Today, Kazakh youth in all countries of the world, unlike the older generation, tries to know two or three or more languages, which is due to the economic and technological conditions of modern life, as, for example, in Kazakhstan, when children are already in secondary school studying in three languages. In higher educational institutions, students, undergraduates, doctoral students are simply forced to undergo training in at least three languages. And this applies not only to our country. These training guidelines are of an international nature.
Consequently, foreign words are introduced into the Kazakh language, which have already become the norm. Even if we do not count those international terms that sound about the same in any language, “computer”, “smartphone”, “Internet”, “program”, “display”, “online” and others, all the same, new trends due to the social environment are reflected in the content of the Kazakh language today. This, we believe, is the state of the Kazakh language in the modern world, and this state is characteristic of all native speakers of the Kazakh language, regardless of the country of residence. Such an objective influence of modernity on the Kazakh language will have to be accepted as reality. Apparently, linguists will be able to observe the purity of the Kazakh language in a professional environment, because today no literary or other (legal, technical, etc.) text in the Kazakh language can do without modern new words of foreign origin.
Let’s consider some Kazakh national traditions that determine the ethnic identity of Kazakhs in the world and the peculiarities of their transformation in modern conditions. We usually compare the peculiarities of national traditions observed by Kazakhs abroad with how they have been preserved in Kazakhstan. Today, some traditions and customs of the Kazakhs have adapted to the conditions of modernity, unfortunately, not always for the better. Sometimes it is a pity to observe how beautiful, historically formed traditions of the Kazakhs, filled with rich educational and philosophical meaning, lose their original appearance.
In the Internet material, the author notes that now, for example, “kyz uzatu toyy” (seeing off the bride) is carried out with previously non-existent rituals: a “white path” with rose petals, words of parting words, the departure of the young before midnight, etc. In the old days, matchmakers took the bride early in the morning, with the sunrise – a symbol of a new day, a new life. The day before, she went around all the relatives with a song-wailing “synsu” – saying goodbye to her relatives.
We fully support this opinion, indeed, now during weddings and other family celebrations (kudalyk, kyz uzatu, the birth of a child, circumcision, coming of age, anniversaries, etc.) modern Kazakhs all over the world turn to the services of professional organizers who include fantasy to advertise and increase the cost of their services, as a result, some new elements fit into the event scenarios. In fact, no one forbids this, if the hosts of the holiday support. It should be noted that the organizers of the holidays are mostly young people who do not know or do not go into the details of the Kazakh national traditional events. The spread of such cases is gradually becoming a social habit, subsequently people do not even think about how it used to be and how it has become now. Apparently, this is how the transformation of cultural traditions takes place.
The influence of modernity and objective reality on Kazakh customs, which determine the transformation of historically established national traditions, can be reflected in the following vivid examples.
Ethnic Kazakhs who moved from Mongolia to Kazakhstan a few years ago in adulthood remember well the traditions and customs that were observed in their families, in villages. Many of them maintain close ties with relatives and friends who live in Mongolia. We have established contacts with such compatriots from Mongolia who have been living and working in Kazakhstan in recent years, which allowed compatriots to make such a comparative approach. These examples demonstrate how modern life interprets historically formed Kazakh national traditions in a new way, and most importantly, how beautiful and filled with philosophical meaning they used to be!
Perhaps the time has come when it is necessary to create and ensure the operation of a public special website (or other electronic source), where historically literate information describing national Kazakh traditions, customs, festivals should be posted, so that people can read and reproduce the original images of Kazakh traditions. Such information from historians would contribute to the restoration of the beautiful Kazakh customs.
The traditions of the Kazakh people associated with the birth of a child are distinguished by special solemnity. Numerous rituals and customs appeared in ancient times, at the dawn of the formation of a unique structure of steppe society based on the interaction of clans. They reflected the national mythology and mentality of the Kazakh people.
As Tolek Baidilda and Kasen Tanabai say, in Mongolia there are cases when Kazakh women from distant villages can give birth at home for some subjective reasons (they cannot get to a medical institution in time, etc.). If a woman gives birth at home or outside hospital conditions, then the person who cuts the umbilical cord of the child is declared as “kindik-sheshe” and it does not matter whether it is a woman or a man (“kindik-ake”).
According to our respondents, today this custom takes on slightly different properties that they do not support, the observance of this ancient Kazakh custom, especially in Kazakhstan, often turns into a formality. For example, when it comes to “kindik-sheshe”, the relatives of the child in advance look for a “suitable” candidate for the unborn child as such from among “respected” relatives or friends, then name this person, usually a woman, with the status of “kindik-sheshe”, it does not matter whether she was present at the birth of the child or not. Our respondents from Mongolia note that the peculiarity of this custom is precisely the lack of advance preparation and selection of “kindik-sheshe”, since it can be anyone, which gives this event the character of surprise, suddenness, unpredictability and surprise.
Of course, in modern conditions, when children are usually born in specialized medical institutions, it is not necessary to talk about the presence of anyone other than medical personnel (with the exception of the child’s father) next to the woman in labor. This is the objective reality that affects a specific Kazakh custom. Observance of this tradition in its original form today is possible only in exceptional cases, when certain living conditions have developed, or it is necessary to perceive what remains of an ancient custom.
When it comes to the name of the child, Kazakhs in Mongolia grant such a right to the most respected guest who was invited to the holiday. In general, as a rule, Mongolian Kazakhs usually invite, first of all, relatives who have many children to the one about the birth of a child. Usually the name is given not just by a respected person in the family, but also by all means it must be a person with a large family. Such a person is determined by the guests of the holiday together right during the toy, so the name of the child can be a surprise not only for his parents, but also for the guests of the holiday. This is just the beauty, deep meaning and educational effect of the ancient Kazakh customs associated with children. In modern conditions, all the wise meaning embedded in them by their ancestors has almost been lost, here again we can talk about the influence of time, history, events, etc.
Let’s take another custom, which is observed by the Mongolian Kazakhs. When, for some reason, a child does not take root, dies, or a woman for health reasons cannot save and give birth to a child, then the child of such a woman is given a name peculiar to any other nationality. Russian Russian or Mongolian Kazakhs usually give such a long-awaited child a Mongolian or Russian name (Mongolian Kazakhs use Cyrillic, Russians are also found among the permanent population of the country), or even some kind of discordant name. They believe that it protects the child.
There is another aspect that should be noted. These are the features of national Kazakh traditions depending on the region of residence of Kazakhs. For example, Kazakhs living in Berlin (we had a meeting with them) speak Kazakh with a very strong Turkish accent. Accordingly, when conducting traditional Kazakh events, they have elements of Turkish culture as a consequence of migration processes. On the contrary, the meeting with Kazakhs in Seoul showed that our compatriots there are more committed to purely Kazakh scenarios of events, since most Korean Kazakhs emigrated directly from Kazakhstan.
If some local customs enrich the ancient Kazakh traditions, there is nothing wrong with that, but any ancient Kazakh national tradition, with all its updates, should not lose its original philosophical meaning laid down by our ancestors, otherwise the value of the tradition itself is lost.
Today, Kazakh customs related to marriage, such as “kuda tusu”, “kudalyk” and others, which are held in a warm, sincere atmosphere, with songs and gifts, have been preserved and observed throughout the foreign Kazakh diaspora and communities. To treat the invited guests, the main national dish (beshbarmak) is prepared, as well as other dishes. For example, “tonkerme” is a national dessert, a fast-cooking dish, easily digested by the body, previously, wheat flour was fried first in a heated cauldron, then separately fat or chicken. Today, of course, it is prepared in a modern presentation.
The main tradition of the Kazakhs, which eventually transformed into a feature of the national character, is hospitality. This tradition is laid down in ancient times. Kazakhs used to say: “Meet a guest as a messenger of God.” Hospitality is valued in Kazakh society, at all times the steppe people did everything possible to please the guest, so every traveler, going on the road, knew that he would be warmly welcomed in any corner of the Kazakh land.”
The guest was invited to the dastarkhan, seated in a place of honor and treated to the best that was in the house. According to the laws of the steppe, Kazakhs’ food was an indisputable guarantee of truthfulness and honesty. Those who did not know how to receive a guest, treat him properly, were condemned, moreover, it was considered a disadvantage not only of one family, but of the whole family.
In the national culture of the Kazakhs, a special role is assigned to the ritual of food – any dish is served with a certain meaning and to the place. Kazakhs know how with the help of “konak asa” you can reconcile people, honor distinguished guests. The Kazakhs considered the obligatory meal “sogymnan auyz tigizu” a sign of friendship, brotherhood, unity when the guest was asked about his health, the health of relatives and friends. Especially for the guests, the Kazakhs kept all the most delicious. Kazakhs served “muse” to elderly, especially respected people. Not every nation has such customs.
Special attention was also paid to the culture of behavior behind the dastarkhan. According to Kazakh customs, it was forbidden to quarrel at the meal, it was customary to observe the rules of decency. But everything happens in life. Sometimes a person who committed a bad act against someone, by chance, turned up in his house. The host did not drive the guest away and did not remind him of the past, but invited him to the dastarkhan, giving him a shoulder blade, shin, tripe and other meat that is not served to respected guests, this host reminded him of his offense. And the guest should have guessed. This is again the philosophical meaning of Kazakh customs.
Foreign Kazakhs remember such wonderful traditions and rituals as “abysyn asy”, “bel koterer”, “kalzha”, “buirek”, “kuyryk bauyr”, “asatu”, “kymyzmuryndyk”, “sogym basym”, “nauryz-kozhe” and others. These traditions are indicators of national culture, elevate food, speak of mutual respect for people. Kazakhs of Mongolia, China, Turkmenistan demonstrate their knowledge of national traditions and customs in Internet videos.
Kazakhs divided food into three types: ak (white) – dairy products, kyzyl (red) – meat products and kok (green) – greens, vegetables and fruits. Highly appreciating bread, they did not attribute it to any of the listed types. Kazakhs used to prepare such types of food from wheat and flour as: “myzhyma”, “kiyksha”, “shelpek”, “taba-nan”, “top”, “bortpe”, “kazanzhappa”, “zharma”, “kulshe”, “tonkerme”, “nan salma”, “burkeme”, “bauyrsak”, “kuymak”, etc. Some of them are still being prepared by Kazakhs in different countries.
Traditions and customs of the Kazakh people are an example of behavior, a standard of courtesy, respect. To understand the culture of the people, it is necessary to get acquainted with national customs. The rituals, customs and traditions of the Kazakh people are numerous and incredibly diverse. As many countries where Kazakhs meet, there are so many variants of Kazakh traditions and customs enriched with local peculiarities.
Автор – Дина Ораз
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