Traditions

Uzbekistan - country rich in traditions and holidays. One of the holidays is called Navruz that in transfer indicates - the new day. It begins with the awakening of nature, the appearance of snowdrops. This is the Persian New Year, which is celebrated on the night 21to22of March. The first references about this holiday are encountered in the Avesta, in the sacred book of zoroastrits.From the ancient times Uzbekistan was the agricultural country; therefore Navruz was and remains for the Uzbek people the holiday, which has the great significance: is symbolize the eternal renovation of nature.

In each country of the east they celebrate Navruz differently. In Uzbekistan Navruz is especially noted by people traditions and customs, which were formed through the thousands of years. In the course of time some elements of traditions, of course, changed, but, nevertheless, many of them were transmitted from generation to generation.  One of transmitted custom is, to forgive before the holiday all the debts, in order to begin New Year without them. All offences are forgotten on the holiday, reproaches are not approved. Another tradition is to visit in these days old people, ills and orphans, rendering to them aid and moral support. Navruz - holiday of the brotherhood.   

To the present days was preserved the tradition of preparing dishes from young eatable grasses before and after of holiday.  The celebration of Navruz cannot be imagined without Sumalyak. Together with the traditional value this dish is useful for the health of the man, whose organism experiences a deficiency in the vitamins after winter.    Sumalyak is cooked only in spring from the overgrown wheat, the flour, water, and vegetable oil without the addition of sugar in the enormous large kettle for 24 hours. Songs, jokes and laughter support cooks entire night and do not give to them to fall asleep. As soon as sumalyak is ready, they share it at least with 15-20 people.            

During the holiday sounds everywhere the music, theatrical performance and concerts are arranged, competitions and games will be organized as well. One of such games is Kupkari(competition of horse –riders). This game reminds the game polo, but it requires of participants in the game hardness, courage and adroitness. In the game there are approximately from 100 to 500 participants. The purpose of the game is to bring to the finish sheep or ram, which they drive in to the game. That who will be the first to bring the sheep to the finish, will get prize. Prizes are different: carpet, furniture, automobile and etc…

Sharq taronalari - The International Music Festival «Sharq Taronalari» has been set up for the purposes to popularize the best achievements of national musical arts, preserve and develop great folklore traditions, to bring up young generation to love excellence, as well as to further expansion of International creative links, glorifying the ideas of peace, friendship, mutual understanding, further strengthening of mutual cultural and spiritual cooperation.
The festival has been held once in two years since 1997 from 24 to 31 August at Registan Square in Samarkand city (Uzbekistan).


Until now traditional Uzbek wedding is the dearest holiday of nation. Before there were professional match-makers, who managed the skills of match-making (sovchilik) and agreement (maslaxat oshi). Today bride woos by the mother of fiancé or by the agent of the fiancé (compulsorily by woman). The encounter of fiance and bride is organized after match-making. After which match-maker comes officially to make an agreement. The agreement is strengthened by customs “ok urar”, in which guests are given white material, as the symbol of happiness, and “Non Sindirish”, in time which they break flat bread (non). After some days they celebrate engagement (fotikha) and assign date of wedding.          

Uzbek wedding ceremony (nikokh tuyi) is very rich in music, dances and games. Ceremony occurs both in the house of fiancé and in the house of bride. After several hours before the ceremony in the house of fiancé begin to play karnai and surnai (national musical tools), which invite guests to the ceremony. Fiancé and his friends take away bride. The cortege of fiance and his friends is accompanied by the songs “AL Muborak” and “Yor -Yor”. Bride farewells with her parents and with the parental house and will go into the house of fiance.
Arrival of bride and her attach into the house of fiancé is the next key point of celebration. A number of rites - encounter of wedding cortege, the walking of bride around the bonfire and greeting of her by the relatives of fiance, the encounter of bride on the threshold of house (salomnoma) - follow each other. Then they hide the bride after the curtain (chimillik). There comes fiance, dressed in the suit, presented him by bride. During the encounter of fiance and bride both attempt to step on each others foot. That who will manage step on foot first, appears to be dominant in the house.

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