Family traditions

Family traditions

"TUSHO’O KESU’U" (Cutting the strings of a young baby)

Tusho’o kesu’u is a Kyrgyz tradition, which is held when the child is one year old, and he just begins to walk. Wishing the child’s future steps to be better and faster, or just wishing him a bright future, happiness and success in everything his parents cut a sheep devoting it to him an organize a big toi (party). They invite their relatives and neighbors.

The rule of the custom is as follows: after the guests have had a meal and given "bata" (blessing for the child) to the child, his parents invite the guests to the race competition for children. They tie up the child’s legs with a white and black striped wool cord. The children race from a certain distance. The first and second winners have the right to cut the cord and walk with the child taking him by his arms. The first winner is usually given an expensive present and knife with which he has cut the cord. The second and third winners are also given presents. The other participants are given sweets, various toys etc. the children whose tusho’os (cords) are not cut are said to be unlucky in their future life.

BALANY BESHIKE SALU’U (laying a baby into the cradle)

When a child is born, a ceremonial feast "beshike saluu" is celebrated. The child’s parents slaughter a sheep, lay a table with many different dishes on it and invite their relatives and neighbors to dinner. After the people had dinner and have blessed the new born child, the cradle, especially prepared for the child is brought before the elderly women who are in charge of laying the baby into the cradle. These women are very respected and wise. The parents make a wish for their child’s future: they desire the child to become as respected and wise s they are.

First, the women burn up the juniper and make "alastoo" with it. They move the burning juniper around the cradle to drive away evil spirits from the cradle. Second, the cradle is buttered so that the child can have a smooth future and live satisfied. Then all the ancestors for the cradle are placed in it. At last, the cradlesong is sung. The child is laid into the cradle.

The cradle, itself, is made from juniper or fir tree. In the cradle, the baby has warm and comfortable. It is sanitary and hygienically clean and useful for the child’s health.

NAMING A CHILD AND GIVING "JENTEK"

Naming a newborn child and giving "jentek" on the occasion of his birth is one of the Kyrgyz traditions. When a child is born, his name is to be announced loudly to all the people. According to the shariat, this rite is called "Asan chakyru’u’. Once a name is given to a baby, it should not be changed during his entire life. They say that if the child’s name is changed all the benevolences sent him by Allah will go to others with the same name.

In honor of a newborn child parents hold a toi (feast) laying a table with a plenty of food on it and slaughtering a sheep. Right after a baby is born, he is bathed and fad a little. A morsel of melted butter is prepared in advance for "jentek" (feast on the occasion of the child’s birth) and is put into the baby’s mouth. It is called "o’ozantu’u" (feeding). The same melted butter is used for "jentek". It is mixed up with sugar and oatmeal and set out on the table laid for the "jentek". Nowadays, a newborn child is given a name chosen by people close to him. But according to the old tradition to name a baby by "asan chakyru’u" is still considered to be the right way.

SUNNOT TOI (circumcision)

"Sunnotko oturgizu’u " – is a kind of medicine procedure, that helps boys and man in future to be save from sexual diseases. In ancient times this was made by the oldest man of the village with the primitive tool – blade. Admitted age for this rite is for 2-3 years old boy. Nowadays, very often parents return to surgeon in hospital. Also, parents slaughter a sheep and organize a big toi (feast) for relatives and neighbours. Only Muslim people observe this rite.

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