of the celebration, according to tradition, prayer and ritual sacrifice were carried out. Then the residents of the settlement went to the fair and dances.

The holiday of the beginning of winter - Yil Gejesi - fell on the winter solstice. On this day, it is customary to bake pies with chicken and rice, make halva, and go from house to house as mummers to buy sweets.

Crimean Tatars also recognize Muslim holidays: Uraza Bayram, Kurban Bayram, Ashir-Kunyu, etc.

Crimean Tatar wedding

A Crimean Tatar wedding (photo below) lasts two days: first for the groom, then for the bride. The bride's parents are not present at the festivities on the first day, and vice versa. Invite from 150 to 500 people from each side. According to tradition, the beginning of the wedding is marked by the bride price. This is a quiet stage. The bride's father ties a red scarf around her waist. This symbolizes the strength of the bride who becomes a woman and devotes herself to order in the family. On the second day, the groom's father will remove this scarf.

After the ransom, the bride and groom perform the wedding ceremony in the mosque. Parents do not participate in the ceremony. After the mullah reads the prayer and issues a marriage certificate, the bride and groom are considered husband and wife. The bride makes a wish during prayer. The groom is obliged to fulfill it within the time frame established by the mullah. The desire can be anything: from decorating to building a house.

After the mosque, the newlyweds go to the registry office to officially register the marriage. The ceremony is no different from the Christian one, except for the absence of a kiss in front of other people.

Before the banquet, the parents of the bride and groom are obliged to buy the Koran for any money without bargaining from the small child at the wedding. Congratulations are accepted not by the newlyweds, but by the bride's parents. There are no competitions at the wedding, only performances by artists.

The wedding ends with two dances:

national dance bride and groom - haitarma;
Horan - guests, holding hands, dance in a circle, and the newlyweds in the center dance a slow dance.

Crimean Tatars are a nation with multicultural traditions that go deep into history. Despite assimilation, they retain their own identity and national flavor.

Read: All about the Crimean Tatars

Crimean Tatars: Rituals and holidays

Derviza

The specificity of the calendar ritual is complemented by the autumn holiday - Derviza. It is celebrated on September 22, the day of the solar equinox. After this day, the “dying away” of the forces of nature begins, i.e. autumn begins. The name Derviz consists of two words: “der” means door, gate. The second word is “visa” - permission to enter. In other words, in accordance with the functional purpose of this day, Derviza means “entering a new world.”

Ashir kunyu

The Crimean Tatar people perceive May 18 as a special day. This is a day of mourning for those killed in the past, as well as in the deportation of 1944, this is a call to unite in the name of returning the people to their historical homeland. The world knows May 18, 1944 as the last day of demographic policy...

The word Ramadan (Ramadan) is translated as “burn”, that is, during this month, when fasting is observed, all sins “burn” and the doors of heaven open, and the doors of hell close. Ramadan is the best remedy atonement for sins committed during the year. Currently...

Navrez is ancient holiday landowners, it is celebrated as the beginning of spring and the new economic year. The name is given from the Iranian words: nav means “new” and rez (ruz) - “day”. On March 21, they celebrate a holiday when the Sun enters the constellation Aries (the Sheep), Crimean Tatars say...

Muslims observe five obligatory conditions, the fourth of which is fasting. The beginning of fasting is the first day of the new moon in the month of Ramadan (Ramadan) and fasting is observed for 30 days. The meaning of the word Ramadan (Ramadan) is to burn, that is, all sins “burn away” if you observe...

A special place in the calendar holidays of the Crimean Tatars is occupied by the ancient family holiday Yil Gejesi. His rituals are quite simple. It is celebrated as the beginning of winter, namely on December 22, when the most long night per year. All Crimean Tatars celebrated this holiday, but...

Kurban Bayram is one of the most important holidays for Muslims. It begins on the tenth day of the month called Dhu al-Hijjah and is celebrated for four days. These days, all wealthy Muslims slaughter a goat, sheep, camel or bull, depending on their financial...

Traditional holiday Crimean Tatars Ashir kunyu. It comes immediately after Ashir Gejesi (Night of Ashir), this particular night is one of the ten blessed nights that Muslims revere. The 10th day of the month of Muharrem (Ashir ay) became the day of Ashir Kunyu. This is considered the day to remember...

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