New Year according to the solar calendar among the Mongols. New Year. Traditional celebration of Tsagaan Sar

The beginning of spring and the New Year according to the lunar-solar calendar is the most solemn and main holiday of the Mongolian, indigenous Arctic and some Turkic peoples.
Among the Mongols, it is called Tsagaan sar; among the Buryats - Sagaalgan, among the Tuvans - Shaga, among the Altaians - Chaga Bairam; among the Yakuts - Urun Yy, etc. It is a symbol of the renewal of man and nature, openness and purity of thoughts, hope and good expectations.

The name of the holiday comes from the Mongolian words tsagaan - white and sar - month. "White month" was originally considered a holiday of dairy products and was celebrated in autumn. At this time, the preparation of dairy products for the future was over, which they consumed on holidays.
The celebration of the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar has ancient national and religious roots.

The grandson of Genghis Khan, the great Khan of the Yuan dynasty Kublai, moved the time of New Year celebration from autumn to the end of winter under the influence of Chinese astrology. Thus, the Mongolian Tsagaan Sar was timed to coincide with the beginning of the year according to the twelve-year cycle. The court “white holiday” was described in the following way by its witness and contemporary of Khubilai, Marco Polo:

“Their year begins in February; the great khan and all his subjects celebrate like this: according to custom, everyone dresses in white, both men and women, as anyone can. They consider white clothes to be happy, that’s why they do it, they dress in white so that there is happiness and prosperity throughout the year ... They bring him great gifts ... so that the great khan has a lot of wealth throughout the year and it would be joyful and fun for him. I will tell you more, princes and knights, and indeed all the people, give white things to each other, hug, have fun, feast, and this is done in order to live happily and kindly all year.

On this day, you know, more than a hundred thousand glorious and expensive white horses are presented to the Great Khan. On the same day, five thousand elephants are brought out under white blankets, animals and birds embroidered; each elephant has two beautiful and expensive caskets on his back, and in them are the dishes of the great khan and a rich harness for this white gathering. Many more camels are brought out; they are also under blankets and loaded with everything necessary for the gift. Both elephants and camels pass in front of the great khan, and such beauty has never been seen anywhere!

... And when the great sovereign reviews all the gifts, tables are set up, and everyone sits down at them ... And after dinner, magicians come and amuse the courtyard, which you have already heard before; When it's all over, everyone goes home."

After the expulsion of the Mongols from China in the 14th century, the tradition of celebrating Sagan Sara at the end of winter was brought to Mongolia proper. Thus, the name of the holiday - "white" - has lost its original "milk" meaning, and acquired a more general meaning. The name "white month" reflects the color symbolism common to the Mongolian-speaking peoples, according to which the white color - a symbol of holiness and purity - is associated with happiness and prosperity.

With the beginning of the wide spread of Tibetan Buddhism among the Mongolian peoples in the 17th century, the Mongolian Tsagaan Sar included Buddhist rituals and mythology.
The main imperative of all Buddhist rituals associated with the meeting of the new year was to get rid of all the sins and filth accumulated in the previous year. The central ritual is still a penitential one-day fast (Tib. sojong), accompanied by the ceremony of burning the “litter” - a black pyramid, symbolizing the accumulated evil, sacrificed to the spirits of the area.

Buddhist popular mythology connects the Tsagaan Sar holiday - the beginning of spring - with the name of the Buddhist deity-dharmapala, the goddess Baldan Lhamo. According to legend, every year after another victory over the mongooses and saving the sun, swallowed by the lord of hell, Yama (Mong. Erleg nomyn khaan), she descends to the earth, warms it with her warmth, and spring begins. The cold is receding, winter starvation is leaving, a new season begins in the economic activity of cattle breeders. They count the losses incurred in winter and rejoice at the approach of the warm season.

The image of an angry Buddhist goddess sometimes coexists with the image of the White Elder, the traditional Buddhist embodiment of fertility and longevity.

Since the 19th century, with the assimilation of the Gregorian calendar, Tsagan Sar in Kalmykia was not celebrated precisely as the beginning of the calendar year, however, the Volga Kalmyks, who migrated from the Russian Empire in 1771, preserved the traditional ritual: their descendants living in Xinjiang (PRC) celebrate Tsagan Sar is like New Year. Strengthening the New Year's character of the spring celebration was facilitated by the fact that the Chinese celebrate the traditional New Year at about the same time.

In the 1930s, the celebration of Tsagaan Sara was banned in the USSR. The revival of the traditions of the celebration took place only in the post-war period, the status of a national holiday was received only in 1990.

Currently, the first day of Sagaalgan in the republics of Altai, Buryatia, Tuva, Khakassia, Yakutia and the Trans-Baikal Territory, as well as in the territories of the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug and the Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug is a day off
According to the Law of the Republic of Kalmykia dated October 13, 2004 "On holidays and memorable days in the Republic of Kalmykia", the Tsagan Sar holiday is a national holiday of Kalmykia.

Traditions and rituals of celebration
They prepared for the celebrations in advance, slaughtered cattle for the future, since it was forbidden to do it directly on the days of the holiday. The celebration took place in every house. They hung new outfits on a rope, shook out all the clothes. They cooked meat - lamb, beef or horse meat, prepared buuzas.

The traditional greeting was an important ritual with which two people who met that day addressed each other. The significance of this greeting is so great and the duration of its action is so long that, for example, Tuvans could not greet each other for a whole year, arguing that they had already greeted each other during the White month. Kalmyks at a meeting asked: “Did the members and livestock safely leave the wintering?”
Nowadays, the home celebration of Tsagan Sara is no different from the meeting of the Christian New Year - people give gifts to each other, gather at the laid table.

Since this holiday is called the "White Month", according to tradition, there should be white dishes on the table, for example, from milk or sour-milk products.
During the festive dinner, a special lamp-goblet is lit - the Zulu, which drives away evil spirits and, together with oil, burns the sins of those sitting at the table. Alcohol in Buddhism is not welcome, so it is almost never found on the New Year's table during Sagaalgan.

The first day of the New Year is supposed to be spent in your house among the people living in it. Only the next day you can receive guests or go to visit yourself. If the children live separately, then they must come to their parents on the first day - honoring the elders is one of the foundations of Sagaalgan, which was once laid by Genghis Khan himself, who visited his mother Oyalun.

An indispensable element of holiday gifts was a bunch of wrestlers.
Bortsoks were made from rich unleavened dough and fried in boiling fat. Of these, sets were made - for offering the "first portion" to the Buddhas, as well as gift ones - for presentation to relatives during holiday visits. The shape of the wrestlers included in the sets had a symbolic meaning: figurines in the form of animals expressed the wish for the offspring of the corresponding livestock; in the form of an occasion - good luck, etc.

Early in the morning on the day of the holiday, the ceremony of sprinkling was performed: having crossed the threshold of the house, the owner sprinkled around the first cup of freshly brewed tea as an offering to the ancestors and the White Elder.

Astrological forecast for 2018
According to the astrologer of the Ivolginsky datsan, Namsrai Lama Dashidondokov, this year will be fruitful in all areas and, unlike the previous ones, will be calmer.

February 16 is the new year according to the lunar calendar. We are entering the Year of the Dog, the element of the year is earth, the color is yellow, and like every even year, 2018 is masculine.
This year will be fertile in all areas, unlike previous years, it will be calmer, everything will gradually stabilize. The year will be very favorable for people who are sensitive, have endurance and show resourcefulness.

Earth - the active element - is presented as a crystallizing, gathering together force that works slowly but powerfully. This element carries stability and makes everything clear, definite, concrete. The qualities of the Earth are fertility and abundance.

The Earth element brings wisdom and prudence into people's lives, endows them with such properties as practicality, methodicalness, logical judgment and prudence, fortitude, willpower, friendliness. And although people will be a little slow, but having specific goals and firm aspirations, they will systematically move towards them. Enterprising and practical, they can be selfish and possessive, attached to material things.

A dog is the embodiment of loyalty and honesty. She is intelligent, endowed with a strong sense of justice, and is a conscientious worker. She is an obligatory friend and cannot help but help.

The dog does not tolerate hypocrisy and malevolence, but its anger, caused by its high moral qualities, is short-lived. The dog is not playful, in life it is too serious. She talks and analyzes so much that sometimes she falls into pessimism. He has good intuition, feels danger in advance and sometimes exaggerates it, which makes him restless, even panicking. A deceived dog can become cynical. Her life is a heavy burden, and if she continues to take everything seriously, then she will have few opportunities for happiness. A dog's love can last a long time if he manages to cope with his pessimism.

Weather. Spring promises to be long, rainfall is expected at the end of spring. There will be rains in summer, and towards the end of summer - drought, fires are possible, but despite this, the harvest will be good, a lot of grass and an abundance of berries. The cattle will be well fed and will breed well. Strong winds at the beginning and end of the year.

influence of the year. The Year of the Dog is very favorable for young people, good for children, older people need to pay attention to their health.

If to speak about people who were born in different years, then the year of the Dog is good for those born in the years of the Chicken and the Monkey. For those born in the years of the Dog, as well as the Dragon, Sheep and Cow, this year is not very successful. They are advised to be vigilant and careful, sincerely do good deeds, help the needy, orphanages and homes for the disabled and the elderly. In this way it is possible to avoid various obstacles in the coming year. This year will be changeable for those born in the years of the Tiger and the Horse. It will be good for those whose patron is the Mouse, Rabbit, Snake and Pig.

The connection between the Mongols and the Kazakhs - the two greatest peoples of the Great Steppe - is difficult to overestimate. Having an undoubted cultural and genetic relationship, using the same methods of managing, worshiping the same historical characters, the Mongols and Kazakhs have one important fundamental difference.

The first are Buddhists to this day (with everything that follows), and the second are Muslims (with everything that follows). Therefore, for example, the Kazakhs have the eastern calendar with its 12-year "animal style", and the New Year according to the eastern calendar has never been celebrated - instead it was the one who came from the West.

Nauryz is celebrated at the end of March and is just looming on the horizon, and the year of the Mongols already begins in February. Among the Mongols, the traditional New Year's holiday was called "Tsagaan Sar" - "White Moon". According to the meanings of color symbolism, white in Mongolia, like red in China, meant happiness.

On New Year's Eve, the yurt was put in order, clothes were cleaned. At the same time, they certainly tried to “break” something “old”. At worst, if there was nothing to break, uncork a bottle of milk vodka. Broken in this way, the "old" opened the way for the "new".

And in the morning, trips from yurt to yurt began (on foot, even at close range, self-respecting Mongols did not go) with congratulations. Each new guest was met with a plentiful festive feast, which carried not only a gastronomic load, but also a magical function. The more abundant the table on the first day of the year, the more abundant the coming year will be.

Boiled lamb, nostrils and eyes in melted butter, steam dumplings-manti (buuz), penki (uryum), dry cottage cheese (arul), unleavened soft cheese (byaslag), and, of course, a favorite New Year's drink that replaced champagne - milk moonshine (archi) - these are just some of the components of the traditional festive New Year's dostarkhan.

At the beginning of the feast, the host cut off the meat from the lamb rump with a sharp knife and personally treated each of those present - from the oldest and most respectable to the youngest. Each guest, in order not to offend the host, in return was obliged to drink three bowls of koumiss and three bowls of vodka. This was the end of the official part and the fun began with songs and jokes. What the Mongols have always been great hunters.

In "Soviet times", the New Year in Mongolia was officially celebrated on January 1 - along with the entire socialist community, the New Year tree and Santa Claus. And on the old New Year, "Tsagaan Sar", there was the Day of the Livestock Breeder.

Well, now everything is returning to normal, and, like many Asian countries, the Mongols now have two official New Year holidays. In Kazakhstan, there are now officially two of them - January 1 and Nauryz (March 21-23).

Our reference

The holiday "Tsagaan Sar" goes back to the ancient national and religious traditions of the Mongolian peoples. It is a symbol of the renewal of man and nature, openness and purity of thoughts, hope and good expectations. Initially, it was considered a holiday of dairy products and was celebrated in the fall. At this time, the preparation of dairy products for the future was over, which they consumed on holidays.

The grandson of Genghis Khan - the great Khan of the Yuan dynasty Kublai moved the New Year celebration from autumn to the end of winter under the influence of Chinese astrology. Thus, the Mongolian Sagaalgan was timed to coincide with the beginning of the year according to a twelve-year cycle. Marco Polo, a witness and contemporary of Khubilai, describes the court “white holiday” as follows:

“Their year begins in February; the great khan and all his subjects celebrate like this: according to custom, everyone dresses in white, both men and women, whatever they can. They consider white clothes to be happy, that’s why they do it, they dress in white so that there is happiness and prosperity throughout the year ... They bring him great gifts ... so that the great khan has a lot of wealth throughout the year and it would be joyful and fun for him. I’ll tell you more, princes and knights, and indeed all the people give white things to each other, hug, have fun, feast, and this is done in order to live happily and kindly all year.

After the expulsion of the Mongols from China in the 14th century, the tradition of celebrating Tsagan Sara at the end of winter was brought to Mongolia proper. Thus, the name of the holiday - "white" - has lost its original "milk" meaning, and acquired a more general meaning. The name "white month" reflects the color symbolism common to the Mongolian-speaking peoples, according to which the white color - a symbol of holiness and purity - is associated with happiness and prosperity.

With the beginning of the wide spread of Tibetan Buddhism among the Mongolian peoples in the 17th century, the Mongolian Tsagaan Sar included Buddhist rituals and mythology.

The holiday "Tsagan Sar" is now celebrated not only in Mongolia, but also in Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva and the Altai Republic, which are subjects of the Russian Federation.

New Year is a family holiday for many Mongolians and is always celebrated in a big way. The gala dinner usually starts late in the evening on December 31st. Traditional dishes are salads, buuzes (a kind of Mongolian steamed dumplings filled with meat), cake and champagne. TV channels at 23:55 broadcast the President's New Year's address to the people, which lists the achievements of the past year. On the upcoming holiday, President Kh. Battulga will congratulate the citizens of Mongolia for the first time as the head of the country. As soon as he finishes his speech, midnight will strike and people will raise toasts, fireworks and celebrate the beginning of the New Year.

If you are in Ulaanbaatar, you can head to Sukhbaatar Square to see the most popular public New Year's events. The city administration annually organizes the celebration of the New Year in Sukhbaatar Square, including performances and fireworks.

Recently, young people tend to celebrate the New Year in nightclubs, which also offer a varied program for the New Year's holiday.

Children in Mongolia on New Year's Eve take part in decorating the Christmas tree, an obligatory attribute of the holiday, and wait for Өvliin Өvgon, the Mongolian Santa Claus, who brings gifts. Өvliin Өvgon often comes with his granddaughter, Tsasan okhin or Snegurochka.

On January 1, when the peak of the celebration is over, many people visit their friends or relatives.

On December 29, Mongolia celebrates the restoration of its national freedom and independence. Therefore, according to the government decree, this day has become an annual public holiday.

Moreover, December 30 is also declared a non-working day. Therefore, residents of Mongolia will have a rest from December 29, 2017 to January 1, 2018, January 2, 2018 is a working day.

Christmas trees decorated with money

Many Mongolians believe that the Christmas tree is decorated for the sake of children. Parents buy a Christmas tree and decorate it to make their children happy.

In addition, the one who comes to visit usually brings a banknote with him as a gift to the child, which he hangs on a tree. It has already become a tradition. Moreover, the money hanging on the Christmas tree is mainly spent by children. For example, if a family has two children, the money will be divided equally between them.

The Christmas tree has become a worldwide symbol of wealth and prosperity. However, on the other hand, the Christmas tree has become the best way for children to earn money. If you see that the New Year tree in Mongolia is decorated with money, don't be surprised!

Wake up before midnight December 31st

Almost every Mongolian is awake until 12 noon on December 31 to open champagne at midnight and make a toast. It has become a tradition to wait for the president's speech and raise glasses at midnight, celebrating the new year and wishing each other all the best.

Ex-president Ts. Elbegdorj made a toast, holding a bowl of milk instead of champagne or vodka, calling on the Mongols to celebrate the holiday without alcohol.

Enjoyfireworksohmon Sukhbaatar Square

No one goes to bed on New Year's Eve, even children stay awake until early in the morning. It is very important to admire the fireworks on New Year's Eve.

You don't have to go to the square Sukhbaatar to see fireworks. You can enjoy it from the windows of your house. If you live in a tall building, you can see the whole of Ulaanbaatar.

Hand overgifts for children

As we mentioned earlier, Mongolians attach great importance to children during New Year celebrations. Mongolians traditionally give gifts to children. Companies purchase gifts for the children of their employees.

Recently, friends or caring people give gifts to children from low-income families.

And most importantly, the Mongols greet the New Year by saying SHINE ZHILIYN MEND HURGEE!!!

New Year 2018 in Mongolia will be celebrated more than once, but according to Christian, Buddhist and Muslim customs. The most familiar option for us is January 1 in accordance with the Julian calendar.

History of the New Year in Mongolia

The forerunners of modern Mongols and other Turkic peoples are the Huns. These people, who lived 3,000 years ago, were already celebrating the New Year. It was they who came up with the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree and putting gifts under it. It was believed that the god Yorlu got into the yurts through the chimney, to whom the festive tree was intended. It's easier to go down. Wishing to appease the deity, people hung silver and delicious food on the branches. As gifts, the girls were left with a spindle, and for the boys - arrows with a bow.

The date of the New Year was timed to coincide with the end of the cattle drive. It was October 14th. This number
la was of great importance in pagan Rus', after which it was converted to the day of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God. Some researchers believe that the tradition of decorating Christmas trees came to Russian lands precisely with the invasion of the Xiongnu and Avars. The end of the harvest was also celebrated on October 31st by the Celts. They called their New Year Samhain.

In modern conditions, Asian and European neo-pagans are trying to revive past traditions, however, absolute unity on this issue has not been established, since many prefer to celebrate the New Year on other dates.

Holidays in the New Year 2018 in Mongolia

In modern realities, the celebration of the event that marks the transition between the old and new years takes place at the junction of December and January. It is accompanied by fun, the exchange of gifts, the participation of the Snow Maiden and Santa Claus. In addition, traditions associated with the lunar calendar have been preserved.

In the first case, going on a tour to Mongolia for the New Year 2018, you will find yourself in a familiar environment. Coniferous beauties, decorated in shining lights, Santa Clauses, fireworks and other paraphernalia characteristic of the situation will flicker around.

The second holiday is called Tsagan Sar, which means the White Moon. This name arose in 1206, when the rule was in the hands of Genghis Khan. This event is celebrated in February, so that it marks the onset of spring and the flowering of new life.

On the evening before the holiday, the Mongols say goodbye to the outgoing year. This ritual is called bituleg. When the sun rises, relatives make congratulations, go to neighbors and relatives to visit. It is believed that the more people look at you on this day, the happier you will be in the future.

The constant dishes of the festive table are dumplings, fat sheep, flour and dairy products. The Mongolian feast has a lot of old traditions, interesting features:

everyone sits in a circle and begins to drink tea;
the head of the family cuts the meat of the ram and treats those present;
in turn, each gets a bowl of silver, full of koumiss. The owners prudently freeze it in the fall;
archi is drunk - milk vodka beloved by the Mongols;
then people indulge in fun, sing and laugh.

If you become a participant in such a feast for the New Year in Mongolia, photos from the event will evoke the warmest feelings in your heart for a long time after arriving home.

Sports competitions for courage and dexterity have become traditional these days. The Mongols arrange regional races. Participants, their relatives and coaches are collected at a predetermined place. The young riders are dressed in festive clothes. Under them are shaggy assorted, perfectly groomed horses. The distance is 10 km. At the finish line, spectators wait for the champions, communicate and share news.

To see all this with your own eyes, you should go to Mongolia as part of an excursion group. A trip lasting 10 days will cost approximately $1,700. You will get a lot of vivid impressions and pleasant emotions.

Also, outdoor enthusiasts will be interested to know how the New Year 2018 will be on the site.

At the hitching post in the distance,

silently standing under the moon,

From the first freshness of spring

my frisky crow froze.

Begzin Yavuhulan, Mongolian poet

Mongolian lands stretched from the impenetrable taiga in the north to the sands of the Gobi in the south, from the snowy peaks of Altai in the west to the endless steppes in the east. Mongolia is a country of the purest blue lakes, full-flowing rivers, mountains where edelweiss grows, and rich pastures where horses, cows, camels, goats and sheep graze all year round. Born riders live here, who begin to ride a horse almost before they walk.

Everyone rides in Mongolia - men, women, and small children. After all, the horse population of the country is so large that literally there is a horse for each of the two million inhabitants. By the age of five, the little Mongol is already confidently riding, and children aged 6-12 participate in traditional horse races.

Relations in the Mongolian family do not look so patriarchal and are built on the equality of spouses: women take part in grazing livestock, men devote a lot of time to raising children.

All Mongols cherish the traditions of their ancestors. They celebrate the New Year twice. The first time - on the night of January 1 with Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, a Christmas tree and gifts. The second time - according to the lunar calendar. This holiday is called in Mongolian Tsagan Sar (White Moon). It received its name in 1206, during the time of Genghis Khan. Tsagaan Sar marks the arrival of spring: after all, it usually falls in February.

In the evening, on the eve of the New Year, a bituleg is arranged in every Mongolian family - farewell to the outgoing year. The next day after sunrise, all family members congratulate each other, then the round of relatives and neighbors begins.

Fat ram, dumplings, dairy and flour dishes are prepared for the New Year's table. The Mongolian feast is a whole ritual, as ancient as the tradition of celebrating Tsagan Sar. Everyone sits in a circle, the tea begins. Then the most respected person cuts the fatty meat of the lamb rump and distributes it to everyone present. In a circle there is a silver bowl with koumiss. Thrifty owners keep it frozen since autumn. It does not do without traditional milk vodka - archi. Fun, laughter, songs - first of all, of course, about the Mongolian horse.

On the second day of Tsagan Sara, somon (regional) races are held. Participants, their coaches, relatives gather in a predetermined place. Festively dressed young horsemen riding on shaggy horses of various colors are calm and full of dignity. Start given. The distance is no less than ten kilometers. Participants are waiting at the finish line, talking animatedly, exchanging news and assessing the chances of their pets. An elderly man took out his smoking pipe with a mouthpiece made of white jade from behind the top of his boot and began to light it, carving a fire with the help of flint.

Time passes imperceptibly. But then someone notices the first rider galloping through the valley. Soon the entire "koumiss five" is shown. And here is the winner in white boots on a black horse! Five winners pass each other a bowl of koumiss, this magical drink is also sprinkled on the cereals of their horses. Tired but happy young riders hand over the horses to the trainers, while they wait for the rest of the participants to finish.

These New Year's Eve local races are loved by everyone. Such a warm, friendly atmosphere reigns here, this is how friends and relatives of the participants feel!

In the New Year, it is customary to wish each other happiness and good luck. So let's repeat after the Mongolian friends:

May all your wishes come true in the New Year!

Sar shiniyin mand devshuulye!

Vladimir LISICHKIN,