TAJIKISTAN

BY:GENEVEIVE G. CERTEZA

TRADITIONS IN

TAJIKISTAN

1.MOM AND BABY ARE PROTECTED IN PARTICULAR THE FIRST 40 DAYS

The child's birth has always been the most joyful family event in Tajik family life.

The expectant mother and the pregnancy cycle, childbirth and the child's life the first of forty days, called the local name (TSHILLA) includes numerous customs and traditions.

Among other things: the mother and the baby is usually left unattended when it gets dark, but light and fire are always above the room where the mother and baby are.

2.TAJIKISTAN WEDDING UNIQUE SEREMONIA

Tajik wedding is quite unique ceremony which lasts seven days.

On the first day of the ceremony: the bride and the bridegroom proclaim their marriage and hold separate banquets with their own families, which continue for three days.

On the fifth day the bridegroom goes by friends and relatives accompanied bride's home.

3.The New Years festive 21.st March Important Traditions

New year's celebration is one of the most important traditions in Tajikistan. That celebration is called Nauru and it is celebrated on March 21st.

It marks new life and new hopes for all who love celebrate this holiday.

Entire villages prepares for this festival and food made in abundance, well before the feast.

4.THE DESIGN OF HOME IN TAJIKISTAN

Tajik people sit normally on thin mattresses (Korpacha) on the floor Astrakhan around a large tablecloth laden with food (Astrakhan).

The guest of Hon our is normally seated furthest from the door.

When a new guest arrives, the seated guests will stand and shake the hand of the new arrival.

CUSTOMS IN

TAJIKISTAN

The Tajik people mostly live in southwestern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and are closely related to the Uygur people of that area. They have their own spoken language, but no written language.

The Tajik practice monogamy and large families spanning several generations live under one roof.

To Tajik, breaking up the family and living apart is unthinkable, and such a separation would be considered a major disaster.

Their houses retain a tradition suited to their lifestyle. Generally, a family of three or four generations lives in

one house. In the past, they would have lived in one big room,

sleeping on long beds along two of the walls. But now, only Tax organ Tajik Autonomous County still

keeps this tradition. Tajik in other areas now have separate rooms for

smaller family units within the bigger family.

The garments of Tajik are mainly cotton-padded. There is no obvious difference in the four seasons

of a year. This has something to do with the cold climate of

the Pamir Plateau. Women wear clothes with bright colors, and favor

long skirts. They mostly wear floral caps embroidered with

brightly-colored patterns and with ear flaps. When going outdoors, they wear kerchiefs, older

women wearing white, while younger ones wear yellow or green.

The men's caps are like barrels, lined with black lamb skin.

The lower brim rolls up, revealing lined fur, which is both decorative and practical.

Tajik living on the plateau have their special wedding ceremonies.

To most ethnic groups, the wedding ceremony starts with the bride and bridegroom, but the wedding of the Tajik are different.

On the first day of the ceremony, the bride and the bridegroom proclaim their marriage and hold separate banquets with their own families lasting three days.

On the fifth day, the bridegroom, accompanied by friends and relatives, goes to his bride's home.

An imam stands before the newlyweds to ask for their opinions.

If both agree, they must drink a cup of water, and eat a bit of meat, cake and salt.

Only then are they allowed to be together.

After that, the grand celebration begins.

People sing and dance until midnight. Then, the newlyweds ride on the same

horse to the bridegroom's home. On the sixth day, the family members

of the bride spend one night at the bridegroom's home.

That marks the end of the wedding.