6 main holidays in the calendar Crimean Tatars

The basis of the anthropological type is made up of representatives of the Caucasian race; some Crimean Tatars have Mongoloid features. The language belongs to the Oguz-Kypchak branch of the Kipchak group - the Turkic family of languages. They profess Sunni Islam.
The people were formed as a result of consolidation (based on the use of the Turkic language, the adoption of Islam) and synthesis of Turkicized and Islamized non-Turkic tribes (descendants of the Tauro-Scythians, Gotalans, Byzantines, etc.) with Turkic tribes (descendants of the Turko-Bulgars, Pechenegs, Kipchaks, etc.). Thus, as a result of a complex historical process in the IV-XVI centuries. the ethnic core of the Crimean Tatars was formed. Representatives of each group contributed to the formation of family rituals and calendar holidays.

Rarely does a Muslim nation boast such an abundance of national and religious holidays. Among the Crimean Tatars, 6 dates a year are especially revered.
Yil Gejesi (that is, New Year)
Crimean Muslims celebrate it on December 22, the winter solstice. It symbolizes the arrival of winter. This family celebration, which does not have complex rituals. Southerners call it Kantar Day (that is, Libra Day).
Families make special dishes for Yil Gejesi: white halva and pies with rice and meat, with an egg in the center. And before the evening family dinner, each family member tries to discreetly smear the face of relatives with soot from under the cauldron.
After the meal, when darkness falls, the boys put on their outerwear inside out and in a crowd they go to the nearest houses to “carol”, loudly shouting at the same time “Those who treated us will have a boy, and those who do not treat us will have a bald girl!” House owners give children sweets and nuts.


Another ritual of this holiday is a coal given by a guy to a girl he likes. If a girl accepts coal, the guy can send matchmakers to her parents.

Navrez

This is the day of all farmers, which is celebrated on March 20 or 21. It announces the beginning of spring and the first day of the year, according to already eastern calendar, symbolizes the beginning of a new agricultural season.
It is now customary for all Turkic peoples to celebrate this day, and the Crimean Tatars have been celebrating it since ancient times.
The main version of the origin of this holiday says that when in ancient times the Turks were driven out by their enemies from their native lands, they for a long time they were sad and forced to live in sadness in the mountains, until one day a warrior-blacksmith showed them the way home. But an iron ore mountain lay on their road. And only after completely melting it, the Turks were able to return to their native land and marked this as the beginning of their new life and a new day (nav is translated as “new”, and rez is translated as “day”).
This holiday consists of several stages:
1. Conducted old year. The housewives are putting the house in order, the men are preparing to plow the land, the boys are preparing themselves a goat costume (they put on fur coats turned inside out, sew a tail to the back) and make a mask. Housewives bake meat pies and cookies shaped like a twisted horn.
In the evening, large fires are lit near the houses and boys jump over them. And when it gets dark, they put on their goat masks, the girls take bouquets of snowdrops - the children go to their acquaintances and friends to congratulate everyone on this holiday, the owners give sweets to the little guests. Singing a song about a goat, the children jokingly try to get into the house and steal the birthday cake, and the hostess also jokingly drives them away.
2. On the eve of this day, the girls prepare for fortune telling.
3. Welcome the new agricultural year. At the end of morning prayers, elderly Muslims visit cemeteries and clean the graves of their deceased loved ones. During the day, children go to the houses of friends and relatives, congratulate them on the New Year and sing songs.
On the same day, the men, going out into the fields, give the respected elder the right to lay the first furrow of the year, thus beginning plowing.

Hydyrlez

This holiday is celebrated in the first week of May, when the first ear of grain appears on the field. Holiday of economy and social activities.
Muslims tidy up their utility rooms, fumigate the barn with smoke, pour grain on the window sills, and spray the entrance to the barn with milk.


Residents gather together in a clearing where there is a hillock. It is considered necessary to wear green clothes or at least have something green on yourself. Girls ride on swings, boys and men compete with each other in fighting competitions, and women shower each other with greenery. Then they roll the bread down the mountain. If it fell upside down, the harvest this year will be good, but if not, the year will not be productive.

Derviza

Celebrated during the autumn solstice, September 22. The celebration necessarily takes place near a sacred place with the sacrifice of an animal (in Crimea this is a ram).
Before the celebration dear Old man must throw a stone tied to his belt at the side, saying at the same time: “So that everything bad this year goes away like this stone.”


At the celebration, singers, dancers, poets perform, sing ditties, and compete in national wrestling. After this holiday, cattle are returned from summer pastures.

Eid al-Fitr

One of the 5 obligatory conditions observed by Muslims is fasting. It begins in the month of Ramadan and lasts from the first day of the new moon for the next 30 days. For Muslims at this time there are a number of restrictions: it is forbidden to eat, drink liquids, smoke, use foul language, engage in intimacy, etc. All this is allowed only in the dark: after sunset at night and two hours before dawn.
“Ramadan” (Ramadan) is translated as “burn,” that is, Muslims believe that during this fast one can cleanse oneself of all one’s sins and burn them. The doors of heaven open at this time, and the doors of hell are closed for those who fast.
In addition to fasting, Muslims must also perform good deeds during this period: invite those who are fasting to their place to break the fast and feed them dinner, feed the hungry, help the suffering, etc.


The Eid al-Fitr holiday begins at the end of fasting. After the festive prayer, Crimean Tatars distribute alms to the suffering, the poor, orphans, the homeless, and lonely old people. On this day, everyone who was in a quarrel asks for forgiveness from each other and makes peace.
4 days before the holiday, the Crimean Tatars begin to put everything in order - men visit and clean the graves of deceased relatives, women clean the house, begin to prepare holiday dishes, clean up, buy food for children new shoes and clothes, sweets. On the eve of the holiday, everyone must wash themselves, put themselves in order, and put on new things. Neighbors exchange holiday dishes. You should definitely feed your dog these dishes. Young women should serve festive coffee to guests.

Eid al-Fitr holiday

Celebrated on the 10th day in the month of Zulhija. The celebration lasts 3 days. One of the main Muslim holidays.
On this day, a devout Muslim slaughters or asks another Muslim to slaughter a bull, goat, sheep or camel (in Crimea, as throughout Russia, this is most often a ram). The meat of the sacrificial animal is then divided into parts - 2/3 is distributed to the poor, lonely old people and orphans, and 1/3 is left for their family and all guests are treated to soup from this meat. Thus, Muslims atone for all their sins and ask Allah for blessings for their deeds.


Crimean Tatars prepare for the sacrifice several days in advance - they put their house, barn, yard, and themselves in order.
The ritual of sacrifice usually takes place after the morning holiday prayer on the day of Kurban Bayram, but according to Sharia it is allowed to do this on the next two days. The sacrificial animal must be at least 1 year old and without any defects. Before slaughter, a special prayer is said.
Then Muslims exchange congratulations, visit the graves of deceased relatives and go to aziz (holy places).

The concept of "culture of life", national characteristics of everyday culture . Crimean Tatars

Introduction

National characteristics
Life and culture of the Crimean Tatars
Culinary traditions of Tatar cuisine
Traditions of the holidays of the Crimean Tatars

Conclusion

List of references

On our home planet there are a huge variety of different countries with its own traditions, customs And culture. The relationship between these cultures and people is sometimes quite strained and tense, since there are national characteristics that are individual to each people.
It is no secret that those traditions that are considered the norm for Europeans are completely unacceptable, for example, for the peoples of Asia. It is very important to understand the various subtleties that relate to culturaltraditions and characteristics of the peoples of the world. After all, failure to comply with etiquette traditions and the cultural heritage of a particular country can lead to various conflicts. Today it is very important that the peoples of the world preserve their traditions and not succumb to the influence of an omnipresent civilization. The uniqueness of an individual nation lies precisely in its cultural characteristics, which are unique to it.
So, I want to talk about the Crimean Tatars, let's start:

Crimean Tatars (Crimea. q?r?mtatarlar, units h. q?r?mtatar) or Crimeans (Crimea . q?r?mlar, units h. q?r?m) - people living inCrimea. They speak Crimean Tatar language , which belongs to the Turkic group of languages. There are 3 dialects: northern (steppe), middle and southern (in accordance with the past settlement of the Crimean Tatars); the latter was strongly influenced by the Turkish language.
They live mainly in Crimea (about 260 thousand) and also inTurkey , Bulgaria , Romania , Uzbekistan , Russia . The Crimean Tatar diaspora in Turkey is very large. The vast majority of Crimean Tatars areMuslims - Sunnis , belong to the Hanafimadhhab .
The name “Crimean Tatars” has remained in the Russian language since the times when almost all Turkic-speaking peoplesRussian Empire were called Tatars:Karachais (Mountain Tatars),Azerbaijanis (Transcaucasian or Azerbaijani Tatars),Khakassians (Abakan Tatars), etc. The Crimean Tatars themselves today use two self-names: q?r?mtatarlar(literally “krytatarlar”)

The education of moral qualities among Tatars is carried out by parents, who warn their children against actions condemned by society. Parents try to prevent their children from drinking alcohol and smoking. Drunkenness and smoking, which were not common among Tatars in the past, are condemned by the older generation. In villages to this day, men rarely dare to smoke in front of their elders.
In a Tatar family, the father is responsible for the education, mainly labor, of sons, and the mother is responsible for daughters. The mother is more often involved with young children, monitors the children’s studies, and is interested in relationships with friends. The father most often talks about various social, political, cultural, and sporting events.
Among the Tatars, relations between parents and children are still influenced by folk traditions and restraint of their feelings. It was believed that children should not be spoiled too much with attention, especially from their father. In many Tatar families (mainly in villages) a unique relationship was preserved: children turned to their mother with their suggestions or requests, and she, in turn, turned to her husband. In the modern family, the traditions of adult members supporting the authority of the father over the children have been preserved. Nevertheless, absolute dictate on the part of parents, especially the father, and unconditional obedience and subordination of children, characteristic of their relationships in traditional Tatar families, are replaced by relations of mutual respect and mutual interest on both sides. Children are involved in discussing various issues of family life, and parents and all adult family members participate in resolving issues relating to the fate of children.

National characteristics
The most important and most attractive feature of national culture is its amazing diversity, originality and uniqueness.
By developing the characteristics of its culture, a nation avoids imitation and humiliating copying, and creates its own forms of organizing cultural life. If a culture does not have a special, unique aroma, it is like a faceless person. Like any manifestation of individuality, the identity of national culture is enriched simultaneously with the general flourishing of the nation and confidence in its future place in world civilization.
Each national culture has its own fruits: spiritual gains and discoveries, its own dramas and tragedies, its own vision of the world.
Nowadays, when in different countries and continents
hundreds of thousands of people of different nationalities live, abandoned by fate far from their native places, progressive national culture is called upon, on behalf of those united by a common ethnic origin or cultural heritage, to connect their spiritual interests, preserve and support
national traditions.
It is quite natural and natural for people to strive to understand their unique national culture. The importance of national self-awareness is that it morally strengthens a person, awakens his interest in national history, his values ​​and traditions. Severance from national roots inevitably leads to national nihilism and spiritual impoverishment.
Recently, the concept of national patriotism has entered the public language. It must be approached with all attention and caution, remembering that love for the fatherland has always been a holy and pure feeling. At the same time, love for one’s nation cannot be turned into thoughtlessly fanatical deification, one cannot fetishize one’s nation as God’s chosen, “the smartest and most talented.” Any exaltation of one’s nation and one’s people at the expense of others is not patriotism, but national arrogance, covered by a patriotic sign. A universal principle that cannot be opposed
patriotism lies in the fact that a person, loving his nation and national culture, understands that another culture always has something valuable and necessary.

Life and culture of the Crimean Tatars

Crimean Tatar settlements and dwellings absorbed the richest building traditions of many ethnic groups that took part in its formation, primarily the Taurians, ancient and medieval Greeks, Goths, and Turkic peoples. The peculiarity of settlements and dwellings was also determined by differences in economic structures: settled agriculture and traditional cattle breeding.
Traditional settlements and dwellings of the Crimean Tatars had their own characteristics depending on the natural and climatic conditions and landscape of the Crimean Peninsula (mountains, foothills, coast, steppe).
The Crimean Tatar dwelling, created as a result of the complex historical past of Crimea, fully complied with local climatic conditions and basic requirements regarding air, light, and heat standards.
The surviving traditional settlements and dwellings of the Crimean Tatars must be taken under state protection, as well as a comprehensive scientific study of them must be carried out, because Their systematic destruction is still ongoing (destruction of the Crimean Tatar quarter in Alushta in 1990, bulldozing of an 18th century mosque in the village of Kuchyuk-Ozenbash, Bakhchisarai district in 1989, etc.).
It is necessary to restore Crimean Tatar place names in Crimea, which are part of the culture of the people and contain a wealth of material on their history and ethnogenesis.

When Islam became the religion of the Crimean ulus, monumental buildings of mosques, minarets, madrassas, durbe mausoleums and magnificent palaces for the nobility appeared. This architecture widely used decorations with glazed multi-colored ceramic tiles and gold leaf coating. Geometric patterns were combined with bright plant vignettes, garlands written in artistic fonts, texts from the Koran, poems, etc.
Culinary traditions of Tatar cuisine
The culinary traditions of Tatar cuisine have evolved over many centuries. While maintaining its originality, a lot in the kitchen changed: it was improved, enriched with new knowledge and products that the Tatars learned about from their neighbors
As a legacy from the Turkic tribes of the Volga Bulgaria period, Tatar cuisine included katyk, bal-may (butter with honey), kabartma (flatbread), dumplings and tea were borrowed from Chinese cuisine, pilaf, halva, sherbet from Uzbek cuisine, and from Tajik - pahleve. In turn, the experience of Tatar chefs was also in demand. Did you know that Russian chefs adopted the technology of frying food from the Tatars? In his book, William Pokhlebkin writes that at the court of Ivan the Terrible, fried dishes were prepared exclusively by Tatar cooks, because At that stage in Russian cuisine, the cooking process was reduced to boiling or baking in the oven.

Since ancient times, the Tatars have been engaged in settled agriculture and animal husbandry, which contributed to the predominance of flour and meat and dairy dishes in their food. Lamb has always been considered the favorite meat of the Tatars, although it did not occupy an exclusive position, like among the Kazakhs or Uzbeks. Along with it, they prepared dishes from beef, horse meat, and poultry meat (chickens, ducks and geese). The meat was eaten boiled, salted and dried, in the form of sausage (kazylyk). The recipe for kyzdyrma has survived virtually unchanged to this day.
Sweets are a special part of national cuisine. They occupy a separate place and play a special role in the life of the Crimean Tatar family. If meat, fish, and vegetable dishes in the family serve mainly for everyday food, for food, to preserve strength, then sweets are mainly festive food, used for receiving guests. With the help of sweets, the owners try to surprise their friends who come to the light.
Sweets among the Crimean Tatars are divided into two categories - everyday and festive. Everyday ones include solid lump sugar (katty sheker), various dried fruits (kurular), raisins (yuzyum kurusy), but sheker kyik, kurabye, baklava are usually prepared on holidays. Crimean Tatars usually celebrate special events and hold national and family holidays with these sweets.

Tatar cuisine also has its own food prohibitions. Thus, according to Sharia, it was forbidden to eat pig meat, as well as some birds, for example, falcon, swan - the latter were considered sacred. One of the main prohibitions concerns wine and other alcoholic beverages. The Koran notes that in wine, like in gambling, there is good and bad, but there is more of the former.

But, probably, the greatest variety in Tatar cuisine to this day exists in the recipe for baking from unleavened, yeast, butter, sour, and sweet dough. The symbol of prosperity and prosperity among the Tatars was bread - ikmek, which used to be baked for future use 2-3 times a week.
Crimean Tatar table etiquette had its own characteristics. So, for example, in the place of honor at the head of the table (ter), the head of the family, the father, sat next to him, the mother, then the older and younger children. If there were old people or guests in the family, then the most honorable places were given to them. Elders were respected as guardians of family traditions and bearers of the cultural values ​​of the people. The head of the family was the first to start eating with the word “Bismillah” (“In the name of Allah!”), and then all the other participants in the meal. Violation of this order was considered a sign of bad manners. After finishing the meal, they did not get up from the table until the elder read a short prayer (sofra duwasy), which included a verse from the Koran and wishes to everyone sitting at the table.

Traditions of the holidays of the Crimean Tatars

Eid al-Adha
etc.................

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 longest night of the year begins. 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...

The holiday was held under the patronage of the Head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Valerievich Aksenov.

Event organizers: State Committee on matters of interethnic relations and deported citizens of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Internal Policy of Information and Communication of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Fuel and Energy of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Crimea; Ministry of Education of the Republic of Crimea; State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Kazakhstan "House of Friendship of Peoples", administration of the Bakhchisaray district, administration of the city of Bakhchisaray, administration of the city of Simferopol.

The purpose of the holiday is to preserve the traditions and customs of the Crimean Tatars, support, develop and popularize folk art, create conditions for cultural exchange and interethnic interaction of peoples living in Crimea.

Hydyrlez is a national holiday of the Crimean Tatars, which symbolizes fertility, prosperity and prosperity. It reflects the complex ethnic history, the origins of beliefs, social life and economic activities of the people.

“Khydyrlez” is an all-Crimean celebration that this year united about 55 thousand residents of different parts of our beloved peninsula.

The guests of honor of the holiday were: Head of Crimea Sergei Aksenov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities Affairs Ruslan Balbek, Chairman of the State Committee for Nationalities of Crimea Lenur Abduramanov, Mufti of the Muslims of Crimea Hajji Emirali Ablaev, representatives of the executive power of Crimea and local government bodies of the republic.

Throughout the day, a grandiose concert spectacle took place on the main stage, the program of which included favorite Crimean performers and a guest star from Moscow, Elbrus Dzhanmirzoev. The concert began with performances by creative groups from the Bakhchisarai region and Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Natalia Nurmukhamedova. The Crimean Tatar song and dance ensemble "Haitarma" (artistic director - Honored Artist of Ukraine and the Republic of Crimea Elmira Nalbantova), Crimean Tatar folk ensemble "Crimea" (artistic director - Honored Artist of Ukraine and the Republic of Tatarstan - Server Kakura), Crimean Tatar folk ensemble "Krym" performed a festive program for the guests of the holiday State Academic Musical and Drama Theater (artistic director-director Honored Artist of Ukraine Bilyal Bilyalov), Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University and creative Crimean Tatar groups of the Republic of Crimea.

At the festive site, pavilions of cities and regions of Crimea were deployed, presenting the culture and life of the Crimean Tatar people.

In addition, we were pleased with the luxurious exhibition of works by masters of decorative and applied arts, tasting of delicious national dishes, and exciting sports competitions in the national wrestling “Kuresh”.

The youngest guests of Khydyrlez had fun on playgrounds, attractions, and rode ponies and trampolines.

The culmination of the holiday was the presentation of the symbol of Hydyrlez 2018 - the largest women's fez made of red velvet. This traditional national headdress was sewn specially for the holiday (diameter was 1.5 meters, height - 60 cm).

The national holiday Khydyrlez, widely celebrated in Crimea, has become a pan-Crimean symbol, testifying to the establishment of the principles of good neighborliness and mutual respect of cultures on the peninsula by the indigenous people of Crimea.

TV channels made holiday reports

Yil Gejesi

It occupies a special place in the system of calendar holidays - this is an ancient family holiday. Has simple rituals. Celebrated as the beginning of winter at the very long night in 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 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, 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 economic New Year, which ended on September 22 - after the holiday of Derviz.

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.

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 do 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 of publication: Kurtiev R.I. Calendar rites of the Crimean Tatars. -Simferopol: Crimean educational and pedagogical state publishing house, 1996. © 1999 Tauride National University. Vernadsky.

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