Buryat buuzas and greetings to guests
In Buryatia, it is customary to celebrate the New Year twice – on December 31, and in the “true New Year”, which begins according to the lunar calendar. It will fall on February 21 in 2023.
According to 35-year-old Bair Tsyrendorzhiev from Ulan-Ude, the holiday is celebrated for a month in the republic, it is called the holiday of the Sagaalgan or White Moon.
“It is believed that the more diverse the table is on a holiday, especially in the first days, the richer and more successful the year will be. That is why Buryats approach the preparation very responsibly. The most important thing is that there should be white food on the table: cottage cheese and fresh milk, as well as one of the main dishes – salami – sour cream boiled over low heat with flour. As a requirement of respect, the guests were first served salami. Everyone took it in a separate bowl. “Now the tradition is largely forgotten, but the greeting is still on every festive table,” Tsyrendorzhiev said.
The second main dish, which, in principle, not a single Buryat holiday can do, is buuzy, which is often confused with khinkali.
“Buuzas is minced meat or minced meat that is put on dough and wrapped in the form of yurts. They are cooked in steam. According to the classic recipe, it is customary to make 33 stacks in one buuz – this is considered standard. In addition, they serve a traditional dessert – boovy – on the New Year’s table. These are pieces of deep-fried dough—like brushwood. It is made from a mixture of milk, eggs and flour, then fried in butter and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
And one day before the New Year according to the lunar calendar comes the so-called “dark day” – amauu uder. He should remain silent, not eat meat and in no case drink alcohol. The main meaning of this day is the accumulation of energy and emotions,” Tsyrendorzhiev shared.
Karachay khychiny and lamb shish kebab
It is customary in Karachays and Balkars to celebrate the new year with meat. Islam Borlakov, 28, from Karachayevsk, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, told this. According to him, on the holiday there are always lamb dishes on the table, and in many families – shish kebabs.
“The Karachays have a lot in common with the Balkars. We bake khychins on New Year’s Eve – these are pies or thick cakes. Stuffed with meat, cheesy potatoes and herbs, tops. “It’s hard to imagine a Karachay table without steamed ravioli stuffed with meat and potatoes,” said Islam Borlakov.
In addition, according to him, many Karachays prefer to be sober and do not even drink champagne on New Year’s Eve.
Byrpakh instead of Koumiss and Yakut ice cream kercheh
On the Ruby New Year’s table, besides the usual Russian dishes, there are also many national dishes. According to Nyurguyaana Dorofeeva, 22, from Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, stroganina – frozen raw fish and boiled or frozen blood sausage khaan – is always served for the holiday in almost every home.
“Stroganina is usually made from chir fish – it turns out delicious. Like the frozen raw foal that Yakuts always eat on New Year’s Eve, it is traditionally cut into cubes or strips and served with ketchup or salt. Many put venison on the table, but this is not accepted by everyone,” said Dorofeeva.
Also for the holiday, tansyk is served – a Thai sausage made from raw ground beef and chopped peritoneal fat. Various spices and garlic are added there, and then frozen. Field and salami are being prepared.
“The drink on the New Year’s table is not kumiss, as is commonly believed, but birpakh – it is sweeter and tastier. Kerchekh is considered a traditional New Year’s dessert – a dish of chilled heavy cream and sour cream. Many people add jam there – it tastes like ice cream, ”explained a resident of Yakutsk.
In Yakutia, the New Year is celebrated, among other things, with champagne, and, as in other parts of Russia, with crab salad and Russian salad.
Khueyzhyaph and hominy
Many Circassians, like Karachays, prefer to be sober on New Year’s Eve. And, of course, they also dilute the standard festive table with national dishes. According to Dana Kencheshaova from the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Cherkessk, they serve a variety of cheese and millet dishes alongside traditional dishes.
“Every New Year we eat hominy – it’s boiled millet that is left to harden and then cut up and served instead of bread. It is perfectly combined with shchips, the main dish on the festive Circassian table. Shchips is a thick sauce or soup. Chips are usually eaten with hominy, garlic and boiled chicken. At the feast there is always Adyghe cheese and khueizhyaph – this is a dish of sour cream sauce with the addition of cheese and millet, ”said Dana Kencheshaova.
Horse meat and pie
In Bashkortostan and Buryatia, the New Year is celebrated twice, but the lunar calendar has nothing to do with it. As the Beautiful Akhmadulina of Salavat said, Bashkirs celebrate the holiday first according to local time, and then in Moscow.
Also in Bashkiria there are two Santa Clauses – in addition to the traditional one, there is also Tatar Kysh Babai, for which some children receive two gifts each.
“The Bashkir New Year’s table is somewhat different from the traditional Russian table, but still has some quirks. For example, we always boil the tongue and offer horse meat during the holidays. Since a large part of the region is Muslim, it is almost impossible to find pork on the tables, and the dishes are mostly made of lamb, beef, rabbit, chicken or turkey. Also, meat or poultry must be “own” – not in production, but from trusted farmers, and even more often from relatives or friends from the nearest village.
Also, pies with different flavors, from meat to fruit or berry, are always put on the table. Also, even if a person does not drink alcohol, when the bells ring it is necessary to drink at least one sip of champagne – and in no case before, ”Remembered Fine.
According to him, the main difference of the Bashkir New Year is in traditions: a large number of guests are usually invited to the holiday, and among them there is always someone who plays a musical instrument. That is why holidays are often accompanied by musical programs of different cultures: they play domra, button accordion, kurai. It’s customary in Bashkortostan to dance a lot during the holidays, and after the bells and feasts, go out and ride a sleigh or go down a hill and launch fireworks yourself. If someone goes to visit on New Year’s holidays, he needs to bring some dishes to the table with him – not just sweets or cake.