Sheeps tail and the tower of aaruul (dried milk curd).
Buuz at its finest.
Tsagaan Sar is an amazing cultural celebration. We feel honored to have been a part of it and to be invited to many wonderful homes. The food was very similar with a slight spin at each house.
Mongolian Lunar New Year, commonly known as Tsagaan Sar (White Moon), is the first of the year according to the Mongolian lunisolar calendar. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is celebrated by the Mongols and some Turkic people living across Mongolia, Russia, and China. The celebration lasts over three days (more like 5 or 6) and is one of the most important holidays for the Mongol people.
The customs of Tsagaan Sar are significantly different depending on the region. In Mongolia around the New Year for example, families burn candles at the altar symbolizing Buddhist enlightenment. Also, people greet each other with holiday-specific greetings such as Амар байна уу? (Amar baina uu?), meaning "Are you living peacefully?" Mongols also visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family. Many people will be dressed in a full garment of Mongolian traditional clothing (deel). When greeting their elders during the White Moon festival, Mongols perform the zolgokh greeting, grasping them by their elbows to show support for them. The eldest receives greetings from each member of the family except for their spouse. During the greeting ceremony, family members hold long, typically blue, silk cloths called a khadag. After the ceremony, the extended family eats sheep's tail, mutton, rice with curds, dairy products, and buuz. It is also typical to drink airag (mares milk) and exchange gifts. Before the day, many Mongols had to clean their houses. The day before Tsagaan Sar is called Bituun, the name of the lunar phase of a new or dark moon. The lunar phases are Bituun (dark moon), Shined (new crescent moon), Tergel (full moon), and Huuchid (waxing moon). On the Bituun day, people thoroughly clean around home, herders also clean the livestock barns and shades, to meet the New Year fresh. The Bituun ceremony also includes burning candles to symbolize enlightenment of the samsara and all sentient beings and putting three pieces of ice at the doorway so that the horse of the deity Palden Lhamo could drink as the deity is believed to visit every household on this day. In the evening, families gather together usually immediate family, in contrast to the large feast gatherings of White Moon day and see out the old year eating dairy products and buuz. Traditionally, Mongolians settle all issues and repay all debts from the old year by this day.
We had such an amazing experience. It is truly a wonderful holiday. It reminds us of Thanksgiving and Christmas put together, except it lasts for many more days. Family and friends gathering together to eat and reminisce. Every family we visited pulled out their photo albums, with generation of family photos to share. It was fun to hear their family history, stories of family life during communist rule and what freedom of their nation means to them. Every part of the traditional clothing from the deels to the hats have specific meanings including specific colors that represents tribes and birth places. Our dear friends start preparing weeks in advance, making buuz (the traditional dumpling served at every home). They are a lot of work some of our friends made 2000 and others many more and froze them for the holiday. Every family member is visited, and the host gives gifts to all that come. They are some of the most giving people.
We have learned so much from experiencing this wonderful holiday and visits with awesome families. Family has always been very important to us. We sure miss our family and are so grateful for their love and support. Learning from others through customs, culture, and traditions makes the world such a better place to live. Our family has expanded in Mongolia. We are so blessed to be a part of God’s eternal family.
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