Kazakh wedding: customs and traditions

Kazakhstan is a state in which, from time immemorial, it is customary to honor the traditions of ancestors. He also obeys the Kazakh wedding, which is held for a long-established scenario. Of course, some wedding customs of Kazakhs have ceased to fit in modern life, however many beautiful traditions remained unchanged. What are they?

Kazakh Wedding: Lookout

In our days, the ancient tradition of Kazakhs to find a bride during the lookout, which is called "kyz koru", is almost forgotten, as is the custom to marry at the behest of parents. Young people now choose a couple for themselves, marry for love. However, there were times when families with young children agreed to marry them without asking the views of the future bride and groom. In some cases, such contracts were concluded before the birth of the heirs, for example, if the families wished to become related.

Remembering how the Kazakh wedding was held in the past, it is impossible not to mention the look. The right to choose a bride during the watch ("kyz koru") was not for every inhabitant of Kazakhstan, mostly he received skilful dzhigits who managed to prove their skills, as well as the offspring of wealthy or famous parents. The young man, who wanted to marry, went with his friends to the village where attractive girls who had reached the age of brides lived. As a rule, they accepted the potential groom and his attendants with respect.

During the lookout, girls for marriage were competing with each other in various kinds of art. They also evaluated possible suitors, without hesitation to express their opinion. Often arranged song competitions between young ladies and gentlemen - "aitys". If there was a spark between a young man and a girl, then the turn of the matchmakers, who were going to the bride's family, was coming.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking is an obligatory part of such an event as a Kazakh wedding, in Kazakh this ceremony is called "where is the tusu". The role of matchmakers is traditionally placed on the father and other close relatives of the groom. The bride's family is warned about their visit in advance, must provide generous treats (of course, if they like the applicant). However, for the entrance to the house the matchmakers are forced to pay, as the female half of the family traditionally holds a lasso in front of the door, which is removed only after the guests give the owners gifts: cuts of expensive cloth, money.

The atmosphere at the festive meals reigns warm and friendly, during the meal, various topics are discussed that have no direct relationship to the future marriage. Only when the dinner is nearing completion, matchmakers are allowed to go to the purpose of their visit. The conditions of the wedding ceremony are discussed, the size of the kalym is set. The right to speak is given to all senior members of both families. Matchmaking, which is traditionally preceded by a Kazakh wedding, is also not without the rite of shaking the shashu. The groom's delegates are showered with sweets, biscuits, small coins relative to the bride, and matchmakers can force to undergo various tests, participate in a cheerful performance.

Representatives of the groom, who came to woo a girl, are required to have "Korzhun" with them. This is a bag decorated with bright ribbons, beads, coins. Inside it there are gifts: dried fruits, sweets, cuts of fabrics and so on. Before the departure of matchmakers gifts are presented to them, the most valuable present is to the groom's father.

Showing the bride

The future bride goes to matchmakers only after they have become familiar with all her relatives, agree with them about the wedding and the kalym. Before the release of the bride, the groom's representatives must give her family a fee for seeing, which in Kazakh is called "korimdik." Only after that the girl is shown to future relatives.

Then follows the rite, which officially fixes the status of the bride for the girl. The matchmakers wear earrings on it, as a rule, this honorable duty is assigned to the groom's mother. Also, matchmakers must give gifts to other family members, mostly gold jewelry: necklaces, brooches, rings.

Kalymous

The ransom for the bride is something without which the Kazakh wedding could not have taken place in the old days. Traditions lead the candidate to the hand and heart of the girl to present 47 cattle to her parents. Now this rule is observed rarely, it is enough to put in a gift bag, which is handed to matchmakers family of the bride, 47 small items. The number of livestock heads that the bride required in the past depended on the well-being of families intending to become related. For a daughter of a large bai, they were often paid up to 1,000, while the poor were content with 5-6 heads as a kalym.

Preserved in our days is a tradition such as financial assistance, which the newlyweds give their parents. 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 the young family money to purchase furniture.

Obviously, not every engagement ends in a marriage. If the bridegroom after the visit of matchmakers and the payment of the kalym suddenly thinks about getting married without having the grounds foreseen by the custom, he can not count on the return of the ransom for the bride. Moreover, the family of the deceived girl has the right to force the windy young man to pay a fine, the size of which is stipulated separately. A different situation develops if the contract is not observed by the bride or her relatives. In this case, the girl's family must not only return the ransom paid in full, but also compensate for the violation of the contract by paying a fine.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Throughout the world, girls who marry, are anxious about choosing a dress, are not an exception and the bride, who will have a Kazakh wedding. The bride's dress according to tradition should be red, but today Kazakhs can choose a white apparel. Over the dress, usually with wide and long sleeves, a velvet vest embroidered with ornament is put on, the color of it can be any.

The bride's headpiece, called "saukele", is an element without which it is difficult to imagine an event such as a Kazakh wedding. Photo of a girl dressed in a traditional hat, you can see above. Looks "saukele" as a work of art, custom orders decorating it with pearls and rubies, made from expensive fabrics (velor, velvet). As decorative elements, also beads, fringe, silver coins are used. The top part of the headdress is decorated with a bunch made of feathers of an eagle owl, the edges are trimmed with fur (fox, sable, mink). The wealth of "saukele" allows us to demonstrate the financial capabilities of the family.

"Saukele" looks so luxurious that for the right to admire the bride dressed in this hat, friends and relatives invited to the wedding are ready to give small gifts.

Groom dress

Not only does the bride have to carefully prepare for an event such as a Kazakh wedding. The costume of the groom, according to custom, must surpass, in terms of wealth, the vestment 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 owl. Also, the tradition tells the groom to come to the wedding ceremony in boots with heels, throwing on his shoulders a caftan of red color, called "chapan".

Nowadays, Kazakhs are almost never dressed so magnificently, there is no exception even for an event such as a Kazakh wedding. Customs modernly favorably allow young people to wear a white shirt and trouser suit. It is desirable that the suit is perfectly seated, so it is sewn to order, color does not play a special role. However, many men still do not forget about the national headgear, emphasizing the magnificence of the ceremony.

Not only about the attire should the groom be concerned, who will have a Kazakh wedding. Customs tells him to bring with him "the one is small," so called cattle for the wedding, which will be stabbed to feast. The amount depends on the consistency of the family, it can be several sheep, horses or cows. Take with them and other gifts, for example, expensive fabrics, fruit, tea. It is curious that the attitude of the bride's family to the son-in-law depends on the amount that he can allocate for offerings. If the girl's relatives remain unhappy with the wealth of gifts, the customs allow them to express their displeasure. As a rule, this function is assumed by the wives of the bride's brothers.

Choosing a wedding day

Even when choosing the day of the wedding ceremony, the Kazakhs take into account the traditions that were established many centuries ago. Most of the holidays are held in the last days of the summer season. At this time, the religious fast comes to an end, 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 you can join the Kazakhs in marriage in the fall. In the spring and winter, weddings are less frequent.

Modern bride and groom continue to choose a full moon for the wedding ceremony. The reason for this decision is bright nights, ideally suited for night games and competitions, which have been an indispensable element of the holiday for many years.

It is not always possible to guess with the weather, but it also plays an important role in choosing the date of the wedding. It is believed that marrying in a cloudless, sunny day, the husband and wife will not know sorrow, quarrel with each other. While bad weather is regarded as a bad omen, to which, however, many Kazakhs do not pay attention.

Seeing the bride

Seeing the girl ("kyz uzatu") - a beautiful ceremony, with which from time immemorial Kazakh wedding begins. Traditions tell the bride's family that day and laugh and shed tears. Joy should be caused by the fact that a daughter who marries has grown beautiful and clever. The source of sadness is the need to part with a girl, who from now on will belong to another family.

The matchmakers take the bride away from home very early, often her departure coincides with the sunrise. The tradition has arisen not casually, after all the sunrise all over the world associates with the beginning of a new life. The family will not let a daughter out of the house without a traditional farewell song, which is called "koshtasu gryra." It is important and the number of matchmakers, it must be odd. Usually 5-7 matchmakers come for the girl, but possibly more people. The procession is led by the chief matchmaker, who calls himself "bass to". To this person, the bride will have to be treated with respect throughout her life.

wedding ceremony

"Neke kiyar" is a rite, without which a Kazakh wedding can not take place. Traditions are ordered for the wedding rite to invite the mullah. Before this man is placed a bowl filled with water and covered with a cloth. Sometimes sugar and salt are added to the water, according to the beliefs it brings happiness to newlyweds, protects them from adultery. Around Mulla relatives and friends are invited to the ceremony. He makes prayers, after which the bride and groom in the presence of witnesses confirm their consent to the marriage.

Sharia law says that when a girl is pregnant, a Kazakh wedding can not take place. Customs recommend that you postpone the ceremony, waiting for the birth of a child. Nowadays this rule is not so strictly observed, especially if it concerns the first months of pregnancy, when it can still be hidden.

Farewell ceremony

Having married, the girl must solemnly say goodbye to her stepfather, the ceremony is called "koshtasu." "Koshtas" is an important part of such an event as the Kazakh wedding, customs and traditions of which have not been forgotten by the inhabitants of Kazakhstan. The bride should say sincere words of farewell to all family members without exception: mother, father, brothers, sisters, and also other relatives living in the house.

Also the girl certainly performs a farewell song, with which she expresses her regrets. The bride should express her pity that she was born not a boy, but a girl, because of what she has to part with 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.

One can not forget about another interesting custom, which is associated with a ceremony such as a Kazakh wedding, the characteristics of which often surprise representatives of other nationalities. The bride can not appear in the parents' house the whole year after the wedding. This is done so that the process of getting used to a new home is simplified to the maximum. 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 does not take place in the father's house, therefore, the rule will not be considered as broken.

In the house of the groom

What happens after the Kazakh wedding ends, how does the bride get acquainted with the new house? The arrival of the girl is also arranged with all solemnity, the ceremony is called "kelin tusiru". According to the tradition, the whole aul should take part in the greeting of the bride. It is interesting that the bride is not taken to the threshold of the house, in which she will have to settle with her husband. It is planted quite far from the village, to meet the girl her future neighbors. They escort the bride into the house, not allowing her to open her face.

This does not end the tradition, which is subordinated to the Kazakh wedding, the characteristics of which can surprise strangers. Through the threshold, the bride must necessarily cross the right foot, otherwise the family life will not work from the very beginning. In her house and accompanying women are showered with sweets, they say congratulations. Next comes a luxurious feast, to which all acquaintances are invited. The meal is accompanied by cheerful competitions, competitions. The bride is shown to the guests not at once, she spends some time in the house behind a special screen.

The ceremony of opening the face

The solemn exit of the bride is the next stage of such a holiday as the Kazakh wedding, whose traditions and history go back centuries. The bride, who hid her face under the veil, is brought to the guests in the midst of a feast, by this time all the people invited to the celebration are already in time to gather. The opening ceremony of the girl's face is called "Betachar", it is necessarily accompanied by traditional songs. Then the newlyweds officially get acquainted with the relatives of the spouse, respectfully listen to their wishes of health and happiness, benevolent advice. After that the newly made husband and wife finally turn into a separate unit of society.

There were times when the bride did not have the right to be present at the feast, which invariably ends the Kazakh wedding. Customs and traditions are no longer compelling the bride to wait for her wedding night in a separate room, remaining under the watchful eye of her husband's mother. Brides in our days mostly have fun on the holiday together with everyone.

Interesting Facts

Above is told about how the Kazakh wedding is held, photos taken during the festive ceremonies can also be seen in the article. However, not all interesting facts on such events are listed. For example, few know that once the girls became brides at the age of 13-14, and the young men were considered mature for marriage at 14-15. The creation of a family at such a young age was considered useful, in terms of morality, young people did not have time to commit obscene acts.

An ancient custom did not allow to become husband and wife to a guy and a girl who belonged to the same family. It is not surprising that many Cossacks today know their ancestry very well, they are familiar with relatives up to the seventh tribe. Also considered the age of people who want to play a wedding. For the bride it is not permissible to be older than the groom for more than 8 years. A man could be older than a future wife for 25 years. Now such restrictions are observed less strictly than in the past times, however, are not yet completely forgotten.

Another interesting custom concerns toasts, without which the Kazakh wedding can not do. The right to make toasts is given only to older relatives, junior performances at a wedding feast is considered an insult.

These are the most interesting information about such a grandiose event as the Kazakh wedding. Customs, traditions, photos - the article has all the information concerning this festive event.