Culture and Traditions

Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan. The main feature of the Uzbek family is traditionally reverential respect for elders. Uzbeks usually live in large families consisting of several generations, therefore, preference is given to large houses on the land. A significant place in family life as an element of the hospitality is tea ceremony. Moreover, tea making and pouring it to the guests is the exclusive prerogative of the host. It is common to receive invitations to a lunch or dinner and be on time. When planning a visit it is advisable to take souvenirs or sweets for children of the owner of the house. Handshaking is usually only for the menfolk. Women and people sitting in the background, are greeted by putting their right hand to their heart and accompanying this gesture with a slight tilt of the head. During hand shaking it is common to ask about health, family, and state of affairs at work and home. In rural areas in the case of the guests, women usually do not sit at the same table with the men in order not to interfere their conversation. It is not polite to admire the beauty of women and pay close attention to them. When entering the living quarters shoes are taken off. Must take place indicated by the host. Moreover, the farther it is from the entrance the more honorable this place is.

Rites

Rites of Uzbek people have formed over the centuries as the result of a complex of merging cultural habits and traditions of all tribes and nations that participated the in the ontogenesis of the Uzbeks. Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan are quite original, bright, and varied, and go back to the tribal patriarchal relations. A large number of ceremonies follow family life and are associated with the birth and upbringing of the child, weddings, and funerals. A special role is played by the rituals associated with the birth and upbringing of the children (Nashik-Tuyi, khatna-Eilish) and the wedding (Fatiha-tui, wedding). Often they are a combination of Islamic rituals with more ancient forms related to mystical practices. With the adoption of Islam, many family and everyday customs have undergone its influence and Muslim religious ceremonies become usual in Uzbek life. Friday is a holiday that is celebrated in the cathedral mosque by public namaz (prayer). Patriarchal attitudes continue to exist in society, which is focused on the mosque, bazaar, and tea house, and in which only man population participated.

Beshik-Tuy

Beshik-Tuyi (wooden cradle) is a ritual celebration related to the first putting the baby in the cradle. This is one of the most ancient and widespread traditional ceremonies in Uzbekistan. Typically such an event is held on the 7th, 9th, and 11th day of the birth of the baby. In various regions, the ritual has its differences and depends on the family’s income: rich families usually celebrate this event extensively, and families with low income celebrate it modestly. Beshik (cradle) is necessary part of culture and traditions in Uzbekistan and for the baby is provided by the relatives of the baby. In dastarkhan (tablecloth) wrapped cakes, sweets, and toys. Gifts are prepared for the baby’s parents and grandparents. Richly decorated Nashik, dastrakhans, and gifts are loaded into the circle together with the guests to the sounds of carnal, surnay, and tambourine and drive to the baby’s parent’s house. Traditionally delivered beshik takes on his right shoulder baby’s grandfather, and then passes on the right shoulder of his son, who then delivers it to the baby’s mother. In the past, all intentions of the guests were clean and nice-faced daubed with white flour. Guests are invited to the richly decorated dastarkhan (table) and while guests help themselves, listen to music, and enjoy, in the next room in the presence of an older woman a ceremony of swaddling and putting the baby in Nashik. At the end of the ceremony, guests come to the baby to have a look at him, presents him with gifts, and roll in on beshik parvarda or sugar. At this point, the ceremony is over and the guests go home…

Khanta-Eilish

Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan are considered to be very different. Khanta Kailash – is another ancient Uzbek ceremony, blessed by Islam (Sunnat Tuyi). This ceremony is held with boys at 3, 5, 7, and 9 years old, in rare cases in 11-12 years. Carrying sunnat is controlled by the public. Since the birth of the boy, the parents start preparations for the Sunnat Tuyi, gradually acquiring all the necessary things. A few months before the ceremony which is also called a ‘wedding’ begin immediate preparations for it. Relatives and neighbors help sew quilts, preparing wedding gifts. All this is entrusted to women with many children.  Before the wedding, the Quran is recited in the presence of the elders of Mahalla, the imam of the mosque, and relatives. The table is set and then read surah from Qoran, and the elders bless the boy. After that, the big ‘wedding’ started. Just before the ‘wedding’ in the presence of relatives, neighbors, and elders, a boy wearing gifts. In the past, it was customary to give the colt, on which the boy was seated as a sign that from now on he is a man-warrior. All congratulated the boy and give him money and sweets and all this is going to women’s quarters. On the same day among the women ceremony ‘tabular’ is held – laying down blankets and pillows on the chest, usually performed by women with many children. Lavish food including pilaf ends the ceremony. According to the tradition in the evening after pilaf, in the courtyard people make the bonfire and start dancing around the bonfire, set various games. The next day festival continues.

Fatiha-tui (engagement)

The wedding takes place with the permission and blessing of parents and is carried out in several stages. When a son becomes an adult, his parents start looking for a suitable girl for him. This process involved close relatives, neighbors, and friends. When they have found the girl, the maternal aunt or father comes to the girl’s house under any pretext, to look at her, to meet her parents, and take a look at a home décor of a potential bride. After that family and friends make inquiries about the family of the chosen girl. In case of positive feedback, the matchmakers are sent off. One of the main procedures in Brokage is “Fatiha-tui” (engagement or betrothal). Matchmakers designated the day of the wedding. On this day known in the district old people, the chairman of Mahalla and girls are gathering in the bride’s house.  After intermediaries explain the purpose of their visit, the ceremony “non sindirish” (literally “to break the cake”) begins. From that moment the young people deemed engaged. “Fatiha tui” ends with the appointment of the wedding day. Each intermediary is given dasturkhon with two cakes, sweets, a well as presents from the girl to the groom and his parents. When intermediaries return to the groom’s house they bring trays of gifts and begin the riot of “sarpo curare” (examining of presents). Dastarkhan is typically deployed by a woman with many children. All enjoy the sweets and biscuits that were brought from the bride’s house. This ceremony completes the ritual of betrothal. Since the “Fatiha tui” and up to the wedding the parents resolve issues related to dowry and organizational issues related to the wedding ceremony. A few days before the wedding, the fiancée invites her relatives and close friends to “Keyes mis” (Hen-party).

Wedding

A wedding ceremony traditionally plays an essential role in Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan and celebrates as an important event.  In the presence of common features, this ceremony has its characteristics in different areas. The highlight of the weeding cycle is the transition of the bride from her parent’s house to the groom’s house.  On the day of the wedding in the house of the bride arranged wedding pilaf, which is prepared in the house of the groom and then sent to the bride. The same palov ceremony serves in the house of the groom. On the wedding day, the imam of the mosque reads “Hutbai Nikoh” (prayer for marriage), after which the young are declared husband and wife before God. Imam explains the rights and duties of husband and wife. Usually after the nikah, the young go to the registry office for registration of their civil marriage. According to Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan, on the day of the wedding, the bride’s groom wears a sarpo (clothes and shoes, a gift for the wedding), after which the groom goes to the bride’s parents for the welcome. After the return of the groom, the bride arrives.

Morning pilaf

Ceremony of the morning pilaf is held during the wedding (“Sunnat Tuyi” or marriage ceremony) and funeral (after 20 days and one year after the date of death) and one of the brightes side of Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan. Organizers of the wedding prescribe a date and time for the morning pilaf, beforehand agreeing with the mahalla community or quarterly committee. On this day are sent invitations to relatives, neighbors, and friends. In the evening is held the rite of “Sabzi sugar” – chopping carrots, which is usually visited by neighbors and close relatives. After the end of “Sabzi tugrar,” all participants are invited to the table. Usually, artists are invited to “Sabzi tugrar”. At the table during the feasting elders distribute duties among those who are present. Morning pilaf should be ready by the end of the Morning Prayer – “bomdod namozi” because the first guests should be its participant. By the end of the Morning Prayer sounds of carnay, surnay, and tambourine announce the morning palov. Guests are seated at tables, and after reading the fotiha (wishes) scones and tea are served. Just then the pilaf in lagans (large dishes) – one for two is serving. After the meal lyagans are removed, and guests once again make a fotiha and thank the host, after that they leave. After they left, the tables were quickly put up to receive their new guests. According to the culture and traditions in Uzbekistan, morning pilaf usually lasts no more than one and a half or two hours.

Holidays

The most important national holiday is Independence Day, celebrated on September 1st. Every year on December 8 Constitution Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the new Constitution of independent Uzbekistan in 1992. As in many other countries, 9 May is celebrated Memorial Day. Widely celebrated Holidays associated with the end of fasting – Ramazan Khayit and Kurban Khayit. Kurban Khayit is one of the most important Muslim holidays. On this day, after rituals believers pay visits or receive guests at home, helping the sick, and lonely, and showing mercy to others. The lovely holiday “Ramadan Khayit” is a holiday of spiritual and moral purification. It begins at the end of 30 days of fasting, which according to Islamic law falls on the 9th month of the Muslim Hijri year. On this day traditionally people commemorate the dead, visit the sick, and the elderly, and engage in charity and other good works.

Novruz

The ancient popular holiday Nowruz (“Nowruz bayrami”), is celebrated on March 21, the day of the vernal equinox, and considered to be one of the main holiday of Culture and Traditions in Uzbekistan. It is a celebration of nature awakening and the beginning of planting, preserved in its ritual features of Zoroastrianism. In the agricultural oasis of ancient Uzbekistan were held every spring the big festivals, holiday bazaars. According to tradition, even today people bake “baursak” and prepare the ritual meal – sumalyak. After the celebrations usually begin fieldwork, which in the past was also accompanied by the implementation of various rites before going into the field and horns of oxen and bulls’ necks smeared with oil.  After the celebrations usually begin fieldwork, which in the past were also accompanied by the implementation of various rites, for example before going into the field horns and neck of oxen and bulls are smeared with oil. The first furrow was performed by the most respected and oldest member of the community. During the years of independence celebration of Nowruz has acquired a new dimension and depth. It became a national holiday of friendship, unity, and brotherhood of all peoples. The colorful, theatrical performances reveal the philosophical and poetic reflection of Nowruz and its place in people’s stories.

Clothes

The originality of the clothing of indigenous peoples has always been determined by climatic, living conditions, and tribal traditions. Back in the 19th century clothing (gowns, dresses, shirts) continued to keep the archaic features: wide, and long, it freely flows down, hiding the shape of the human body. Clothing had different similarities: winter and summer, men, women, and children, they were close in form and design. The traditional national men’s costume consists of a warm quilted robe – coupon tied with a scarf or scarves, head cap, and boots made of fine leather. Men wore shirts straight cut, inner and outer robes. The robe might be light or warm, quilted padded. On the sides of the robe, there were sections for the convenience of walking and sitting on the floor. Robe – chapan is usually tied by a scarf or scarves. Holiday clothes differ from every day by their beauty and luxury fabrics, embroidery, etc. Women’s costume consists of a robe, functional dress simple cut of khan-atlas, and trousers – wide thin pants narrow at the bottom. Women’s headdresses women consisted of three main elements: the cap, scarf, and turban. Holiday women’s suit is different from everyday clothes by their quality factor and the beauty of the fabrics, from which it is run. Children’s clothes repeated the clothes of adults. In addition to the common features, each garment district or tribe had its uniqueness expressed in fabric, shape, etc.

Headdress (skullcap)

One of the most popular and widespread forms of applied art in Uzbekistan has always been a skullcap – a hard or soft cap with a lining. Skullcap is an integral part of Uzbek national costume, which came into the life and traditions of Uzbek people. Skullcap (from the Turkic “Tube”- top) is the national headdress not only in Uzbeks but also in other Central Asian nations. Skullcaps are classified by types: men’s, women’s, children’s, for old people. Elder women do not wear it. Children’s skullcaps (kabocha, kalpakcha, duppi, kallapush) are varied by colorful fabrics, tassels and beads, embroidery, sequins, and lots of charms. The most common forms of Uzbek skullcaps – square, slightly tapered. A skullcap is made of two or more layers of fabric quilted and fixed silk or cotton thread. Ready skullcap embroidered with silk thread, gold, or silver thread. The embroidery art of skullcaps is mostly owned by women. The most popular patterns of embroidery are the floral motif, and the almond-shaped motif “baud” – a symbol of life and fertility. Widespread ornament in skullcaps pattern is “Ilon izi” (snakes) which serves as a talisman. The geometric ornament was also popular. Skullcaps are created in different areas, different shapes, and ornaments by color scheme.

The most popular skullcap in Uzbekistan is the Chust skullcap. Duppi – the most common type of tyubeteykas of Chust – is characterized by a black background and white pattern of four peppers – “kalampir;” which are embroidered and located in several arcs in. There are three types of duppi – the rounded, square, round, and long hat. Chist duppi (black background and white embroidered pattern) differ by “coolness” of ornament (complete with almonds with short and sharply rounded ends) and has significantly high sides. Other species of skullcaps of Ferghana Valley – “Sandals”, “Akka ikki sum”, “Chimboy”, “Surkachekma” etc., their ornaments are simple. There are other types of headwear – Urgut skullcap “kalpok”, Bukhara gold-embroidered skullcap, skullcap Shakhrisabz “gilam duppi” Kitab and Shakhrisabz skullcaps “Sanam” and “chizma”, “wear takhja”, “Taihu”, “chumakli”, “Snatch” – men’s and women’s Khorezm skullcaps. The most common patterns on skullcaps were pepper shaped pattern (a symbol of purity and detachment from all earthly things), crosses, tufts of feathers, nightingale, bird (the symbol of supreme wisdom), rose (symbol of peace and beauty), sacred inscriptions in Arabic script, etc.

Mahalla

Traditional forms of social relations in Uzbekistan are, above all, the Mahalla – neighborhood community, associations of Men “Jura” and craft union of craftsmen. Uzbek mahalla has a thousand-year history and is the center of family and religious rituals and holidays. Here are carefully preserved rituals and their conduct by passed on from one generation. As a rule, there is a mosque in traditional mahalla. There is an ancient tradition of mutual aid – hashar. The Khashar method helps people build a house with the help of relatives or, improve their district, street, or city. In sovereign Uzbekistan, mahalla has become the keeper of the cultural and moral traditions of the Uzbek people and was legally recognized as a mechanism of self-government. Today Mahalla is a territorial association of families with a view to cooperation and mutual assistance in the areas of both individual buildings and traditional parts of cities, and high-rise buildings and streets of industrial cities. In Mahalla live in peace people from different nationalities. A network of more than 10,000 Mahallas covers the entire territory of the country and is an important element in the strengthening of civil society. The entire population of Uzbekistan will recognize them as an effective form of social organization. Act of September 2, 1992, specifies that the bodies of self-government in the community are gatherings. They elect the chairman of 2.5 years (elder) and his advisers. The coordinating body is a public non-governmental fund “Mahalla”.