Language/Kazakh/Culture/Wedding-Celebrations
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Wedding celebrations hold a special place in Kazakh culture. Weddings in Kazakhstan are the biggest and most expensive social events filled with food, dance, and merriment that lasts for several days. In this lesson, you will discover the traditional customs and rituals of Kazakh weddings.
Traditional Kazakh Wedding Customs
Kazakh weddings are deeply rooted in cultural traditions and tend to follow a specific sequence of events. Here is a breakdown of some of the significant wedding customs:
- Matchmaking: Parents often take the lead in finding the perfect match for their children. The prospective groom's family would send a wedding matchmaker to the prospective bride's house. If the bride's family found the matchmaker's proposal acceptable, the bride's family would make arrangements to get to know the groom's family better.
- Betrothal: Once the matchmaker's proposal is accepted, the groom's family would come to the bride's home to meet her parents and exchange gifts. In Kazakh tradition, this gift-giving ceremony is called "Kyz Uzatu" (Removal of the Bride's Veil). During the ceremony, the veil covering the bride's face is removed, and the groom sees her face for the first time.
- Wedding Preparation: The couple and their families would start to prepare for the wedding by organizing the ceremony location, decorations, food, and drinks, among others.
- Negotiating the Bride's Dowry: In Kazakh tradition, the groom's family is expected to pay a dowry, which is often negotiated with the bride's family. The dowry represents the value of the bride and her contributions to the family.
- Wedding Day: On the wedding day, the groom's family would arrive at the bride's home, where the couple would exchange vows and share a drink made from fermented mare's milk known as "shubat."
- Wedding Ceremony: The wedding ceremony is usually held in a mosque or registry office. It involves prayers, blessings, and the signing of the marriage certificate.
- Wedding Reception: The wedding reception is where the real party takes place, and it is usually held at a wedding venue. Guests would come dressed in their best traditional Kazakh outfits, and there would be traditional Kazakh music and dance performances.
- Closing of the Ceremony: The wedding celebration concludes with the "Saat Auyly," or closing of the ceremony, during which the bride's family sends off the newlywed couple with blessings and well-wishes for a happy married life.
Other Interesting Facts About Kazakh Weddings
- Kazakh weddings are usually attended by between 100 and 500 guests.
- Kazakh brides often wear a traditional silk wedding gown called "saukele," which is typically decorated with traditional Kazakh embroidery.
- It is customary for the groom's family to pay for the wedding expenses, including the bride's dowry, and the bride's family to provide gifts for the newlywed couple.
- The wedding celebration can last for two to three days.
- In some remote regions of Kazakhstan, the bridal couple must leave the wedding reception at night and find a hidden horseshoe that has been hidden by their family members. This tradition is known as "Kuda Tausen" or "the search for a horseshoe."
Conclusion
Weddings in Kazakhstan are not just about saying "I do." It is a celebration of Kazakh culture, hospitality, and community. It is an occasion for the whole family to come together, have fun, and wish the newlywed couple a long and happy marriage. Understanding the Kazakh wedding customs has become an essential part of Kazakh language learners' journey to gaining full insight into what Kazakh culture entails.
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