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So January ended with its multi-day New Year's marathon. We have already managed to remove the Christmas trees from our homes and enter into a state of expectation of the arrival of the beautiful spring. And the Mongols were more fortunate - they celebrate this wonderful holiday of new life twice a year, and the traditional Mongolian New Year is about to come.

Today we will tell you how the New Year is celebrated in Mongolia: where he came from, how they prepare for it, and how they meet him, what they eat and drink at the festive table, and also in what costume Santa Claus pleases adults and children.

Story

The Mongols celebrate the first New Year in the same way as they celebrate it in Russia and in the Western world - at night at the turn of December 31 and January 1 according to the Gregorian calendar. Here it is not much different from ours: a Christmas tree, round dances, sparklers, firecrackers, gifts and, of course, Santa Claus.

But the Mongolian Grandfather can be called more shocking - this is a real shepherd, dressed according to the traditions of pastoralists, in a fox hat on top of his head. Instead of a staff, he has a whip, and instead of a bag of gifts, a waist bag with a flint and flint.

The Mongolian Grandfather Frost, as a serious person should, has a biography. His name is Uvlin Uvgun. His birthday fabulously coincides with the New Year - December 31st. He turned over ninety years old, and he lives in the capital Ulaanbaatar with his family - Zazan Ohin, also known as the Snow Girl, and Shine Zhilom - Happy New Year.

The second New Year comes according to the lunar calendar and is called the beautiful word "Tsagan Sar", which translates as "White month". In our time, it marks the approach of spring, which means the beginning of a new cycle of the Mongols' way of life with agricultural and livestock work.

Usually Tsagan Sar follows two months after the winter solstice and falls in February, the whole month is celebrated. What date it comes depends on the phases of the Moon and the Sun, each year in different ways.

IN2018 The Mongolian New Year celebration will take place on February 16th.

There are several versions why the "White Moon" is called that way:

• in February, during the celebration, all nature seems to be covered with a white tablecloth: snow, hoarfrost, ice;
• this is a very hungry month, when all winter supplies run out, and in order to deceive unclean spirits, it is considered white, which means happy;
• at this time, only white foods are eaten, mostly milk-based.

One way or another, scientists believe that the holiday received such a name during the reign of Genghis Khan, namely, in 1206. But then the “white” month followed the “green”, that is, after August. At that time, the name was quite justified: in September, dairy products abounded among nomadic peoples, because their stocks were prepared for the whole winter.

Under the grandson of the great khan, Khubilai, the course of life changed its direction a little: he moved Tsagan Sar to February, like the Chinese. So the time has changed, but the name remains.

The celebration of Tsagan Sara during the reign of Khubilai can be learned from the memoirs of the great traveler Marco Polo. In his notes, he noted that many people flocked to the palace to congratulate the emperor and literally bombard him with gold, silver, pearl, semi-precious gifts.

Preparation

Tsagan Sar is a great holiday, which is expected with impatience and trepidation in the heart long before its arrival. In Buddhist temples, preparation begins fifteen days in advance.

All these days, identified with the fifteen miracles that the Buddha revealed, prayers are held, and believers bring offerings. Colorful theatrical performances based on religious motives are also arranged here, which touch the soul of all Buddhists.

A few days before the great celebration, life in the kitchen literally boils. The hostesses prepare traditional dishes:

• large dumplings, similar to pies - buuzy;
• sweet cakes;
• sweet cookies - heavy boos;
• cottage cheese;
• koumiss.

With special care and love at this time, gifts are bought for relatives, friends, neighbors. Finally, on the eve of the holiday, the custom of farewell to the old year is held - bituleg.

A family dinner is arranged in a close circle, and then the Gutor rite, familiar to the Buddhist world, takes place - cleansing the house and the inner world. Food left from the feast, garbage, old things, coins and a specially prepared dough figure are collected in a special bowl, after which everything is taken to the wasteland and thrown away.

A new day is coming, and with it a new year. It's time to gather in a huge crowd and congratulate all your friends.

feast

Tsagan Sar is a mass celebration with dances, songs and an indispensable meal, on which the table is bursting with treats. The Mongols believe that a large number of guests promises them incredible happiness and wealth for the next twelve months. That is why a hundred friends, relatives, neighbors in the house is far from the limit.

The entrance to the dwelling is covered with a white felt carpet, where the owners cordially welcome guests. Those, in turn, give blue or white silk scarves - a symbol of happiness and prosperity. The hosts try to thank the newcomers and present gifts in return: the same scarves, sweets or new coins.

If the meal takes place in a yurt, then according to the old customs, the north side of the yurt was intended for senior honored guests, to the west for men, and to the east for women.

The celebration usually begins with tea. Then comes the time for the signature dish - lamb. This is a whole ritual: the most respected guest or the owner of the house cuts the sacrum and passes it on to the audience in turn. Fatty meat is washed down with koumiss or milk vodka - archi, eaten with dairy products, rice porridge, pastries, lovingly prepared by the hostess in advance.

Some guests leave, others come. Until the very night, the festivities continue, and in the morning - all over again. But it only gets more interesting.

New Year's festivals

The second day of the year is marked by competitions adored in Mongolia - horse racing. Tastefully dressed riders, along with their zealous friends, compete for the title of the most dexterous and skillful. The crowd roars as the steeds travel up to ten kilometers to find out who will be the winner.

As a legacy from the Chinese authorities, the Mongols inherited another, no less colorful and cheerful performance - yangou, which is often held the next day. This is an unforgettable sight when a string of participants in colorful costumes and painted masks on stilts turns the procession into a real carnival, arranges theatrical performances filled with lively expressive conversations and wordless dialogues.

Conclusion

Residents of Mongolia definitely know a lot about fun and the right start to the year. So why don’t we, on the eve of Tsagaan Sarah, cleanse ourselves of bad things and thoughts, wish each other boundless happiness and let more light into our lives?

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As you know, the celebration of the classical New Year dates back to Roman times, when the so-called Julian calendar was introduced. In Russia, the New Year began to be celebrated on January 1 from the introduction by Peter I in 1700 of the chronology from the Nativity of Christ, before that, years were counted from the creation of the world. Buryats, Mongols, Kalmyks, Tuvans celebrate Sagaalgan (Tsagaan Sar), many Turkic peoples celebrate Novruz Bayram.

New Year seems to be the oldest holiday in the history of mankind. It is all the more interesting to trace the identity of dates among various peoples of the world - say, the Xiongnu and the ancient Celts, Iranians and Buryats.

March 1, September 1, January 1

Until the end of the 15th century, the New Year in Rus' fell on March 1. In principle, as with many peoples, this was an echo of pagan ideas about the time of the beginning of spring field work. In pre-Christian Rus', the New Year fell at the beginning of January. March 1 did not take root in Russia, since the spring field work here differed from those in the Mediterranean, the birthplace of the Julian calendar. However, the new date - September 1, also did not take into account the climatic features of Russia. The reform of the calendar system was carried out without taking into account the working life of the people, without establishing a connection with agricultural work.

The September New Year was approved by the church, which followed the word of the Holy Scriptures; establishing and substantiating it with a biblical legend. By the way, the Julian calendar also did not circulate. In 1700, Peter I put it into effect and set the New Year on January 1. In 1917, after the revolution, the Gregorian calendar was introduced. The Church still uses the old Julian calculus, so all dates have shifted by 13 days, say, Orthodox Christmas and the "old" New Year.

Church influence on the festivities, however, practically disappeared during the Soviet era. There were attempts to completely abolish the New Year, until in December 1935, Stalin's ally Pavel Postyshev published an article in the Pravda newspaper, where he proposed returning the New Year tree to the children. Since then, many families have preserved the tradition of putting a red star on the Christmas tree instead of the golden one of Bethlehem.

Xiongnu and New Year

According to Chinese historians, the Xiongnu people, the forerunner of the Mongolian and Turkic peoples, knew the New Year. Nomads widely celebrated this holiday, gave gifts. And that was 3000 years ago. It was the Xiongnu among the Asian peoples who were the first to decorate Christmas trees and put gifts under them. Spruce was intended for the god Yorlu, who came to the yurt through the chimney, and it was placed so that it would be more convenient for him to go down. To appease the deity, the tree was decorated with food and silver. Gifts were placed for children - bows and arrows for boys, spindles for girls.

The New Year was celebrated on the day of the end of the cattle drive to the winter roads and fell on October 14th. According to popular observations, at this time the moon (“Һara”) converged in the phase of fullness with the constellation Pleiades (“Tengeriin basagaduud”, i.e. “heavenly girls”).

It is noteworthy that this date was also celebrated in pre-Christian Rus', later this holiday became the day of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.
Later, when the Xiongnu and then the Avars invaded Europe, they, according to some researchers, brought the tradition of decorating Christmas trees.
The end of the harvest was also celebrated by the Celts (October 31), whose New Year was called Samhain.

Nowadays, European and Asian neo-pagans are trying to revive the tradition of celebrating the New Year at the end of field work or driving cattle for the winter. But there is no unity among them, as many tend to celebrate the New Year on other dates.

It's December 21st

The holiday of the winter solstice, which falls on December 21, is also considered by many peoples to be the New Year. The ancient Germanic tribes on this day expected the revival of the Life-Giving Oak King, who warmed the frozen earth and awakened life in the seeds stored in its bosom all the long winter.

The Vedic-Zoroastrian god Mithra was also, according to legend, born on December 21st. On the longest night of the year, the god of light and truth appeared, whose cult, in many ways, was reflected in many religions of the world.
The Slavic peoples celebrated the Kolyada holiday on this day, when “the sun turns to summer, and winter turns to frost. No matter how cold the frost is, it will warm the cheerful holiday warmer than the stove.

Everyone remembers the noise around the world caused by the date of December 21, 2012. In fact, the day of the winter solstice, calculated by the ancient Maya, accounted for the end of the 5200-year cycle of transition from one side of the galactic ecliptic to the other.

Thus, a more progressive calculation of the New Year began, depending on the Sun, Moon, stars, and not depending on the end or beginning of field work or migrations. The end of December was also accepted as the date of the birth of Jesus Christ, although it is not known whether he was born on December 25th. However, many peoples have adopted the date of the vernal equinox as the New Year.

Ahura Mazda and Hormusta Khan

In the 5th century BC. the prophet Zarathustra, on the basis of ancient Persian and Vedic beliefs, compiled his works and founded, in fact, a new religion. The year according to the Zoroastrian calendar was calculated according to the Sun and consisted of 12 months. Each month was 30 days, and was called the name of a particular god or saint. The remaining five or six days were called "weeping days." This calendar was very perfect for its time. In many ways, many other European and Asian reckonings originated from it.

New Year in Zoroastrianism fell on March 21-22, on the day of the vernal equinox. Later, this date will also pass into the solar Turkic calendar as the day of eating syrts - the backbone of the year.

Thus, it became a tradition for the ancient Turks and Mongols to celebrate the New Year with the advent of spring. But over time, the calendar has changed. So, the current Turkic peoples, along with many Muslims, celebrate Novruz Bayram on this day, a holiday that appeared in Islam, but has its roots in Zoroastrianism. But not all Turkic peoples celebrate on March 22, for example, among the Yakuts, because of the natural and climatic features, the New Year was shifted to May 22.

The contribution of Zoroastrianism to the culture of Asian peoples is enormous. It spread from the Persian Gulf to Lake Baikal, it was transmitted by Turkic kams and Mongolian shamans. In the Geser epic, there are the deities Hormusta (Khan-Hyurmas tengeri) and Atai-Ulaan, whose names are borrowed from the Zoroastrian Ahura Mazda and Ahriman.

Turkic animal cycle

Among the ancient Turks, the so-called "animal cycle" became widespread. It was a kind of calendar, at the junction of Persian and Chinese, with Xiongnu echoes. It was based on the monthly revolution of the Moon around the Earth, the annual revolution of the Earth around the Sun, and the period of rotation of Jupiter around the sun. According to the names of animals in the calendar, it was almost identical to the Chinese - rat, bull, leopard, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, chicken, dog and pig.

There was also a 12-hour cycle per day, also according to these animals. The unit of measurement for the month was the time between two new moons. The month was divided into two periods: "ay nazli" (new moon) and "ay karty" (old moon). Later, in the Middle Ages, each month began to have a certain name and its signs.

The Turks divided the year into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. In addition, the year was divided into 24 seasons of 15 days each. Each season consisted of three minor seasons, each with five days. This division further detailed weather signs.

But the Turkic calendar was sunny, and the establishment of the New Year on March 21 or 22 was more or less understandable. But over time, among the Turkic and Mongolian peoples, the solar calendar began to be replaced by the solar-lunar one, and after that, the Muslim calendar was introduced for some of them, and the Buddhist lunar calendar for others.

Sagaalgan - is it a Buddhist New Year?

Many mistakenly believe that the Tsagan Sar (Sagaalgan) holiday appeared among the Mongolian-speaking peoples under the influence of Buddhism. In fact, this New Year, as we see, was also celebrated by Tengrian shamanists. The northern Buddhists (Lamaists) thoroughly revised the calendars of the Turks and the Chinese, and compiled their own based on them, based on more accurate astronomical data and adapting the onset of the New Year to our natural and climatic conditions. Therefore, the Chinese and Mongolian New Years do not always coincide.

One way or another, the tradition of celebrating in late winter has distant roots. But the lunar calendar has its own characteristics. To match the solar month, 13 months are added to it every three years - “iluu”. Due to the discrepancy between the calendars, it turns out that every year Sagaalgan falls on different dates of the solar calendar.

It is curious that in one of the variants of the Buryat calendar, the year of the Monkey (“bishen”) was named the year of the Star (“mushen”). Apparently, this was due to the fact that the Buryats did not know such an animal, and gave this year a consonant name.
Finally, it is worth recalling once again that in 2014 the Year of the Blue Horse will come not on January 1, but on January 31. And the residents of Buryatia will rest for three days.

The very similar peoples of the Great Steppe, Kazakhs and Mongols, have one fundamental difference. Kazakhs are Muslims and Mongols are Buddhists.

During Soviet times, the New Year in Mongolia was celebrated on January 1, like in all Soviet republics - with a Christmas tree and Santa Claus. And the traditional for the Mongols Tsagan Sar, fell on the Day of the breeder. After the collapse of the Union in Mongolia, the New Year is celebrated twice:

• according to the Gregorian calendar - January 1,
• according to the lunar calendar - in early February.

How to celebrate the New Year in Mongolia

The traditions of celebrating the first New Year (January 1) are not much different from the traditions of most countries. Already in early December, city streets are decorated with illuminations, lanterns, bells and New Year's wreaths, dressed up fir trees, figures of Santa Claus and other New Year's characters are installed everywhere.

By the way, the Mongolian Grandfather is very outrageous - he is a real shepherd in a shaggy fox hat, a whip replaces his staff, and a waist bag is a bag with gifts. My name is Grandpa Uvgun Uvlin, he lives with his family in Ulaanbaatar, and he is almost a hundred years old.

On New Year's Eve, it is customary to gather with family and friends at the festive table.

After midnight, large noisy companies pour out into the street to blow up firecrackers and admire the fireworks. The morning of January 1 begins with the unpacking of gifts. Traditionally, sweets, clothes, dishes and alcoholic drinks are given to each other. Spouses often receive "paired" gifts: a set of cups, pillows, decorative elements, etc.

Many residents spend the first days of the coming year at the races - the main Mongolian entertainment. Experienced riders, along with their zealous horses, compete for the title of the most dexterous and skillful. Also no less popular are yangou - spectacular theatrical performances with the participation of thousands of colorfully dressed residents. Such processions are held on the main streets and squares in all Mongolian cities.

Tsagan Sar

This holiday is associated with the ancient traditions of the Mongolian peoples. "Tsagaan Sar" in translation means "White month". It is believed that this is a symbol of purity of thoughts, kindness and renewal of a person.

The white color among the Mongolian peoples is a symbol of purity and holiness, associated with well-being and happiness. For the Chinese, by the way, red has the same meaning.

Traditional celebration of Tsagaan Sar

On the eve of the holiday, they put things in order in the yurts in order to meet the New Year in cleanliness. It was customary to break something old to make way for the new. The next morning, the guests began to visit each other and arranged feasts. It was believed that the more abundant the table on the first day of the year, the more satisfying the whole year would be.

Traditionally, on the table were boiled lamb, cottage cheese, cheese and milk moonshine, where without it. After the host of the feast cut the lamb and personally treated each guest, he, in turn, had to drink vodka and koumiss so as not to offend the host. This was the end of the official part of the holiday and the fun began with songs and dances.

In addition to Mongolia, the holiday is also celebrated in a number of subjects of Russia - in Altai, Kalmykia, Tuva and Buryatia.

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In this article, I want to introduce you to the national Mongolian holiday called "Tsagaan Sar" (literal translation "White Moon"). In addition, it took place only a month ago and is celebrated in almost all Asian countries.

In Mongolia, it is usually celebrated in February, calculated according to the lunar calendar. But when we mention that this holiday goes along with the Chinese New Year, the Mongols get offended. For them, this holiday is calculated by lamas (Buddhist monks).

The holiday begins in the evening, on the eve of the holiday itself, on the last day of the outgoing year. Each family should get together in the evening and eat tightly. This evening is called "bituun" (from the word full, filled). It is believed that if you ate properly in “bituun”, then the whole year will be satisfying and happy. In the morning the official celebration begins. Officially, the holiday lasts 3 days. Most do not work these days. Even grocery stores are closed, and therefore you have to stock up on food for several days (bread on store shelves, there is no week at all).

On the first day, elderly relatives (parents or grandparents) are visited. Many dress in national clothes, which gives the holiday solemnity, colorfulness and national flavor. When meeting, it is customary to greet each other in a certain way. The greeters extend their hands to each other, palms up. The hands of the elder are on top, and the younger should place his hands on the bottom, as if supporting the elder by the elbow. At the same time, they ask each other whether they met the New Year successfully, thereby notifying them of well-being.

Indispensable dishes on the table are buuzes (large steamed dumplings - for clarity), “heavy boovs” ​​laid in a certain way and covered with “even” on top, “aruli” (pieces of dried cottage cheese) are on top, various dairy products (the main one is white) , and a ram, cooked almost entirely. The ram lies on the table for all three days and meat is cut off from it in pieces, and then it is completely eaten.

After the greeting and the feast, the hosts give gifts to the guests when they leave. Gifts are prepared a month before the start of the holidays. One family can host from 8 to 15 (or more) groups of guests in one day. Can you imagine how many gifts they need to distribute?!.

The holiday lasts for several days, but for many it ends only when they greet all their relatives. And for this, some have to travel to different regions of Mongolia for more than one week.

The origins of the celebration of this holiday no one knows for sure. There are several different opinions.

Some say that the holiday was established by the world-famous Genghis Khan. In order to unite the scattered sites of the Mongols. For a whole month, once a year, they had to visit other camps, thereby maintaining relationships and learning about recent events. Since at that time there was no railway and cars, transportation took a long time.

Others say that the holiday was originally considered the holiday of the beginning of spring, when the offspring of cattle began to appear. Then the breeders met together and congratulated each other on the arrival of spring and the new offspring. The holiday was not celebrated in the cities. During the reign of the communists, the holiday was abolished, and after the fall of communism, it was reintroduced at the state level.

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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!!!