Culture of Kyrgyzstan

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Culture of Kyrgyzstan
History
People
Languages
Cuisine
Religion
Art
Literature
  • Poetry
Music
Media
Sport
Monuments
Symbols
  • Flag
  • Coat of arms
  • National anthem
Moving horse herd in Kyrgyzstan, 2019

The culture of Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the

clans, symbolized by the 40-rayed yellow sun in the center of the flag. The red lines inside the sun visualise the crown of a yurt, the traditional dwelling of nomadic farmers, once the main population of the Central Asian area.[1][2] The dominant religion of Kyrgyzstan is Sunni Islam (91%). The Russian population is Russian Orthodox
.

Languages

Kyrgyzstan is the only former Soviet Central Asian republic to start out with two

official languages, in this case Russian and Kyrgyz. An aggressive post-Soviet
campaign was established to make the latter the official national language in all commercial and government uses by 1997; Russian is still used extensively, and the non-Kyrgyz population, most not Kyrgyz speakers, are hostile to forcible Kyrgyzification.

Kyrgyzstan has a high

textbooks. It remains to be seen whether Russian will continue as the second language of choice, or whether English will supersede it as a lingua franca
.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kyrgyzstan

In 1992, the population of Kyrgyzstan was estimated as being 53% ethnic

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China
, whose population is about 24 million, located to the northeast of Kyrgyzstan.

Literary works

Kenesh Jusupov, a prominent Kyrgyz writer, in his home village of Echki-Bashy, Naryn district, 2012.

manaschis, and the name of the epic's eponymous hero. The poem, with close to half a million lines, is twenty times longer than Homer's Odyssey
, and one of the longest epics in the world. It is a patriotic work recounting the exploits of Manas and his descendants and followers, who, according to tradition, fought against the Chinese and Kalmyks in the 9th century to preserve Kyrgyz independence.

Chingiz Aytmatov is often referred to as a national writer of Kyrgyzstan. Kenesh Jusupov and Kasymaly Jantöshev
are also prominent Kyrgyz writers. Jantöshev's novel Kanybek is regarded as one of the most popular novels in Kyrgyzstan.

Textiles

Kyrgyz shyrdak felt rugs

Traditionally manufactured

Issyk-kul.[4]

Tush kiyiz are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, by elder women to commemorate the marriage
of a son or daughter.

Kalpaks are the Kyrgyz national hat, also almost always made of felt.

Colors and designs are chosen to symbolize Kyrgyz traditions and rural life. Flowers, plants, animals, stylized horns, national designs, and emblems of Kyrgyz life are often found in these ornate and colorful embroideries. Designs are sometimes dated and signed by the artist upon completion of the work, which may take years to finish. The tush kiyiz is hung in the yurt, over the marriage bed of the couple, and symbolize their pride in their Kyrgyz tradition.

Cuisine

Main article: Kyrgyz cuisine

The cuisine of Kyrgyzstan is similar in many respects to that of its neighbors. Traditional Kyrgyz food revolves around

Mutton
(lamb) is the favorite meat, although many Kyrgyz are unable to afford it regularly.

Kyrgyzstan is home to many different nationalities and their various cuisines. In larger cities, such as Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Karakol, various national and international cuisines can be found. On the road and in the villages, the cuisine tends to be standard Kyrgyz dishes, liberally flavored with oil or sheep fat, which are considered both delicious and healthy by the local population.

Pilaf (paloo) is the national dish in Kyrgyzstan. Green tea is considered the national beverage.

Traditions

Illegal, but still practiced, is the tradition of bride kidnapping.

See also

References

  • Handrahan, Lori. 2004. "Hunting for Women: Bride-Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan." International Feminist Journal of Politics, 6:2 (June), 207–233.
  • Kleinbach, Russell. "Frequency of non-consensual bride kidnapping in the Kyrgyz Republic." International Journal of Central Asian Studies. Vol 8, No 1, 2003, pp 108–128.
  • ——, Mehrigiul Ablezova and Medina Aitieva. "Kidnapping for marriage (ala kachuu) in a Kyrgyz village." Central Asian Survey. (June 2005) 24(2), 191–202.
  1. ISBN 1350143685
    .
  2. ISBN 978-0-691-11775-1
    .
  3. ^ "Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak, art of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpets | Silk Roads Programme". en.unesco.org. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. ^ Chochunbaeva, Dinara (14 September 2019). "Shyrdak: A sunny day in Kyrgyzstan | Garland Magazine". garlandmag.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

External links

PBS Frontline/World documentary and related pages. The Kidnapped Bride March 2004

This article contains some text originally adapted from the public domain

Library of Congress Country Study for Kyrgyzstan at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kgtoc.html

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