Culture | MONGOLIA


The New Year’s Eve Celebration


The day before New Year’s Day is known as Bituun, meaning “to close down.” Before the end of the day on New Year’s Eve, all the business of the past year must be wrapped up, debts paid and good relationships restored. On the last evening of the old year, the closure of the year is celebrated with a large amount of “covered food,” meat covered by a layer of dough. Another traditional food, Ul Boov is also created by piling ceremonial bread (boov) in an odd number of layers. Additionally, large numbers of dumplings (buuz) are made for the many visitors and well-wishers to arrive in the days to follow.


Another tradition, greeting the new year with new clothes, is also closely followed, outfitting the entire family in new dels (national dress). The new year should also be greeted by a clean house, so women thoroughly clean their ghers (homes) for the celebration.


The bituun evening is mainly celebrated in close family. In the evening, when all the family members gather, the women set the table. All guests straighten their clothes, put on their caps and take a seat around the table, according to their age and family hierarchy.


And then bituun begins - the last dinner of the outgoing year. That evening, one must try all the dishes - typically consisting of boiled meat, a variety of milk products, meat dumplings and dessert - which means the dinner will last late into the night. Usually airag (a mild beverage made of fermented mare’s milk and called “white beer”), mild vodka and tea with milk are served with the dinner.


Tradition states that before starting the meal, the host parts with the old year in a symbolic ceremony. Having placed a leg of lamb on his plate, he slices it and gives everyone a piece. Then he breaks the bone and draws out the marrow, thus


symbolizing the opening of the New Year. Dinner is lively: Adults tell funny tales, sing and play with the children. Everyone has to feel cheerful and full of food, so that the family will also feel content in the next year. Even dogs are given extra bones to fill them up.


New Year’s Morning


Before sunrise on the morning of the New Year, the head of the family goes outside, walks in the direction prescribed in a book of Buddhist astrology, and raises his hands to greet the first sunrise of the New Year. Some families include the wife and children in this greeting, but no matter the personal choice of greeting, all must dress in their new dels to greet the New Year.


Then, the ritual of congratulations begins. First, all the family members come up, one by one, to the oldest man in the family. They place their hands out, palms up, and he places his palms down. The youngest person must bow and tell him: “May you be healthy and happy!” This greeting is called zolgoh. From New Year’s Day until the end of February, all Mongols will congratulate each other this way.


When the ritual is over, the hosts and their guests go into the gher where a special table is set. In the very center of the table, the woman of the house places a huge plate of boiled meat and lamb. The host cuts off pieces of lamb, first serving the eldest. It is customary for the diners to try a spoonful of rice with raisins to begin the meal. The women pour airag and milk vodka. During the course of the meal, each person should drink at least three small cups.


New Year’s Gifts


In daily life, Mongols frequently exchange gifts. For Mongols, a gift expresses feelings rather than words. The price of the gift is not important, for it expresses respect, sympathy, friendliness and wishes for health. As a rule, visitors will not arrive without a gift, especially when visiting a


family with children or old men. Candy for children and some milk or dairy products for elders are enough. If unprepared for a visit, it is all right to give little money to children to buy candies.


However, on New Year’s Day, a deeply symbolic white, blue or yellow scarf is given to the most honored senior family members to show respect. In color symbolism, blue expresses eternity, white means purity of thought, and yellow shows a wish for longevity and prosperity


Congratulations and Well-Wishing


The first day of the New Year is spent visiting and congratulating neighbors, relatives and friends. Each guest brings the host a present and wishes him a happy New Year. Visitors come all day long. When guests leave the gher, each is given a small present. The hostess and her daughters take turns at the stove steaming buuz and serving guests.


Toward the evening, guests will arrive and to continue the day-long lavish feast with talk, songs and special new year’s games. The party breaks up well after midnight. Having said good night to everyone, the man of the home says a prayer similar to the following:


“Let all be happy in the New Year, Let there be no suffering, Let there be no hatred.”


All of the first month of the New Year is considered a holiday, and the visits and congratulations continue. It is necessary during that month to visit parents, no matter where they live. One is well-fed during every visit, which popular belief states will bring prosperity throughout the year.


In another ritual, reserved for shepherds, visitors should greet the shepherd by saying, “How have the flocks withstood the winter? Have the sheep fattened up?” In answer, shepherds say, “Thank you, well. The sheep have fattened.”


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