Kazakhstan is a country in which from time immemorialIt is customary to honor the traditions of the ancestors. Kazakh wedding, which is held according to a long-established scenario, is also subordinate to them. Of course, some wedding customs of the Kazakhs have ceased to fit into modern life, but many beautiful traditions have remained unchanged. What do they represent?
Kazakh wedding: bride
Nowadays, the ancient tradition of the Kazakhs to findthe bride at the time of the bride, who is called “kyz kora”, is almost forgotten, as well as the custom to enter into marriage at the will of the parents. Young people are now choosing a couple for themselves, marrying for love. However, there were times when families with small children agreed to marry them without asking the opinion of the future bride and groom. In some cases, such agreements were made even before the birth of heirs, for example, if families wanted to intermarry.
Recalling how the Kazakhwedding in the past, it is impossible not to mention the bride. Not every citizen of Kazakhstan had the right to choose a bride during the Smotrin (“Kyz Koru”), mostly it was received by skilled jigits who managed to prove their skills, as well as scions of wealthy or famous parents. The young man, who wanted to get married, together with his friends went to the village, where attractive girls, who had reached the age of brides, lived. As a rule, they took the potential bridegroom and his attendants with honor.
During the show the girls competedeach other in various art forms. They also evaluated the possible suitors, not hesitating to express their opinions. Often, there were song competitions between young ladies and gentlemen - “aytsy”. If a spark was running between the boy and the girl, then there came a line of matchmakers who were going to the bride's family.
Matchmaking
Matchmaking is an indispensable part of such an event.As a Kazakh wedding, in Kazakh, this ceremony is called “Where to”. The role of matchmakers is traditionally assigned to the father and other close relatives of the groom. The bride's family is warned about their visit in advance, must provide a generous treat (of course, if they like the applicant). However, matchmakers are forced to pay for the entrance to the girl’s house, as the female half of the family traditionally stretches a lasso before the door, which is removed only after the guests present gifts to the owners: cuts of expensive fabric, money.
The atmosphere at the festive dinners reigns warm andfriendly, during the meal, various topics are discussed which have no direct relation to the future marriage. Only when lunch is nearing completion, the matchmakers are allowed to move to the goal of their visit. The conditions of the marriage ceremony are discussed, the size of the kalym is established. The right to speak is granted to all senior members of both families. Matchmaking, which traditionally precedes the Kazakh wedding, does not do without the ritual of “shash” as well. The delegates of the groom are sprinkled with candies, cookies, small coins, relatives of the bride, and they can also make the matchmakers go through various tests and take part in a gay show.
The representatives of the groom, who came to woo the girl,must have a "korzhun". This bag is decorated with bright ribbons, beads, coins. Inside it are gifts: dried fruit, candy, tissue cuts, and so on. Before the departure of the matchmakers, the gifts are handed over to them, the most valuable gift being given to the groom's father.
Bride show
Future newlyweds go to matchmakers only afterhow they get acquainted with all her relatives, agree with them about the wedding and kalym. Before the bride leaves, the representatives of the bridegroom must give her family a fee for the bride, which in Kazakh is called “korimdik”. Only after that the girl is shown to future relatives.
This is followed by a rite that is officiallysecures the status of the bride to the girl. Matchmakers put on her earrings, as a rule, this honorable duty is assigned to the mother of the groom. Matchmakers should also give gifts to other family members, mainly gold jewelry: necklaces, brooches, rings.
Kalym
Выкуп за невесту – то, без чего в былые времена Kazakh wedding could not take place. Traditions tell the candidate for the hand and heart of a girl to give 47 livestock heads to her parents. Now this rule is rarely observed, it is enough to put 47 small items in a gift bag that the matchmakers hand to the family of the bride. The number of livestock heads that were demanded for the bride in the past also depended on the well-being of families intending to marry. For the daughter of a major bai, they often paid up to 1000, while the poor were content with 5-6 heads as kalym.
A tradition has been preserved todayfinancial assistance that parents provide to newlyweds. The custom tells the bride's relatives to provide her with a dowry, including carpets, bedding, dishes, and so on. Relatives of the groom should give a young family money to purchase furniture.
Obviously, not every engagementends with marriage. If the groom, after the visit of the matchmakers and paying the kalym, suddenly thinks of marrying, having no grounds on the grounds provided by custom, he cannot be counted on to return the bride price. Moreover, the family of the deceived girl has the right to force the windy young man to pay a fine, the amount of which is negotiated separately. The situation is different if the contract is not respected by the bride or her relatives. In this case, the girl’s family must not only fully return the ransom paid by him, but also compensate for the breach of contract by paying a fine.
Bridesmaid Dresses
All over the world, girls who marry are anxiousrelate to the choice of attire, are not an exception, and the bride, who will be the Kazakh wedding. The bride's dress according to tradition should be red, but nowadays, Kazakh women can choose white attire. Over the dress, as a rule, possessing wide and long sleeves, a velvet vest embroidered with an ornament is worn, its color can be any.
The headdress of the bride bearing the name“Saukele” is an element without which it is difficult to imagine such an event as the Kazakh wedding. A photo of a girl dressed in a traditional headdress can be viewed above. The saukele looks like a work of art, the custom says to decorate it with pearls and rubies, to make of expensive fabrics (velor, velvet). Beads, fringe, and silver coins are also used as decorative elements. The upper part of the headdress is decorated with a beam created from the feathers of the owl, the edges are trimmed with fur (fox, sable, mink). Wealth "saukele" allows you to demonstrate the financial capabilities of the family.
“Saukele” looks so luxurious that for the right to admire the bride dressed in this headdress, friends and relatives invited to the wedding are ready to give small gifts.
Groom dress
Not only the bride is obliged to carefully prepareto such an event as the Kazakh wedding. The suit of the groom, according to custom, must exceed, in terms of wealth, the clothing of any guest. A man who marries must stand out from the crowd, in which he is helped by a special headdress, the upper part of which is decorated with feathers of an eagle owl. Traditions also tell the bridegroom to come to the wedding ceremony in high heeled boots, throwing a red caftan called a “chapan” on his shoulders.
Nowadays, Kazakhs almost never dressso magnificently, no exception is made even for such an event as a Kazakh wedding. Modern customs favorably allow young people to don a snow-white shirt and pantsuit. It is desirable that the suit was ideally sitting, so they sew it to order, the color does not play a special role. However, many men still do not forget about the national headdress, emphasizing the magnificence of the ceremony.
Not only about the dress should worry the groomwhich is to Kazakh wedding. The customs tell him to bring with them “that small”, this is the name of the cattle for the wedding, which will be slaughtered for the feast. The number depends on the wealth of the family, it can be several sheep, horses or cows. They take with them other gifts, for example, expensive fabrics, fruits, tea. It is curious that the attitude of the bride's family to his son-in-law depends on the amount he can allocate for the offerings. If the girl’s relatives remain dissatisfied with the wealth of gifts, customs allow them to express their displeasure. As a rule, this function is assumed by the wives of the bride’s brothers.
Choose your wedding day
Even when choosing the day of the weddingThe ceremonies of the Kazakhs take into account the traditions established many centuries ago. Most often, holidays are held in the last days of the summer season. At this time the religious fast ends, besides fruits and vegetables are abundant, so this is the best time for such an event as a Kazakh wedding. Traditions and history show that the Kazakhs can enter into marriage in the fall. Spring and winter weddings are played less often.
Modern brides and grooms continue to choosefor the wedding ceremony during the full moon. The reason for this decision are bright nights, ideal for night games and competitions, which for many years remain an indispensable element of the holiday.
It’s not always possible to guess the weather,however, it also plays an important role in choosing a wedding date. It is believed that by entering into a marriage on a cloudless, sunny day, the husband and wife will not know sorrow and quarrel with each other. While bad weather is regarded as a bad omen, which, however, many Kazakhs do not pay attention.
Seeing off the bride
Seeing a girl ("Kyz uzatu") - beautifulthe ceremony with which the Kazakh wedding begins from time immemorial. Traditions tell the family of the bride that day to laugh and shed tears. The joy should be caused by the fact that the daughter who marries has grown into a beautiful and clever girl. The source of sadness is the need to part with a girl who will now belong to another family.
Matchmakers lead the bride out of the house very early, oftenits departure coincides with the sunrise. The tradition arose not by chance, because the sunrise around the world is associated with the beginning of a new life. The family will not let the daughter out of the house without a traditional farewell song, which wears the name “nightmare of heat” It is important and the number of matchmakers, it must be odd. Usually, 5-7 matchmakers come for the girl, but perhaps more people. The chief matchmaker, who calls himself “the bass,” leads the procession. The bride will have to treat this person with respect throughout her life.
wedding ceremony
"Neke Kiyar" - rite of passage, without which it cannotKazakh wedding to take place. Traditions are required to invite the mullah to perform a wedding ceremony. Before this person is placed a bowl filled with water and covered with a cloth. Sometimes sugar and salt are added to the water, according to popular belief, it brings the newlyweds happiness, protects them from adultery. Relatives and friends invited to the ceremony gather around the mullahs. He says prayers, after which the bride and groom in the presence of witnesses confirm their consent to the marriage.
Законы шариата гласят, что при беременности girls can not take place Kazakh wedding. Customs recommend moving the ceremony, waiting for the birth of a child. Nowadays, this rule is no longer so strictly observed, especially when it comes to the first months of pregnancy, when it can still be hidden.
Farewell ceremony
Having entered the marriage, the girl should solemnlysay goodbye to his stepfather's house, the ceremony is called “night-time”. “Koshtasu” is an important part of such an event as the Kazakh wedding, the customs and traditions of which are still not forgotten by the people of Kazakhstan. The newlywed woman should say sincere words of farewell to all family members without exception: mother, father, brothers, sisters, as well as other relatives living in the house.
Also, she certainly performs a farewella song with which she expresses regrets that have appeared to her. The bride should express pity about the fact that she was not born as a boy, but as a girl, because of which she has to leave her home, while her brothers can stay with their parents. She also promises to visit her family soon, wishes her relatives good health and happiness.
Нельзя забывать и о еще одном интересном обычаи, which is associated with such a ceremony as the Kazakh wedding, the features of which often surprise representatives of other nationalities. Newlyweds can not appear in the house of parents for a year after the wedding. This is done so that the process of habituation of a girl to a new home is as simple as possible. Nevertheless, this does not mean at all that the bride will not be able to see her parents and other relatives for a whole year. The main thing is that the meeting did not take place in the father’s house, therefore, the rule will not be considered broken.
In the groom's house
What happens after it endsKazakh wedding, how is the acquaintance of a newlywed with a new home? The arrival of the girl is also heralded with all solemnity, the ceremony is called “kelin tusira”. According to the tradition, the whole aul should take part in the greeting of the bride. Interestingly, the bride and groom are not taken to bring to the threshold of the house in which she will live with her husband. Her planted quite far from the village, to meet the girl out her future neighbors. They escort the bride to the house, not allowing her to open her face.
This does not end the tradition thatKazakh wedding is subject to, the features of which can surprise strangers. The bride and groom must step over the threshold without fail with her right foot, otherwise family life will not go well from the very beginning. In her house and accompanying women they shower them with sweets, greetings. This is followed by a sumptuous feast to which all friends are invited. The meal is accompanied by fun contests, contests. The bride is not shown to the guests immediately; she spends some time in the house behind a special screen.
Rite of passage
Ceremonial Bride Out - Next Stagesuch a holiday as the Kazakh wedding, the traditions and history of which go back centuries. The newlywed, who hid her face under the veil, is led out to the guests at the height of the feast, by this time all the people invited to the celebration have already gathered. The opening ceremony of the girl’s face is called “beta-ball”, it is necessarily accompanied by traditional songs. Next, the newlywed officially meets with the spouse's relatives, respectfully listens to their wishes of health and happiness, benevolent advice. After that, the newly-born husband and wife are finally transformed into a separate unit of society.
There were times when the bride had no rightattend the feast, which invariably ends the Kazakh wedding. Modern customs and traditions no longer force the bride and groom to wait for the wedding night in a separate room, remaining under the watchful eye of her husband's mother. Brides these days are mostly having fun with everyone at the festival.
Interesting Facts
The above is about howKazakh wedding, photos taken during festive ceremonies can also be seen in the article. However, far from all the interesting facts about such events are listed. For example, few know that once girls became brides at 13–14 years old, and young men were considered mature for marriage at 14–15. Creating a family at such a young age was considered useful, in terms of morality, young people had no time to commit indecent acts.
The old custom did not allow to become a husband andwife boyfriend and girlfriend, who belonged to the same family. It is not surprising that many Cossacks, even today, are well aware of their ancestry, are familiar with relatives up to the seventh generation. Also took into account the age of people who want to have a wedding. It was not permissible for the bride to be older than the groom for more than 8 years. A man could be older than his future wife by 25 years. Now such restrictions are observed less strictly than in past times, nevertheless, not yet completely forgotten.
Another interesting custom concerns toasting, withoutwhich does not cost Kazakh wedding. The right to make toasts is granted only to older relatives, the speeches of the younger ones at the wedding feast is considered an insult.
These are the most interesting information about such a grand event as the Kazakh wedding. Customs, traditions, photos - the article has all the information relating to this festive event.
