Many people associate Russia with Orthodoxy. When it comes to holidays, Easter, Christmas and others immediately come to mind. Nevertheless, Russia is a multinational country where several cultures and religions coexist and organically combine. Tatar holidays are of particular interest. They reflect an unshakable belief in the unity of Allah, as well as love and respect for the Republic itself.
Specifics of Tatar holidays
The vast majority of the population of the Republic of Tatarstan professes Islam. It is this fact that determines the specific features that characterize Tatar holidays. Early in the morning, men and boys perform namaz, after which they go to the cemetery to honor the memory of their deceased relatives. Meanwhile, the women are busy preparing treats.
Previously, each religious holiday was celebrated for several days, and therefore people went with congratulations to their relatives and just neighbors, and most importantly - to their parents (if the latter lived separately). For 2-3 days the tables were laden with food, and therefore everyone who entered the house had the right to treat themselves. They also distributed food to the poor and homeless. In some localities this tradition is still preserved.
Mawlid An-Nabi - the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad is one of the most revered prophets in Islam. Nevertheless, the holiday began to be celebrated only 300 years after the arrival of this religion. The exact date of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad is unknown, and therefore the holiday was decided to coincide with the day of his death. It is the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic calendar.
It would seem that the fact that the holiday is dedicated to the day of the death of the prophet should set a certain mournful tone. However, this is not entirely true. In Islam, birthdays are not celebrated loudly. Such celebrations are usually quiet and modest. But death is perceived as a transition to eternal life. Thus, this date is celebrated in a more solemn atmosphere.
Spring Festival - Navruz Bayram
When considering Tatar holidays, one cannot ignore Navruz Bayram. Muslims have celebrated it since ancient times. This holiday is dedicated to the spring equinox (March 20-21). The holiday was of great importance for farmers. In addition, according to the Muslim calendar, this day is the starting point of the New Year.
Today, the culture of Tatarstan has changed significantly, and holidays have acquired new meaning. Thus, Navruz Bayram symbolizes friendship and harmony between peoples. On this day, it is customary to visit each other with a variety of treats. The main dish of the festive table is round flatbread made from different types of grains and beans, as well as sumalak (a dish made from sprouted wheat). The rest of the dishes are also prepared mainly from plant products, so as to symbolize the fertility of the land.
The modern meaning of the holiday is, after all, celebrating the New Year, mainly with the family. Children go from house to house, reading poetry, for which they receive candy and other treats (there is an analogy with the celebration of the Old New Year among the Slavs).
Ramadan - the beginning of fasting
The period from May 27 to June 25 falls on the holy month of Ramadan according to the Muslim calendar. During this period, believers fast, which symbolizes spiritual purification and worship of the Almighty. In addition, it is believed that during Ramadan health improves significantly, giving the body strength and vitality for the entire next year.
Fasting is not just a refusal of fast food. This is abstinence from many conditions and the usual benefits of the world around us. Smoking, intimacy and many entertainments are inaccessible to a person from dawn to sunset. And even bad thoughts are strictly prohibited.
All adult Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan if they are physically and mentally healthy. There are some concessions for women during pregnancy and lactation, as well as during menstruation. They may not fast during Ramadan, but are required to make up for this at any other time. Also, to “compensate” for each missed day, you can feed the poor and needy.
Laylatul-qadr - night of Power and Predestination
All Tatar holidays have a deep meaning. So, June 21 marks the night of Power and Predestination (Laylatul Qadr) - this is the most significant moment during Ramadan. It was on this night that the first suras of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is worth noting that the date is determined very approximately, since historians and scientists do not have a common opinion on this issue.
The Night of Power and Enlightenment has its own unique characteristics. Muslims claim that this night is especially quiet, serene, windless and cloudless. And in the morning the sun looks like a full moon. At the same time, its rays are especially gentle and do not blind the eyes. This is the best time to repent of your sins, as well as perform missed prayers. Believers can also think about plans for the future.
The holiday of breaking the fast - Eid al-Adha
The Tatar holiday Bayram is perhaps the most famous. Uraza is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which symbolizes the end of fasting. It is also called a small holiday. On this day, Muslims break their fast, give gifts to loved ones, and bring treats to neighbors.
On religious holidays, it is customary to gather all relatives in one house. It is believed that on the holiday of breaking the fast, the home is visited by the souls of the dead. After the holiday prayer ends, it is customary to go to cemeteries and tombs. And in those families where someone has died over the past year, a wake is held, to which all relatives and relatives are invited, as well as the mullah.
Eid al-Fitr is a joyful and bright holiday. With the end of fasting, people begin to hope that the Almighty will thank them for their patience. On June 26, colorful performances and rich fairs are held on the streets.
Festival of Sacrifice Eid al-Adha
When considering religious holidays of Muslims, the first thing that comes to mind is Eid al-Adha. This is the most important celebration, during which a sacrifice is made in the name of the Almighty. Usually, the holiday symbolizes the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The main rite is the slaughter of an animal. This tradition is associated with the name of the Prophet Ibrahim.
The Koran tells that the Almighty sent down a test to Ibrahim. In the name of his faith, he had to sacrifice his beloved son. The Prophet was unshakable in his faith, and therefore, without any delay, he accepted the will of Allah. As a reward for faith and obedience, the Almighty allowed Ibrahim to take an animal to slaughter instead of a child. Since then, all believers have followed the example of the Prophet by sacrificing sheep.
The animal meat must be divided into 3 equal parts. The first thing a Muslim has to do is feed the poor. The second is prepared as a treat for neighbors and relatives. And the fourth part can be left for your own needs.
At-Tashriq - continuation of Kurban Bayram
Tatar folk holidays are closely interconnected. Thus, At-Tashriq acts as a continuation of Eid al-Adha. These are the 11th-13th days of the month of Zulhija according to the Muslim calendar. At this time, believers make a pilgrimage to the Mina Valley, where they need to throw stones at 3 pillars, which symbolize the devil. The next morning there is a congregational prayer.
Tatar holiday Sabantuy
In addition to religious ones, it is worth noting a number of folk holidays that occupy an important place in Tatar Culture. Sabantuy is the main one. Previously, the date of the holiday was determined by elders. Shortly before the appointed day, children began to go from house to house, collecting cereals, eggs, butter and other products. The guys used them to cook porridge in a huge cauldron. Also on the eve of the holiday, gifts were collected that were intended for the winners of the competitions that were to be held the next day.
The Tatar holiday Sabantuy begins with children starting to collect colored eggs early in the morning. they are followed by young men who ride around on decorated carts and sing festive songs. All the eggs collected are put into one basket and taken to the merchant, and with the money they buy treats, which they eat right in the field or at someone’s home. Also, special dough balls are baked in every house. Unfortunately, today this tradition is practically not supported anywhere.
An integral part of the holiday is sash wrestling. To begin with, children and old people take part in them, and then young men join the battle. Then there are horse races. And towards evening, festivities begin for young people.
Today Sabantuy is a national holiday. It is held in both small villages and big cities. The entertainment program has been significantly enriched. So, if earlier women could only be spectators, today they can take part in performances and competitions. There are performances by artists and amateur art groups.
Meeting spring
Kyakuk syaye is a Tatar and Bashkir holiday that symbolizes the welcome of spring. This celebration dates back to the period when pre-Islamic beliefs took place. It is inextricably linked with the Bashkir cult of birds. The festival is usually held between April and July. The exact date was determined by the time of arrival of the cuckoos.
The organizer of the celebration should be an elderly and wise woman who knows the traditions thoroughly. He puts on a bright dress, as well as a red caftan, which is decorated with jingling coins. The woman puts a scarf and a special high cap on her head. The rest of the women and children also had to dress brightly and festively. Everyone gathered on the mountain, on the lawn or near the pond for tea with whites, pancakes, chak-chak and other treats.
The holiday begins with a special ritual designed to appease the cuckoos. Children pour milk and lay eggs under the roots of the trees, and tie bright ribbons on the branches. Elderly women read special prayers at this time, asking the cuckoos for abundance and prosperity. The next step is to collect brushwood and make a fire to make tea. Young people organize games and entertainment at this time.
During tea drinking, everyone listens attentively to elderly women who tell legends and instructive stories. After that, everyone does fortune telling and makes wishes. The remains of food are laid out on the ground and on branches to appease the cuckoo.
Nardugan
Nardugan is a major holiday celebrated on December 21-22 after the winter solstice. It is believed that it is at this time that the main luminary is born, which means the days will become longer and longer. On this day, it is customary to prepare treats for relatives and neighbors. There are also fun celebrations with theatrical performances. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the holiday is fortune telling.
Republic Day
Tatar national holidays are no less important than religious and ritual ones. Thus, on August 30, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Tatar SSR proclaimed the sovereignty of the Republic. This date is considered the founding day. Despite the fact that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tatarstan continues to exist as a subject of the Russian Federation, the holiday remains important and significant for residents.
The Day of Education of the Republic of Tatarstan is a day off. In addition, this date is also considered the birthday of Kazan. All cities and villages are decorated on this day, and residents go out for celebrations and participate in numerous public events and concerts. At night, residents of the Republic are treated to festive fireworks.
Conclusion
The holidays of the Tatar people are of great interest to historians and to ordinary people who are interested in the culture and customs of the area. All stages of the history of the people were reflected in the celebrations. And the Kazan Khanate, and the Moscow State, and the Russian State, and the USSR - all these periods left their unique imprint on local customs. There is a place for both traditional Muslim holidays and pagan rituals. Each of them carries a deep meaning.
On Uraza Bayram, all devout Muslims accept congratulations and warm wishes from relatives, friends, acquaintances, neighbors and colleagues. Kind, sincere and inspired words to the adherents of Islam are spoken in Russian and Tatar languages and in some other, less common Turkic dialects. Representatives of the Muslim community are congratulated on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan, dedicated to the most severe fast, and wished all the best, family happiness and success in any endeavors.
Uraza Bayram - congratulations in Tatar and Russian in prose
If there are people in your circle who profess Islam and celebrate all Muslim holidays, do not forget to congratulate them on the great event of Eid al-Adha. You can do this in Russian and your friends will be very pleased to see how sincerely you respect the rites, rituals, traditions and celebrations of other religious faiths. But if you read a few congratulatory lines in Tatar, you will make an indelible impression on your friends. They will remember such a pleasant and touching sign of attention, literally, for the rest of their lives, and the relationship between you will become more open, warm and trusting.
The day has come when the entire Muslim people celebrates the end of Holy Ramadan. For this day, all people professing Islam prepare both soul and body. Let this state of absolute purity accompany you throughout your life. Live with peace in your heart, with love in your eyes, with positive thoughts in your head, with sincere words on your lips and good deeds in your hands.
Uraza gaete berme beln ikhlastan tbrik itm. Sine kebek imanly, yash, sabyr, nykly rukhly din karshem bulganga min chyn kelemnn senm. m kilchk t d shul dreslek yulynda, Alla kushkan namaz yulynda bulyrsy m ze bashkalarny da ydrse dign izge telkt kalam. Alla sine kylgan dogalaryny kabul kylyp, freshtlr sia ugan yullar, mule tabynnar m kaya gyna barma gel namusli imanly keshelr gen ochratsyn. Tne, ana rchak slamt bulyp reel shulai urazalar totyp, gayten, korbanyn kp ellar bairm itrg nasyp bulsyn. Amine.
Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! Oh, your blessing has risen on this day! Congratulations to the entire planet and wish you happiness, love, prosperity, and live until the next Eid al-Fitr. May Allah protect your soul and heart. Don’t be disingenuous, be obedient and follow all the traditions of our people and you will be happy in life.
Beautiful poems for the holiday of Eid al-Adha
Inspirational and optimistic poems for the holiday of Eid al-Adha are appropriate to read when visiting elderly relatives and friends at the mosque after the festive service. Older people will be pleased to see that young people are interested in the religious history of their people and sacredly honor ancient traditions. If you are embarrassed by the idea of public speaking and you are not ready to recite rhyming lines out loud, write them on a beautiful themed card and hand them to your loved ones along with a small bouquet of flowers and a sweet souvenir. After all, according to Muslim tradition, there should be plenty of all kinds of delicacies, desserts and baked goods on the festive table. This guarantees that the coming year will pass under the sign of abundance and prosperity, and the family will not experience the need for either money or daily bread.
Today is the holiday of Uraza Bayram!
All Islam rejoices and has fun.
And on the holy day of breaking the fast
To Allah we send thanksgiving.
For testing us
And sent to this world to carry
Laws, truth and the Koran.
A lesson in abstinence was taught,
For this, brothers, a poem for you!
The first day of the month after fasting,
Let's break our fast on Shawwal, the reason is clear,
Eid al-Fitr lifts the ban from us,
Ramadan has passed and it is no longer there.
Prophet Muhammad gave us the Koran,
Protected me from gin and sin,
Happy and festive day for Muslims,
We can all break our fast now.
Let your family and friends not be bored,
And they open their doors to you in the house,
Bring gifts for a huge family,
Pray to Allah for happiness and joy.
Congratulations to all the people,
Happy Uraza Bayram holiday,
That's it, it's over
Month of Ramadan,
So let's eat and drink,
And enjoy life
The post is over for now,
And joy came to the house,
Let's pay tribute to those in need,
And on this wonderful day,
So joyful
We congratulate all our relatives,
And we will give them gifts,
We wish everyone well,
Joy and light,
Happy Uraza Bayram holiday,
We warmly congratulate you.
Short SMS greetings on Eid al-Adha for friends
Relatives, friends and acquaintances of Muslims living in other cities and countries can be congratulated on Eid al-Adha with short SMS congratulations. They will all be very pleased and joyful on this bright day to receive news from you and read a few touching, kind words showing your sincere and warm attitude towards representatives of other religions. Such manifestations of attention, as a rule, do not take much time and do not require significant effort, but they strengthen relationships and encourage further emotional communication.
Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim day,
But we celebrate with the world as a whole.
For us he is dear and so real,
We will set the tables just for him.
There are many different religions in the world,
But we respect each other's views,
And Uraza Bayram is your main holiday,
And we heartily congratulate you on it.
We wish you prosperity today,
Love, patience and strong faith,
And finally we will add,
So that your sense of proportion does not let you down!
SMS on the day of Eid al-Adha
They will fly to you from all over the big region.
We only bring good news,
There is no greater joy.
Congratulations on Eid al-Adha in pictures
On Eid al-Fitr, congratulations can be spoken in Russian, Tatar, Turkish and even English. There are no strict restrictions here and everything depends solely on your imagination and ability to think creatively. Make each other, family, friends and acquaintances happy with beautiful, sincere and kind words, read holiday poems aloud and send short SMS with optimistic content. All this will be well received, will definitely be liked and will add warmth and warmth to the solemn atmosphere. On this day, it is quite appropriate to post colorful and bright pictures with congratulations on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr in different languages and dialects on your pages on social networks. Such a step will become unifying and will allow everyone to join the holiday, regardless of religion, income and social status.
HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED BY THE TATARS
TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS
EMEL (Festival of Sun Rays) - the day of the vernal equinox, the ancient Tatar new year, the Tatar name for the holiday Navruz. A holiday symbolizing the arrival of spring and being the starting point of the new year according to the lunar Muslim calendar and the beginning of a new agricultural year. Celebrated with family. For the holiday, dishes are traditionally prepared from mainly plant products. Women traditionally bake round buns - kulche and flatbreads from wheat, barley, millet, corn, beans, peas, lentils, rice, sesame seeds and beans, and also prepare sumalak - a dish made from sprouted wheat sprouts.
BOZ KARAU (Festival of the departure of ice) - an ancient Tatar spring festival of seeing off ice. Spring celebration associated with ice drift. Symbolizes the passing of winter, the arrival of spring and warmth. Traditionally, Tatar villages were located on the banks of rivers. All residents dressed up and went to the river bank to watch the ice drift. The musicians played and sang songs. At dusk, straw was laid out on the ice floes, and a scarecrow was placed on one of the last ice floes, then set on fire and sent downstream, which symbolized the affirmation of spring and warmth. During the ice drift, they threw specially made dolls, coins into the water, and even plunged into the icy water, according to the belief that the spring river carries away ailments, while saying, “Any boryp-boryp bash ochynnan suga tashlagannar.”
ZHIMCHECHEK (Flower Juice Festival) is an ancient Tatar youth spring holiday. On the days of the spring flood and the appearance of the first flowers on the river bank, young people dressed up and played fun games together, danced in circles, and sang songs.
ZHYEN
(Festival of Relatives) is an ancient Tatar holiday marking the completion of spring field work and the beginning of haymaking. In ancient times, Zhyen was celebrated after the return home of the elders of Tatar villages, who came home after kurultai (general meetings of the leaders of Tatar communities). However, over time, the tradition of this celebration has changed. Residents of some villages were invited to others by their neighbors. Those who went to visit sewed outfits, baked pies, and brought gifts with them: carcasses of dried geese, jewelry, crafts made of wood and metal, fabric products, etc. They arrived on carts and decorated carts painted for a special occasion, entered the village with music and songs, children opened the decorated field gates for the guests. The hosts set the table anew for each newly arrived guest. The owners heated the baths for their dear guests in white “kunakny khormeshe muncha” - the highest honor for a guest. In the evening, a general dinner was organized in the full presence of all guests. The Zhyen holiday strengthened family and friendly relations, united the village and the surrounding area: people felt like one family during the days of this holiday.
Zhyen can be called a holiday for brides and grooms. At mass celebrations, young people tried to find a soul mate, and their parents matched their children.
YOMYRKA BAYRAM
(Egg holiday) - the Tatar name of the ancient holiday "Easter". On this day, it is customary to boil and paint chicken eggs, bake delicacies and invite guests. Housewives dyed eggs with natural products in the evening - most often in a decoction of onion skins. The eggs turned out to be multi-colored - from golden yellow to dark brown, and in a decoction of birch leaves - various shades of green, in an oak decoction - blue. They also painted boiled eggs with paints. In every house, special balls of dough were baked - small “kimak” buns and delicacies.
The children were especially looking forward to this day. Mothers sewed bags for them from towels to collect eggs. Some guys went to bed dressed and with shoes on, so as not to waste time getting ready in the morning; they put a log under their pillow so as not to oversleep. Early in the morning, boys and girls began to walk around the houses. The one who came in was the first to bring in wood chips and scatter them on the floor - so that “the yard would not be empty,” that is, so that there would be a lot of living creatures on it.
The children's humorous wishes to the owners are expressed in ancient times - as in the times of great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers. For example, this: “Are your grandparents at home? Will they give you an egg? Let you have a lot of chickens, let the roosters trample them!” The egg collection lasted two to three hours and was a lot of fun. And then the children gathered in one place on the street and played different games with the collected eggs to test their intelligence, speed and dexterity. In some villages, after the children, the turn came to older children - young men. They rode around the village on decorated horses, sang songs, and amused the owners with jokes. The collected eggs were placed in a wicker basket. And then one of the guys would grab this basket and gallop to the outskirts of the village. If the trickster was not caught up, all the eggs went to him. However, this almost never happened. The collected eggs were handed over to the merchant, and with the proceeds they bought food and had a treat in someone’s house or right in the field.
HARGA BOTKASY (Crow porridge) is an ancient Tatar holiday, which is held in early spring at the end of March, when corvids arrive. Symbolizes the unity of the Tatars with nature and gratitude to the birds. In ancient times, it was believed that ravens brought spring on the tips of their wings - then this was the name of all corvid birds. Corvids also destroyed crop pests and were natural guards for village residents when an enemy or flocks of dangerous predators approached. And as soon as the snow melted, the first streams appeared and rooks, jackdaws and crows began to fly in, and a holiday was held in honor of their arrival. On this day, children are dressed beautifully and sent to collect cereals, milk, butter, sugar, eggs from each house, express good wishes to the owners and invite everyone to the holiday with poems and songs. Then people gather on a hill, light a fire, and cook porridge from the collected products in a large cauldron. While the porridge is cooking, everyone sings, dances and has fun. After noisy fun, everyone is called to the cauldron, and porridge begins to be distributed. The first portion is given to the earth with wishes for peace, tranquility and a rich harvest. The second is for water, so that water can preserve living creatures on earth. The third is to the sky, so that there are many sunny days and it rains on time, and the fourth is to the crows in gratitude for bringing spring. The porridge was laid out on fence posts and gates, saying: “Kara kargaga ash bulsyn, ala argaga tash bulsyn” - let the rook be food, and the crow be a stone. After this, the porridge is distributed to everyone present at the holiday. The remains of the porridge were scattered in the fields and forests for the birds. The birds fly to the porridge left by him and restore their strength after a long flight to their native places.
KHYDYRLEZ (Festival of the beginning of summer) is an ancient holiday of the Crimean Tatars. Celebrated in early May. Traditionally, the celebration was especially revered and celebrated for two or three days. Before the holidays, the house is thoroughly cleaned. The night before, kalakai is prepared - bread baked between two frying pans in hot ashes. The main celebrations of Hydyrlez take place in the evening. A traditional element for these celebrations is bonfires, over which both adults and children jump. A fire is lit in the center of the village, and first men jump over it, then young men and boys. As the fire fades, women and girls begin to jump. The extinguished fire is covered with earth. During the holiday, various contracts were concluded and terminated, primarily with shepherds, and after the holiday, spring cattle-breeding work began.
SABANTUI
(Plow Festival) is the main Tatar national holiday, dating back to ancient times, dedicated to work on the land, marks the end of spring field work and beautifully reveals all the traditions, rituals and customs of the Tatar people. Over time, the holiday became completely alcohol-free and began to be celebrated everywhere in the summer. The holiday does not have a specific date - each village, city or community annually chooses the most convenient date and invites guests.
Sabantuy contributes to the preservation of the ancient traditions of the Tatars, passing them on from generation to generation. Through the centuries, the holiday has preserved the best examples of the cultural heritage of the Tatars - traditional original competitions in strength, dexterity, intelligence, ingenuity and talent. Each winner of the competition receives a well-deserved gift.
On every Sabantuy, a Maidan is specially built to hold a tournament in Tatar national wrestling on Koryash sashes. The winner of the tournament is proclaimed “Batyr of Sabantuy” and receives the most valuable gifts. The winner of the women's competition becomes the "Beauty of Sabantuy" and is awarded worthy prizes.
Traditional competitions of Sabantuy horsemen: belt wrestling "Koryash", equestrian competitions, lifting stones, tug of war (tartysh lasso), arm wrestling, archery at targets.
Traditional comic competitions of Sabantuy: jumping in sacks in a race, running with a yoke in a race, running with an egg in a spoon in a race, fighting with bags of straw, breaking pots blindfolded, climbing onto a smooth pole with a hanging prize, getting a coin with your teeth from a full bowl of roll.
Equestrian competitions of Sabantuy: competition on paired teams, fast riding under the saddle, cutting an apple on a rod while galloping, picking up a woman’s scarf from the ground while galloping, kyz kuu - a competition during which a guy rider must catch up with a girl rider and kiss her while galloping .
Sabantuy is accompanied by various performing competitions, performances by artists and performance of music on folk musical instruments, joyful songs, dances, a fair of folk crafts and culinary products, tasting and sale of Tatar national cuisine, exhibitions, acquaintances, communication and meeting of friends and relatives. This amazing holiday is included in the world register of objects of the most valuable intangible heritage of humanity and is annually traditionally celebrated by Tatars almost all over the planet.
SALAMAT
(Festival of Gratitude to the Earth) is an ancient autumn family holiday of the Siberian Tatars, dedicated to the end of the harvest. The celebration takes place after the harvest. The main treat of the festive table is Salamat porridge - a floury liquid porridge made from roasted rye, barley or wheat flour, brewed with boiling water or hot milk and steamed in the oven with the addition of oil or lard or fat.
The dish was traditionally prepared by women, and men invited relatives and friends to visit. Everyone gathered at the festive table, where, in addition to porridge, there were always dishes from the harvest and delicacies.
AULAK OH
(Gatherings) - an old Tatar youth holiday, gatherings of unmarried youth without parents, during which boys and girls met, chose brides and grooms, talked and had fun. Girls gather in a spacious room, sew, knit, and embroider. Guys come, ask to be let into the house, and in order to deserve it, everyone demonstrates their intelligence, talent and skills: they play musical instruments, sing songs, dance, solve riddles, show off their inventions and works. Afterwards, the girls let the guys into the house and drink tea and eat gifts together. Then there are joint comic folk games, fun, songs and dances.
There are rules:
-Everyone brings their own prepared gifts (kuchtanach) to gatherings.
-None of the boys should deceive or offend a girl, as this is a great sin (haram).
-Boys and girls should not fight or swear (such people are kicked out of the holiday in disgrace).
SOMBELE BAYRAM (Harvest Festival) - Tatar folk holiday of labor, celebrating the end of autumn agricultural work. The holiday figuratively displays the work of villagers, the connection of the people with their native land, love for the Motherland, for work, the connection between the older and younger generations, love for their native culture. Today, as part of the celebrations, agricultural leaders are honored.
UNYSH BAYRAM
(Autumn holiday) is an ancient Tatar holiday dedicated to the fertility of the earth and family well-being. By this time, all field work is completed: harvesting, grain removal, flax harvesting. The foundation for the family's well-being for the coming year has been laid. The holiday symbolizes gratitude for the harvest to the Earth, to Nature, to the workers who worked tirelessly from early spring to late autumn so that their people lived well all year.
On this day, treats are prepared, fairs are held, the most hardworking are honored, and people feast on food, sing and dance together.
KAZ UMYASY (Goose Feather) is an ancient Tatar youth festival, held at the beginning of winter with the onset of persistent cold weather. The holiday combines business with pleasure - preparing goose carcasses for the winter and youth gatherings. Young people pluck the geese, and then older women gut and salt them, making supplies for the winter. Young people at work - plucking geese together - looked closely at each other in order to further build relationships and create families.
NARDUGAN BAYRAM
(Rebirth of Light) is an ancient Tatar holiday, the day of the winter solstice. Celebrated on December 21-22. The holiday symbolizes the celebration of life and the awakening of the sun. For the holiday, “bavyrsak” and other delicacies and treats are baked.
Children and adults always dress up beyond recognition, go from house to house, sing funny songs, dance, give gifts, feed the hungry, symbolically “waking up” people and singing “alkyshi” - couplets with good wishes. One of the verses is translated as follows: “May the New Year be happy for you, May the wheat and rye grow well, may the cow give a lot of milk, and may she bring a calf!”
One of the attributes of the holiday is the fortune telling “Yezek salu”: Young people gather in the house in the evening when it gets dark, mostly girls of marriageable age, and sometimes boys. One of the girls goes to the ice hole, scoops up water with a bucket, carries it into the house, without looking back. Then the girls put their rings or buttons into the water and sing fortune-telling couplets. At this time, the youngest participant in the fortune telling takes out a ring or button at random. According to the content of the words of the song, the “fate” of the owner of the removed ring or button is determined.
EME (Holiday of Help) - an ancient Tatar holiday of the beginning of construction work and mutual assistance. To this day, the tradition of helping - eme - has been preserved in Tatar villages. They were organized during the start of all major construction and repair work: during the foundation and construction of a new house and public buildings. Often all fellow villagers took part in such events, and in large settlements - neighbors from the same street. The joint work ended with a meal and festivities. These days, such events are organized less frequently and involve fewer people.
SHEZHERE BAYRAM (Pedigree Holiday) is a modern Tatar national family holiday. Representatives of the clans gather in the family circle or in a wider circle and talk about their ancestry and interesting facts. Everyone brings their own treats to the holiday, talented representatives of the clans perform, sing, dance and get to know each other. The meaning of the holiday is the compilation and study of the genealogical chronicle of a family, an interesting story from participants about their ancestry, the history of their family, paying tribute to the memory of their ancestors, strengthening family ties, preserving the continuity of generations, strengthening the sense of responsibility, national pride and self-awareness, attracting interest in studying your ancestry and history of your native land.
YANA EL BAYRAM (New Year's holiday) - New Year's holiday according to the European calendar. Tatar family holiday, on which it is customary for the family to gather, prepare treats, congratulate relatives, friends, loved ones and neighbors and feed the hungry.
BABYAI MOONCHAS (Children's bath) - held the day after the birth of the child. After the household visited the bathhouse, when it became cool, the midwife helped the young mother wash herself and bathe the baby. The family prepared treats, invited relatives and ate together at the common table.
ISEM KUSHU (Naming Festival) - a ritual Muslim holiday of naming a child, is held a few days later in the house where the child was born. The mullah, relatives and friends of the family are invited. The mullah opens the ceremony with a traditional prayer, then a child is brought to him on a pillow, and he turns to the Almighty, urging him to take the newborn under his protection. After this, he whispers the adhan (call to prayer for Muslims) into the baby’s ear and pronounces the name of the newborn. Children's names are, as a rule, chosen by mullahs who had special calendars - name books. Since ancient times, they have been dominated by names from religious canonical legends. It was believed that the future future of the baby and its fate depended on the name. The choice depended on many reasons. In poor families, they tried to choose a name that symbolized wealth and prosperity; if the child looked weak, they chose a name that reflected the strength of spirit and body, etc.
BYABYAY ASHI (Newborn Holiday) - an ancient Tatar holiday on the occasion of the birth of a child. For several days after the birth of the child, friends, neighbors and relatives of the young mother came to visit her and brought treats and gifts.
MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
MAVLID BAYRAM (Prophet's Birthday) - celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
Eid al-Adha - (Feast of Sacrifice) - a holiday of offering gifts, donations and helping those in need
KADER KITCH (Night of Predestination) - the night of the 27th day of the month of Ramadan is considered the night of predestination, decision of fate, power. That night the revelation of the Koran to Muhammad began. It is believed that on this night Allah makes a decision about the fate of each person, taking into account his piety and requests made in prayers. Therefore, it is customary to spend time in the mosque reading the Koran and offering prayers and requests to Allah and the angels.
EID AL ADHA (Feast of the end of fasting) is a Muslim holiday of the end of the holy fast of Uraza. The holiday is celebrated for 3 days
ZHOMGA (Friday) is traditionally considered a holiday. On this day it is customary to visit the mosque and hold Majlises (Assemblies).
ADOPTION OF ISLAM DAY - Day of voluntary acceptance of Islam by the ancestors of modern Tatars - the Bulgars in 737. Celebrated on February 4th.
IZGE BULGAR ZHYENY (Old Bulgarian celebration) - Day of the official adoption of Islam by the state of Volga Bulgaria in 922. Celebrated on May 21st.
INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS
By tradition, every year matinees for children are held at the Vladimir Mosque. Active parishioners provide all possible assistance in organizing the holiday. The children's parents are directly involved in drawing up the script and preparing the festive table. This year, the kids were more than ever excited about competitions and quizzes, which were dedicated to the topic: “How did I spend Ramadan?”
A student from the Moscow Islamic Institute, Khasan Agafonov, made his debut as a presenter. Children actively participated in entertaining competitions and games called “Help in the House”, “Day and Night”, “Gift to a Friend”. Boys and girls showed in a playful way how they spent the blessed month of Ramadan - a time when the reward for good deeds is multiplied many times over. After all, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said about this month: “Any additional good deed is counted as obligatory in this month. And the reward for doing something obligatory is similar to the reward for seventy obligatory deeds done on other days.”
The matinee was accompanied by the screening of beautiful Muslim videos about Ramadan.
Traditionally, a Koran recitation competition was held among children. This year there were many more people willing to participate, and it was difficult for the jury to determine the winners. The organizers gave memorable gifts to the children who won prizes, as well as to everyone who participated in this difficult competition.
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
The holy month of Ramadan, the month of mercy and forgiveness, will soon come to an end. And in just a few days the holiday of Eid al-Fitr will come. Eid al-Fitr is a day when Muslims all over the world congratulate each other, rejoice and have fun without exception. This is a holiday that is officially a day off in all Islamic countries, so that Muslims can meet and congratulate each other, visit relatives, relax and fully enjoy this holiday.
We live in a non-Muslim country, so during Muslim holidays it is important to create a special festive atmosphere for our children. Let this holiday be remembered by them, so that on those days when secular holidays are celebrated in our state, children will have something to remember and appreciate. Unfortunately, many secular holidays are inflated so that our children, willy-nilly, see them and come into contact with them. Of course, we try to prevent them from participating in the celebration of the New Year or the Eighth of March and similar days, but we cannot prevent our children from admiring the festive decorations on the streets and in stores.
The festive atmosphere and especially the form of celebration have a huge impact on the psyche of children, forming their self-awareness and laying down value guidelines. Therefore, I urge that we do everything possible to ensure that our children feel valued and joyful during our two main holidays, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Adha. Parents must prove to their children not only in words, but also in deeds that Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr are the most wonderful days.
So what can you do?
1. Prepare special gifts. Let it be something that your child has long dreamed of, that he asked Allah for. Also add something related to religion to such a gift, such as a new skullcap or a new scarf.
2. Holiday clothes. Together with your child, prepare in advance the festive clothes that he will wear on holidays. Let it be comfortable, beautiful, if possible, new clothes. Prepare yourself in advance mentally for the fact that clothes may get dirty at the holiday table, or while playing, the child may tear them. You shouldn’t scold him for this, because by grumbling at your child, you will ruin the holiday mood for both him and yourself.
3. Decorate the house. Remember how brightly and richly the rooms are decorated for secular holidays. Let your home be more elegant! Blow up the balloons. The more the merrier – kids love them so much! You can also use tinsel, which non-believers use to decorate Christmas trees. Hang it above the entrance, on chandeliers, on paintings. Make garlands of colored paper with your children and draw greeting posters.
4. Sweets. Prepare your children's favorite sweets in advance. May there be many of them on holidays. It’s good if the child himself can decide when, how much and what he eats.
5. Congratulations to loved ones. Together with your child, make small greeting cards or gifts in advance that he can give to friends, relatives and all Muslims he meets. Encourage non-Christian neighbors to give gifts as well. Perhaps, through this gift, Allah will give someone a hidayat (guide them on the straight path).
6. Entertainment. If in your city mosques organize Muslim holidays for children, go to them with your child. Or you can bring together children you know and arrange competitions and entertainment for them. Competitions should be kind and fun. Make sure that the prizes are divided equally among all children. As entertainment there can be a soap bubble show, which is now quite easy to organize yourself by purchasing everything you need in the store; an exhibition of chalk drawings on asphalt on a given topic; and any joint games that your imagination tells you.
The fate of the next generations depends on how parents raise their children. Holidays influence the upbringing of children, laying the foundations for a child’s perception of the world around him, his attitude towards other people, his vision of himself and his neighbors. Therefore, it is necessary to show the beauty of Islam through religious holidays and other rituals in the most colorful way and in an atmosphere of spiritual celebration.
Making children happy is also one of the ways to get closer to Allah. And it depends on the parents what holidays their children will celebrate and consider for themselves the happiest days of the year.
May Allah grant His mercy to both you and us! Amen.
Hayat Ibragimova, child psychologist
