Kazakh birth traditions
As Kazakh traditions birth ritual festivals and ceremonies are called after the birth of a child in Kazakh culture.
Many Kazakhs are familiar with the saying “a house with a child brings joy and happiness, without a child it is like a grave”. For the Kazakhs , the birth of a child has always been an important and joyful event. There are numerous traditions in raising children. These customs and traditions play an important role in a child's future life. Up to the age of five or six, boys and girls are brought up in the same traditions, and all ceremonies performed in childhood are not gender-specific.
Shildehana
Shіldehana is a celebration of the birth of a child that is held on the day of the birth. Friends and relatives come to their parents' house to congratulate and celebrate with the family. There is a dinner. The child's father slaughters a sacrificial lamb and offers different types of meat.
Besik Toi
Besik Toi is translated from the Kazakh language as a cradle celebration. It takes place on the third day after the birth. In this tradition, the parents of the child receive a cradle as a gift. The woman, who cut the umbilical cord at birth, wraps the child, ties it with special ribbons and places it in a cradle (besik), which she previously moistened with herbs as a ritual protection against diseases. Then she covers the child with a fur hat and a fur coat.
Kazakh symbols are hung above the child's bed: a knot and a whip.
At the same time, the guests sing and congratulate the family, after all the actions of the ritual have already been accompanied by songs and toasts. This is followed by a meal with traditional dishes.
Kirkynan Shygaru
Kirkynan Shygaru is a ceremony forty days after birth. The child is officially introduced to friends and relatives.
Until the end of this period, the child is considered to be too weak and unprotected from evil forces. During these forty days, the newborn's nails and hair are not cut. The rite now undertaken includes bathing the baby in 40 spoons of water as well as the first haircut and the cutting of the nails.
The ceremony ends with a celebration of sumptuous food and songs.
Tusau-kesu
The Tusau-Kesu ritual takes place when the child is one year old. So that the child can walk well, as soon as he takes the first steps, he is subjected to a “circumcision of the fetters”. This ritual is organized by the godmother and proceeds as follows:
The child's legs are tied together with black and white threads in the shape of a figure eight. This symbolizes the diversity of life situations. The threads are cut and the child is led on a path covered with a white cloth, which symbolizes happiness and success in life. Guests symbolically throw sweets, coins and jewelry at the baby. This part of the ritual is called Shashu (shedding).
Individual evidence
- ↑ NUR.KZ: Казахские традиции и обычаи при рождении ребенка. October 12, 2017, Retrieved April 13, 2019 (Russian).
- ↑ StackPath. Retrieved April 13, 2019 .
- ↑ a b Weproject. Retrieved April 13, 2019 .
- ↑ Семантика обрядов, связанных с рождением ребёнка в казахской семье. Retrieved April 13, 2019 .
- ↑ akhambir: “Tusau Kesu” or “Cutting The Rope”. In: Peculiar Cultural Traditions. February 9, 2014, accessed April 13, 2019 .