Tatarstan is one of the most distinctive regions of the Russian Federation. The culture of the region is of interest both within the country and in the rest of the world. Undoubtedly, there are separate Tatar holidays that are unique. Like the culture of all this people, they are of particular interest.
Edge traditions
In Russia, it’s still difficult to find a subject that would carefully protect its national memory and pass it on from generation to generation. Tatar traditions have their origins in hoary antiquity, intertwined with religion, they give the same original culture.
As examples of things peculiar only to Tatarstan, one can name special ceremonies at the birth of a child (includes a whole set of successive rituals - ebilek, avyzlandyr, babai munchaschi, babai ashi), grooming the bridegroom (this is where the ritual became known throughout the country, like a kalym), a wedding (this ritual took place in several stages and could last up to six months).
Faith and Rites
Tatars are longtime followers of the Islamic religion. Islam firmly penetrated the very essence of this nation, thereby exerting a tremendous influence on its identity. Islamic traditions are still alive today, so it is not surprising that Tatar national holidays of a religious nature are actively celebrated in our days. To denote the celebrations associated with faith, there are even separate names - gait and bayram. Religious holidays dedicated to fasting, sacrifices and significant dates in the life of the Prophet Muhammad are especially honored.
Spring holidays
Spring is a special time in the life of the Tatar people. This time of year always brings with it long-awaited warmth, which has long been regarded independently of religion as the beginning of something new, the return of nature to life. Therefore, it is quite clear that quite large Tatar national holidays are celebrated this season . One of the oldest such celebrations is called “Boz Karau, Boz Bagu” and is associated with the long-awaited thaw. As you know, the first thing a thaw brings with it is the gathering of ice from ponds, which is why it is customary to celebrate such an event as the first victory of spring over winter, which was sitting at a party.
Spring new year
Nowadays, perhaps the most important holiday of spring is Novruz Bayram - a celebration of the vernal equinox. In fact, on this day according to the lunar Muslim calendar, the real New Year is coming. In Tatarstan, this day is celebrated on a large scale, it is customary to celebrate it in the circle of several families, while on the table must be present dishes from beans, peas, rice. For all the people these celebrations are special, they are held noisily and joyfully, which according to legend will bring good luck and joy for the whole next year. In a word, this Tatar spring holiday has a family character, contributing to the strengthening of family ties.
Khidirlez
The ancient culture of many peoples is somehow connected with cattle breeding and agriculture. The Tatars were no exception. From time immemorial, the craft of the shepherd was held in high esteem. Cattle breeding traditions are full of the Tatar holiday Hidirlez, celebrated in early May. In ancient times, this celebration was especially revered and celebrated, as a rule, two or three days.
As ceremonies on this holiday must attend the production of special bread - Kalakaya, which is baked in hot ash. The main festivities on the occasion of Khidirlez take place in the evening. The traditional element for these celebrations is bonfires, through which both adults and children jump. Tatars decided to start spring cattle-breeding work in Khidirlez, which again refers to the ancient occupation of this people. It is worth saying that this celebration is also very popular among Crimean Tatars and their related Gagauz.
Sabantuy
Not a single celebration is known outside the republic as Sabantuy is a Tatar holiday dedicated to the beginning of agricultural work. Now this celebration is celebrated on June 23, but in ancient times, elders-elders of individual villages chose the date. Shortly before the start of the holiday, children went to their guests with a request to serve them refreshments. The kids brought the collected products home, and already there the female half of the family prepared from them treats for the morning table. Particular attention was paid to the holiday porridge, this ritual was called "Rook porridge." After breakfast, festive events began, the first of which was the collection of eggs by children. Next, these eggs were painted in different colors. In the houses baked buns, pretzels, small balls of dough - baursaki.
The main celebrations should be held in squares (in Tatar - "Maidan"). One of the most famous competitions is the sash wrestling, kuresh. At the same time, running competitions are held, where all participants are distributed by age group. Competitions end in races.
Today, Sabantuy is a Tatar holiday, which received the status of the main national celebration of Tatarstan. It is celebrated not only in villages, but also on the squares of large cities. Talent competitions among singers and dancers also began.
Jien
Traditional holidays of the Tatar people most often have a justification associated with the beginning of a particular stage in agricultural processes. Zhyen is no exception - a celebration on the occasion of the completion of work in the field and the beginning of mowing hay. In ancient times, Zhyen was celebrated after the return of the elders of the Tatar villages who came home after the Kurultays (general meetings of the tops from various Tatar communities). However, over time, the tradition of this celebration has changed. Residents of some villages were invited to their other neighbors. The guests brought gifts with them: food, decorations, crafts made of wood and metal, fabric items, on carts painted for a special occasion, went to the celebration. A new festive table was set for everyone who came . The general dinner began with the full presence of all guests.
Zhyen can also be called a kind of holiday for grooms and brides. According to the Tatar tradition, there are very few celebrations at which both boys and girls could freely communicate with each other. Zhyen is one of such holidays. At mass celebrations, young people tried to find a soul mate, and their parents, in turn, also tried to find a decent party for their children.
Salamat
Among the traditional holidays of Tatarstan, celebrated in autumn, the most notable is Salamat - a celebration dedicated to the end of the harvest. The holiday got its name from the main treat of the solemn table, salamata porridge. She was made from wheat flour and boiled in milk. This dish was made by the female part of the family, while the male half at that time invited relatives and friends to visit. Then everyone gathered at the festive table, where, in addition to porridge, there were dishes from those products that were just collected. After the meal, everyone relied on tea as a treat.
Ramadan
The culture of Tatarstan, as has already become apparent, involves a close interweaving with Islam. So the inhabitants of the region consider it their religious duty to fast during the ninth, holy month of the Muslim calendar, which is called Ramadan.
Fasting is one of the many pillars of Islam. In fact, this month is nothing more than a period for the self-purification of the believer, both physically and spiritually. Fasting (or soum) involves abstinence from eating food, liquids, drinking alcohol, smoking, intimate contacts. The ban on this lasts from dawn to dusk of each day of the holy month. All these measures should encourage the believer to renounce sinful intentions and evil intentions.
All adults and healthy Muslims, regardless of gender, are required to comply with the soum. Relief in fasting can only be received by travelers, as well as women (due to menstruation or breastfeeding). As a repayment for concessions, they should somehow help another fast. Tatar traditions honor fasting. Ramadan ends with a large-scale holiday called Uraza Bairam.
Eid al Adha
The next month after Ramadan is Chavval. His first day is the celebration of Uraza Bairam, a celebration on the occasion of the end of fasting. On this day, the believer is finally waiting for such a long-awaited conversation after an exhausting fast. Like other religious Tatar holidays, Uraza-bairam represents, first of all, one of the steps of self-purification for a believer and contributes to the formation of strong family ties. On this day, it is customary to gather as one large family and spend time from morning to evening, because according to ancient Muslim beliefs, the souls of deceased relatives also come to this meeting.
In general, the holiday is marked by a very joyful shade, everyone hopes that Uraza Bairam will bring them happiness and prosperity for the whole next year. On the day of the conversation, it is planned to arrange various entertainment events, and fairs with active trade are held in the cities.
Eid al-Adha
Tatar holidays cannot be adequately described without mentioning such a triumph as Kurban Bairam. It is celebrated annually from 10 to 13 days of the Muslim month of Dhul-Hijjah. It is based on the end of the Hajj - a sacred Islamic pilgrimage to religious shrines. This holiday implies a sacrifice to please Allah. Eid al-Adha is the largest religious celebration not only in Tatarstan, but also throughout the Muslim world.
This holiday goes to the biography of the Koran of one of the prophets - Ibrahim. According to legend, one day the Most High prepared a test for him: as a proof of his love for him, Ibrahim was obliged to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail, to heaven. Ibrahim was unshakable in his determination to fulfill this order, and therefore the Almighty, believing in the intentions of the prophet and not wishing the death of his offspring, allowed Ismail to be alive and an animal to be sacrificed instead.
Since then, Muslims in honor of the feat of Ibrahim on Kurban Bairam perform the rite of slaughter of the animal. The meaning of this ritual is to follow the model of one of the most famous religious prophets, who in the name of love for the Almighty was ready for the greatest sacrifice. After offering, the meat of an animal is usually divided into three parts. One goes to the afflicted, another goes to the family of the believer, and every Muslim can keep a third for himself.
"Born by the sun"
December 25 is a special day from the point of view of Tatar traditions. This day is celebrated Nardugan (translated from Tatar - “born of the sun”), which, like Novruz Bayram, can be considered another New Year's holiday. This is primarily a youth celebration. The main element of the holiday is traditional dances and songs. Young people, as usual, go home, where, with the permission of the owners, they are presented with these same festive numbers. The dance part consists of several cycles: greetings, thanks to the hosts, fortunetelling dances, farewells. A special part of the celebrations should be a costume performance. In dances and songs, young people tried in every possible way to appease evil spirits - shaitans. By all accounts, the outcome of the next agricultural cycle depended entirely on these very shaitans, so if you please them, they will not interfere with the harvest. To do this, performed such dances as linear, sheep dance, dog dance. These rituals exist today in separate Tatar villages.
Public holidays
Tatarstan in our time is an integral subject of the Russian Federation. However, this region has long claimed self-government and independence. Having lost its sovereignty in 1552, the Kazan Khanate became part of the Moscow state, which later transformed into the Russian Empire. In the state, these lands were called simply - the Kazan province, there was no talk of any hints of renaming to Tatarstan.
Only in 1920 did the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic stand out as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. On August 30, 1990, an attempt was made to gain independence: on this day, the Supreme Council of the TASSR decided to declare the state sovereignty of the republic.
However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this region decided to remain part of the Russian Federation as one of its constituent entities - the Republic of Tatarstan. However, since then, August 30 is celebrated in Tatarstan as the Day of the Republic. This date is a national holiday and the main public holiday of the region. Other Tatar holidays of the state level coincide with the all-Russian - this is Victory Day, International Women's Day, Day of Workers' Solidarity, Defender of the Fatherland Day.
Unique traditions
To summarize, one can only be surprised at the diversity of Tatar culture. In fact, everything was interwoven in it: folk experience, historical memory, religious influence and modern events. It is unlikely that you can meet another such people with a similar diversity of holidays. One cannot argue with the last statement - where else in Russia can the New Year be celebrated as much as three times? Therefore, there is only one conclusion: Tatar culture deserves prosperity and subsequent transmission to younger generations.