Naming, First Steps, Circumcision. From the Ritual Life of the Kyrgyz in the Early 20th Century. Part - 12
Naming
Pishpek District, Buranin Village
The "Mother-navel" takes the child immediately after birth and washes it in warm water. Then, the azanchy recites the azan and gives the child a name.
The name is given to the child at the discretion of the elder: whatever he thinks of, that is what he will name54.
If children die (do not survive), the newborn can be named after any close relative (grandfather, grandmother)55.
Song-Kul Sarybagysh
The elder always gives the name to the child. A Sart proverb states: "If a Kyrgyz child is born in the steppe, he will be named after the steppe; if in the mountains — after the mountain" (Kyrgyz balaning oto tusa, oy goody, toga tusa — tog goody).
Suranchi Adylov
The meat of the slaughtered livestock is boiled and served to the guests. The zhotou (bone with meat) is left (cooked) until it is time to name the child, i.e., when the guests finish eating and only need to wash their hands. Then the elder is presented with the child, as well as this bone on a plate. He cuts the meat, slices it into pieces, and all present eat a piece.
After that, the elder gives a name, depending on the place of birth, for example, Kiyisbay, Tusbay56, etc. After this, having washed their hands, the guests disperse. Only women remain.
rch. Makmal
Sake
sayaq
The name is given to the child at the discretion of the elder: whatever he thinks of, that is what he will name. A Sart saying: "If a Kyrgyz child is born in the steppe — he will be named after the steppe; in the mountains — after the mountain."
Talas
kainazar
The name is given to the child without any special ceremonies by some elder.
Children's Haircut
Talas
Ibrahim K.
solto-karamoin
At the first haircut (at six months to a year), a wealthy person slaughters a ram, prepares the meat, and sends a whole procession of six to eight people, mostly women, to the home of a relative or acquaintance. He does not go himself. In that house, the guests are treated with their dishes, and they also treat themselves. The child is brought here as well.
The host of the house cuts the child's hair and gives him a shirt and possibly even a horse or a calf. The poor do this with bread, sugar, and others57.
The haircut can be complete or partial, for appearance's sake, and then it is finished at home. During this haircut, they leave a kokul, saamai, or chubkachy (on the back of the head)58.
From time to time, the chubs are trimmed for children. They are kept until the age of 12-13, when they are finally removed.
A wealthy person slaughters a ram for the feast.
Janizak
[/i]solto
Karyn chach59 is shaved off the infant with a razor 40 days after birth.
kainazar
The child is shaved on the 40th day. After preparing treats and gifts (for example, a chapana), the infant is taken to a multi-child elder. The elder treats everyone with the brought food and treats the visitors with his own. If he is wealthy, he gives the infant a horse or a calf. The haircut is done with scissors, leaving a chub from the karyn chach.
The chubs are left in the family where children die. When the time comes to completely cut the chubs, a mullah or hadji is invited for this.
Chimindisay
Kashimbekov
buku
When a boy is about 7-8 years old, all the remaining hair on his head is shaved off, and a feast is arranged.
Osh District
Tovaka
The child's hair begins to be shaved at the age of one year. The father sends to older relatives, and each of them cuts a little and gives a gift: a tie, a torpok, i.e., a foal or a calf.
Girls' hair is cut only until the age of three, and then they are allowed to grow.
rch. Bolshoy Keben
sarybagysh
The hair left on the boy's head (chub) is cut off at about 15 years of age, and a feast is arranged.
Chubs in Children
Osh District
Tovaka
adigine
Kbkul — left only on girls.
Niyaz — two side chubs are left on the child's head.
Tengizbaev
buku
Kokul (crest) — hair left unshaved on the crown of the child's head.
Saamai — hair left in front on the temples.
Tobyachak — hair on the top of the head, braided into braids.
Zhilkichak — hair on the back of the head for adults.
Sekelek — hair at the back on the sides.
Keshimbekov
Sekelek — hair left in front.
Saamai — on the temples.
Kokul — on the crown.
Leaving hair on the sides at the back is a Chinese, Dungan custom.
Kydyr
Kokul — hair left in front.
rch. Makmal
Sakyo
sayaq
Bunches of hair make the boy look like a girl, so he is not cursed or spoiled.
solto-karamoin
Chokchachi — on the back of the head.
Children Start Walking
rch. Bolshoy Keben
sarybagysh
When the child turns one year old, meat is boiled or more flatbreads are made, neighbors are gathered, and they feast. Leaving a little food on one plate, they tie the child's legs (as they tie horses), gather seven or nine boys, take them a mile away from the aul, and let them race. The prize is what remains on the plate (bayga — prize) — more for the first one. The winner is given a knife, and he cuts the child's ties. This concludes the event.
Chonur-Talas
kainazar
When a boy or girl starts walking, the parents arrange a feast, slaughter livestock, and let the children run around, giving a prize for that.
Then they tie the child's legs with a rope, give a sharp knife to an elder or old woman to cut this rope. Tshaу kyrktrovis — to cut the ties. This knife is given as a property to the one who cuts it.
First Riding on a Horse
Janizak
solto
A boy is first put on a horse at the age of 3-4 years. His father slaughters a ram or a horse. They prepare boorsak, uryuk, kishmish. The horse is saddled with a ayrmachg. After placing the boy, they give him a khurjin with boiled meat. Before putting the rider on, the horse and rider are showered with boorsak and others. The horse is led by one of the male relatives who is also riding. They only visit the nearest auls of relatives and finish these visits in one day. Without dismounting, the adult companion distributes meat among the yurts, choosing pieces according to the status of the yurt's owner. Those receiving meat give the little rider horse gear as gifts.
rch. Bolshoy Keben
sarybagysh
When the child turns four years old, he is first saddled on a horse. They slaughter a ram, boil the meat, make boorsak, but do not invite anyone. They put the prepared provisions in a khurjin, then one person rides another horse with the khurjin, takes the boy's horse by the reins, and both ride around the surrounding yurts. In each yurt, they give a little provision from the khurjin and receive in exchange some part of the horse's equipment. After visiting everyone, the guide brings all the necessary items for the boy's horse to his parents.
Osh District
adigine
A feast is arranged when the boy first rides a horse. People are invited for a feast, and the aksakal is given a robe.
Circumcision
Pishpek District, Buranin Village
Kydyr
Sunnatko oturguzgu — circumcision of boys aged six to eight is performed by a specialist. Wealthy people arrange a feast for this. This usually happens in the fall or spring.
rch. Bolshoy Keben
When the child turns three years old, a feast is arranged: they slaughter large livestock, invite neighbors from the entire area, boil meat, and treat them, leaving again zhotu zhilik60. When the feast is over, everyone goes to the bayga. At this time, several elders remain in the yurt, one of whom is a circumcision specialist. The boy is seated on the ground, given a zhotu zhilik, from which most of the meat has been removed and eaten by the elders. In the other hand, he holds a flatbread in the shape of kokur: kokur tokach61. The child's father ties the right hand of the operator with a two or three arshin scarf, and he performs the circumcision. During this, the father holds the son by the hands from behind. After this, leaving the child, they go to the bayga: horse racing, wrestling, kok boru — this concludes the event. The boy stays home for 10-15 days after the operation.
Osh District
adigine
A feast is arranged for this occasion when the little one is about seven years old.
Chon Koshoy
Ibrahim Koshoyev
solto-karamoin
A feast is held for this event.
The first day of the feast: kenesh — a meeting (rather, an announcement) regarding the upcoming ritual.
The second day: livestock is slaughtered, and at night the meat is prepared. A kok boru is arranged.
The third day (and the last): the main feast and also kok boru.
The circumcision ritual is performed two to three days after the feast. A scarf is tied to the master before the operation (as a gift), and after it, he is rewarded: given a ram or something else valuable.
During the operation, the sitting boy is given a kashka zhilik (marrow bone) in his right hand and a flatbread in his left.
The removed foreskin is wrapped in cotton and stuffed behind the kerige (uk? — F.F.) in the right, so to speak, corner (from the tor'a), and this bundle remains there until the patient recovers. Until the boy recovers, he is not allowed outside in windy weather.
A barren woman eats the praeputium with flatbread immediately after the operation to give birth to a son62.
Janizak
solto
Circumcision is performed at the age of 11-12.
Adolescent Children
Alamedinka
solto-bolokbay
Parents hang a koshogё on their daughter at the age of 15-16. This moment is not different. A son does not have a koshogё.
local. Sarybulak
Alimbek
buku
After 13 years, the girl hangs a koshogё herself. She sews it herself or her mother does.
Satyvaldy
According to Sharia, religious obligations (fasting, etc.) are imposed on boys from the age of 12 and on girls from the age of 9, and from this moment it is indecent for them to sleep together with their father. This separation is associated with the appearance of pollutions in boys and menstruation in girls.
Magic
Pishpek District, Buranin Village
Dali — lamb's shoulder. When a child is born, a piece of lamb's shoulder should be placed in its mouth, and then every week it should be shown to him so that he is wise and knows (foresees) everything63.
Song-Kul
Suranchi Adylov
sarybagysh
A girl is dressed as a boy so that the next child will be a boy. A yak's tail is sewn onto the child's back because the yak is a rare, valuable, and almost sacred animal.
On the child's clothing, for example, a tooth of an old person is sewn on so that he lives to old age, etc.
Bunches of hair make the boy look like a girl so that he is not cursed or spoiled.
A girl is dressed as a boy when there is no son: Sake's brother has a 13-year-old daughter whom he dresses like a son, and at the bayga, she rides like a boy.
A girl, if sons are not born, is sometimes given a male name, and a boy, if there are many sons, is given a female name.
Chonkur-Talas
kainazar
Ulke64 — a girl is called this if they want the next child to be a boy.
Turum bubu65 — a girl is called this if she was finally born after sons.
If a boy is dressed as a girl, it means that boys die in the family, and vice versa, if a girl is dressed as a boy.
Ibrahim K.
solto-karamoin
If boys die in the family, a boy is dressed as a girl.
Tengizbaev
buku
If only girls are born in the family, and the parents want sons, they give such names to their daughters: Burulcha (let her turn into a son), Ulcha, Ulman (Ul — son), Ultai (son-foal), etc.
B. Soltonaev
Kystane66 — a boy dressed as a girl to hide his true gender and deceive hostile forces.
Uglan, ugul — son, this is how some call a girl when they dress her in a boy's outfit, pretending that this is really a son (so that boys are born? — F.F.).
Song-Kul
Suranchi Adylov
A girl is dressed as a boy so that the next child will be a boy.
Signs, Customs
Song-Kul
Suranchi Adylov
sarybagysh
When it is time to wean the child from breastfeeding, a woman smears her nipples with lamb bile. Such a vial of bile was seen in the yurt.
Chonkur-Talas
kainazar
Emchektesh — children nursed by the same wet nurse cannot marry67.
Children's Games
The hands are folded like this: the pinky of the right hand (palm down) grabs the end of the pinky of the left hand (palm up). The ring and middle fingers of the right hand are passed underneath and rest on the corresponding fingers of the left hand. The index finger on top of the left palm connects with the index and thumb of the left hand (at the tips). The thumb of the right hand is hidden under the left hand. The two index fingers and thumb hold the vertical stem of the chiy. Two players play. One player wants to take fire in the hole between the thumb and index finger of the left hand: "Biyerden ot alaym6e68" ("Can I take fire from here?"). "Ulum uruschak!" — replies the other (I have an evil son). In the hole at the base of the middle and ring fingers of the left hand — an evil dog (itim kazvanak). In the hole between the left thumb and right index finger — an evil daughter-in-law (kelinchak karichchek? — F.F.).
At the ends of the middle and ring fingers of the right hand — the son and father make bullets (atalu, balalu ok kuiyup jatyr.).
At the lower ends of the left middle and ring fingers — two sisters make ichik (a coat covered with fabric) — kavy jatyr.
At the end of the right pinky — tied together calves (koshok tolu u kosh mzo). At the base of the right middle and ring fingers — they give feed to the horses in the stable (atamndyn am baylay turgan akery). Coming to the base of the stem, they ask: "Can I sit here?" (Biyerge konoymbe?). The answer: "Smoke does not come out" (Tutun chikpait). Higher up the same: "I will graze the rams" (Koym jaiem). Even higher: "I will graze the horses" (Zhilkym jaiem). Even higher: "Camels" (Tost jaiem). Even higher (or lower? F.F.). Cows (Zhjum jaiem). Then at the top, one of the players says: "Here sits a thief" (Bay uyuktane karakcho gonde), and the one holding the stem says: "I will come out now" (Sarypindyi kyiein ata-vala bichein). The one holding the chiy releases one hand and runs his right hand across his face, while the other player in the meantime snatches the chiy and runs away. If the first one manages to grab him by the hand, the thief is caught; if not, the thief wins.
The caught one gets a matak on the head, i.e., the thumb of the left hand is run "against the grain".
The child sits on the lap. They take his right hand, run a finger along the palm, and say: "Taru kuru, buday kuru, biyerde sirke biyerde bit"69. Repeating: "Biyerde sirke, biyerde bit, bit bit," — they go up the arm to the armpit and tickle him.
[i]Comments:
54 Many nomadic peoples had the custom of naming a child after the first object that comes into view. Thus, the child would seem to be lost among the surrounding objects and become invisible to evil spirits (Gafurov A. Op. cit. P. 11-12).
55 Usually in Central Asia, living relatives' names (grandfather, grandmother) were not given to the newborn; only the names of deceased ancestors could be given (Andreev M.S. Tajiks of the Khuf Valley. P. 83). According to the records of F.A. Fielstrup, it is unclear whether the name of a deceased or living relative could be given to the infant. But in either case, it was given with the wish that the child would live to the age of the person whose name he was given.
56 Kiyizbay — from kiyiz (felt), Tuzbay — from tuz (salt).
57 The first haircut is another stage in the socialization of the child. The removal of the birth hair symbolically separates the child from the womb and connects him to the world of people in which he will have to live. The ancient Turks, and not only they, attached great importance to this act, which was usually accompanied by a large celebration and a whole series of rituals (Sukharieva OA. Mother and child among the Tajiks... P. 154; Andreev M.S. Tajiks of the Khuf Valley. P. 91; Tajiks of Karategin and Darwaz. Part III. P. 85; Potapov L.P. Op. cit. P. 271-272; Traditional worldview of the Turks... II. P. 172-175; Toleubaev A.T. Op. cit. P. 76-77).
According to the beliefs of many peoples of the world in ancient times, cut hair (and nails) are in sympathetic connection with their owner (as is the umbilical cord — see above). And from whose hands and in what condition they are, depends the fate of the child. Moreover, whoever has someone else's hair can control its owner as he wishes. In this regard, cut hair was carefully hidden: kept in the house, hung on a tree, or buried in a secluded place (Frazer J. Op. cit. P. 263-270). The first hair was cut only by close relatives, and apparently, as compensation for this, they were given a valuable gift.
58 See "Chubs in Children".
59 Karyn chach — literally, "womb hair".
60 Zhotu zhilik — tibia bone; during the feast among tubular bones, it is the first in honor (Yudakhin K.K. Op. cit. P. 254).
61 Kokur tokach (kookёr tokach) is a figurative flatbread.
62 Apparently, one of the techniques of sympathetic magic. Eating a piece of the foreskin was believed to lead to the appearance of a whole being in the body of the eater, namely, a boy.
63 Let us recall that divination by lamb's shoulder is one of the common methods of divination among Turkic peoples.
64 Ulke (Uulko) — from uul (boy, son).
65 Turum bubu — from turum (constancy); bubu — perhaps from bibi.
66 Kystane — from kyz (girl).
67 Emchektesh — literally, "teeth that touched the breast". The custom that milk siblings cannot marry is known to many peoples of the world.
68 Literally, "Can I take fire from here?".
69 Literally, "Dry millet, dry wheat, here is a louse, and here is a louse."
Rituals associated with the birth of premature children. From the ritual life of the Kyrgyz at the beginning of the 20th century. Part - 11
