The Gagauzes of Ukraine. Who’re they?
Gagauzes can be A orthodox christian turkic-speaking individuals, the descendants associated with nomadic Oghuz tribes. The Ukrainian Gagauzes have now been compactly moving into the villages and towns of Bessarabia (Budzhak). The Gagauz tradition, traditions, and food have actually changed because the use of Christianity. Nowadays the tradition of celebrating one of several major vacations associated with Gagauz people, Hederlez or Saint George’s Day, is combining pagan, Muslim, and Christian elements.
Vynohradivka is just a town in Bessarabia, that was started because of the Gagauzes and Bulgarians within the very early century that is 19th. The town had been unofficially divided in to the Bulgarian in addition to Gagauz components. The founders of Vynohradivka (the old title associated with town ended up being Kurcu) originated from the villages Akbiri and Balchik in Bulgaria. In line with the legend now told through the locals, whenever Gagauzes and Bulgarians stumbled on this land, they first allow their lambs off to graze. They decided to settle down where in fact the lambs discovered meals.
Nowadays the social folks of Vynohradivka earnestly help and develop the Gagauz tradition and discover their mom tongue. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine supports book of textbooks for the neighborhood kiddies to discover the Gagauz language . Besides, the Regional Centre of Gagauz tradition and a museum had been created in Vynohradivka. Writer of the initial textbooks, in addition to test review wives manager for the Сultural Сentre, is Olga Kulaksyz.
Through the ancient times, the Gagauz calendar had a unique function: it approximately divided the entire year into two periods — summer time and cold temperatures. Each started with one of the greatest Gagauz holiday breaks: Hederlez and Kas?m. This division is related to sheep agriculture, which was the activity that is main of individuals for years and years. Summertime started using the Hederlez vacation when the herd owners made an understanding aided by the shepherds and handed the herds up to them for grazing. Once the time arrived to come back the herds, it signified the start of winter months period. These vacations are provided by numerous peoples that are turkic. The holiday season got religious context later on, after Gagauzes adopted Christianity.
The Gagauz Hederlez
Hederlez * * Ay Yorgi — Saint George’s Day — could be the vacation for the world’s revival, the initial dew, the very first offspring. It really is probably one of the most honoured vacations for several Turkic individuals. The Orthodox Christian Gagauzes call this vacation Saint George’s Day and honour it up to Easter. Some time ways of celebration somewhat vary when it comes to peoples that are different. Crimean Tatars, as an example, celebrate Hederlez on the very first Friday of might, while when it comes to Gagauzes it is in the 6th of might.
In Muslim tradition, this vacation is related to a gathering of Islamic prophets Illia (Ilyas) and al-Khidr (Khedher) on the planet. Ilyas, who’s considered to be the patron of water and cattle, originates from the western. Khedher, in change, arises from the East and it is the patron of people. Names regarding the two prophets are combined into the true name of this vacation. The day that is first of celebration may be the time if they meet, that the Turkic people think become from the very very first week of May.
In Vynohradivka, Hederlez is celebrated regarding the 6th of might. About this time, they typically prepare kurban , the meat of the lamb that is sacrificed kurban bulguru (pirinci) , porr >kurban ekmiaia , bread. The term “kurban” itself means “sacrifice” .
A significant part of this visit to Vynohradivka is preparing a dish called bulguru that is kurban . An entire carcass of a lamb has been donated to your mind associated with church that is local. Villagers genuinely believe that this brings welfare, comfort and wellness to families within the the following year.
Everybody in the town is invited for the party. Anyone can take part in company regarding the celebrations:
— who would like can add a sacrificed lamb. This kind of contribution is known to create health that is good. If you have no lamb in a family group, it may since very well be purchased.
Villages with churches known as after Saint George celebrate the Temple Day (a single day associated with the Village) about this time. The church in Vynohradivka is obviously known as after Saint George, therefore the tradition is well-kept.
If newlyweds have actually selected Saint George because the protector of the household, or mind associated with household’s name is George, then this vacation is celebrated in family members group.
Party may be split into two phases: spiritual and entertaining. Each morning, villagers visit church when it comes to holy solution, after which it they gather for getaway supper and celebrations.
If Hederlez falls using one of fasting times, like Friday, then dinner will contain slim meals only. Fish soup, boiled and fried seafood, pickled herring would be offered rather than meat.
Following the supper, it is time for celebrations. Into the previous, horse events, sport tournaments, and wrestling had been typically held. Now the structure changed a small, as Olga Kulaksyz states:
In Vynohradivka we now have no area that is proper hold a horse competition, and even though we do have horses. We conduct sport games feasible to organise: checkers, chess, soccer, wrestling. Wrestling is extremely popular within our region. Plus the indispensable component is the concert.
Artists off their villages of Bessarabia and Gagauzia are invited to execute.
Saint George’s is also celebrated by the Bulgarians of Vynohradivka day. All those who once left the village come back home for the holiday. Some event traditions because of this vacation are very different for Gagauzes and Bulgarians. Nonetheless, there are many more similarities.