A Kazakh wedding (Part 1)

When I left the Tianshan Restaurant, it was almost 0:24 in the morning, and it was still very lively with singing and dancing. Passing through the arch inlaid with flowers, I walked past a fat man. He was wearing a small flower hat, his body was leaning back, his knees were half bent, and he was dancing to the rhythm of the music. Being fat did not affect his ability to dance. He was very agile, and swirling around him were several women in costumes. The cheerful music and singing with a strong rhythm made the men and women dance heartily in the pool...? Yes, this is a Kazakh wedding, which is in full swing at this time and has no intention of ending...

We can't stand it any longer and evacuate early.

You also have to be careful when eating. After serving the last special main meal, rich pilaf (sometimes also naren?) and large pieces of beef, horse meat, and horse intestines, all After people hold the meat in their hands, caress their faces, and listen to the words of the host on the stage, they officially start eating. It is said that such meat cannot be eaten without being eaten, and there must be no leftovers.

I saw young Kazakh men in suits and ties habitually reaching out to pinch the rice and put it into their mouths. It tasted delicious. Still no need for chopsticks or "spoons".

This month, I have attended three such weddings.

Actually, as a Han Chinese going to attend the wedding of ethnic friends, I will feel painful inside. After receiving the notice, some of my colleagues, especially gay men, are not willing to go. Just think about it. I get off work at 7 o'clock, and usually have dinner at 8 o'clock. Kazakh weddings are usually held in the evening, starting at 9 o'clock, and the food is not served until 10 o'clock. It is not until this time that I can eat, and my stomach has long been disobedient in protest. . Han people who don’t like liveliness and can’t dance or drink don’t have to go. If you stay in such an atmosphere, you will be the real “alien” and look out of place.

I’m also surprised that after staying here for so long, I have a lot of colleagues from ethnic minorities. Uyghurs and Kazakhs are common. One year, special teaching materials were distributed to learn bilingualism. I learned Kazakh every morning and had to take exams. But Afterwards, I still forgot everything and still couldn’t understand their chatter.

Of course, this does not hinder our daily interactions and friendship. I should be grateful to the smart ethnic minorities around me. In addition to their beautiful faces, almost all of them speak fluent Chinese. Do things, especially at work. Of course, you still speak your own language in private. ?

Sometimes, I will say with emotion: Hey, the Han people are actually at a disadvantage. Think about it, when they suddenly babble in their own language, you are confused next to them. What does it feel like, am I talking about you? You wouldn't scold someone. ? But when we get together to speak Chinese, they know who we are talking about.

At the wedding scene, the whole process was very lively, and all the guests were hosted in Shasak. We are the real "minorities". The host was laughing and talking on the stage, and his voice was loud and loud. Rows of people were going up and down, maybe the bride's family elders. What were they doing and talking about? I don't know. . All we need to do is open our mouths and watch. Applaud when it’s time to clap, and perform the ceremony when it’s time to do so. Fortunately, the Han ethnic colleague next to us, Ainur, translated for us on the spot while eating.

This Shuguang girl, who is no big or small when she is with us on weekdays, is today’s bride, and the groom’s name is Nurkailid. She had never seen her before, and the one she saw often didn't succeed in the end because her family didn't agree. This one should be arranged appropriately by the parents. (It’s too far off topic.)

In the early years, Kazakh girls from herdsmen’s families in the mountains usually got engaged and married at the age of 18, and some got married at the age of 16. After the age of 20, if no one proposes marriage, you should be anxious. . Up to now, due to the policy environment and mainly education reasons, girls (especially those who work) are getting married later and later. Like Shuguang, they have already passed their 28th birthday and are turning 29. Even for the Han people, they should get married at this age. But she was not in a hurry, and said that it would be great to be in love for the rest of her life and that she didn't want to get married.

Today’s Kazakh young people are becoming more and more open-minded and fashionable in getting married. The words “Catching Your Carriage” in the popular song “Osaka Castle Girl” have become memories. The previous scene of "getting on horseback and being picked up?" has long been replaced by brand-new cars. Banquets are often held in hotels. The long wedding photos were displayed at the gate, and the wedding photos were also played back one after another on the big screen inside the venue. The format is like a normal wedding banquet.

But there are still many things that remain unchanged. Ainur said that before the Kazakh wedding, there were a series of visits and festive activities between relatives and friends. It lasts for half a month or even more than 20 days, and has strong national characteristics.

The wedding ceremony is naturally very grand. The bride, accompanied by the bridesmaids, enters the yurt of her parents and holds a "fire worship" ceremony. That is, two women support the bride in front of the fire, and one woman stretches out her hands on the flames. Roast it, rub it on your face a few times, then put it into the bride's veil and rub it on the bride's face a few times. At this time. Women who come to the wedding all wish auspicious wishes such as "happy newlyweds", "let the souls of the ancestors bless the bride", etc., which are basically expressed in the form of singing.

2019--11 (Enjoying?)