Gagauzes can be A orthodox christian turkic-speaking individuals, the descendants associated with nomadic Oghuz tribes. The Ukrainian Gagauzes happen compactly surviving in the villages and urban centers of Bessarabia (Budzhak). The Gagauz tradition, traditions, and food have actually changed considering that the use of Christianity. Nowadays the tradition of celebrating among the major holiday breaks associated with the Gagauz individuals, Hederlez or Saint George’s Day, is combining pagan, Muslim, and Christian elements.

Vynohradivka is a town in Bessarabia, that was started because of the Gagauzes and Bulgarians during the early nineteenth century. The town ended up being unofficially split into the Bulgarian plus the Gagauz components. The founders of Vynohradivka (the name that is old of town had been Kurcu) originated from the villages Akbiri and Balchik in Bulgaria. Based on the legend now told by the locals, whenever Gagauzes and Bulgarians stumbled on this land, they let their lambs first out to graze. They chose to relax where in fact the lambs discovered meals.

Nowadays the social individuals of Vynohradivka earnestly help and develop the Gagauz tradition and learn their mom tongue. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine supports publication of textbooks when it comes to regional kiddies to learn the Gagauz language . Besides, the Regional Centre of Gagauz culture and a museum had been created in Vynohradivka. Writer of the first textbooks, along with manager of this 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 wintertime. Each started with one of the primary Gagauz holiday breaks: Hederlez and Kas?m. This unit is related to sheep agriculture, which was the primary task among these individuals for years and years. Summertime started because of the Hederlez vacation whenever the herd owners made an understanding utilizing the shepherds and handed the herds up to them for grazing. As soon as the right time arrived to return the herds, it signified the start of the wintertime duration. These holiday breaks are provided by many people peoples that are turkic. The holiday season got spiritual context later on, after Gagauzes adopted Christianity.

The Gagauz Hederlez

Hederlez * * Ay Yorgi — Saint George’s Day — could be the vacation associated with world’s revival, the very first dew, the offspring that is first. Its perhaps one of the most honoured holiday breaks for many peoples that are turkic. The Christian that is orthodox gagauzes this vacation Saint George’s Day and honour it just as much as Easter. Some time ways of celebration somewhat vary for the peoples that are different. Crimean Tatars, for instance, celebrate Hederlez on the very first Friday of might, while when it comes to Gagauzes it is from the 6th of might.

This holiday is associated with a meeting of Islamic prophets Illia (Ilyas) and al-Khidr (Khedher) on earth in Muslim tradition. Ilyas, that is considered to be the patron of water and cattle, arises from the western. Khedher, in change, arises from the East and it is the patron of people. Names associated with the two prophets are combined within the true name regarding the getaway. The day that is first of event could be the time once they meet, that the Turkic people think become from the very very very first week of might.

In Vynohradivka, Hederlez is celebrated from the 6th of might. With this time, they typically prepare kurban , the meat of a sacrificed lamb; kurban bulguru (pirinci) , porr >kurban ekmiaia , bread. The term “kurban” itself means “sacrifice” .

An essential part of this visit to Vynohradivka is planning a dish called bulguru that is kurban . An entire carcass of a lamb has been donated into the mind for the church that is local. Villagers think that this brings welfare, comfort and wellness to families within the next year.

Everyone else within the town is invited when it comes to party. Anyone can take part in company regarding the celebrations:

— who desires can add a lamb that is sacrificed. This kind of contribution is known to create a healthy body. If you find no lamb in a family group, it could since very well be purchased.

Villages with churches called after Saint George celebrate the Temple Day (the afternoon for the Village) about this time. The church in Vynohradivka is in fact called after Saint George, so that the tradition is well-kept www.brightbrides.net/review/upforit.

If newlyweds have selected Saint George because the protector of these family members, or mind of this household’s title is George, then this vacation is celebrated in family members group.

Party may be split into two phases: entertaining and religious. Each morning, villagers visit church when it comes to holy solution, and after that they gather for vacation supper and celebrations.

Then the meal will consist of lean dishes only if Hederlez falls on one of fasting days, like Friday. Fish soup, boiled and fried seafood, pickled herring will likely to be offered rather than meat.

Following the dinner, it is time for celebrations. In the previous, horse events, sport competitions, and wrestling had been traditionally held. Now the format changed only a little, as Olga Kulaksyz claims:

In Vynohradivka we now have no appropriate area to hold a horse competition, and even though we do have horses. We conduct sport games feasible to organise: checkers, chess, soccer, wrestling. Wrestling is quite popular inside our area. And also the indispensable component is the concert.

Performers off their villages of Bessarabia and Gagauzia are invited to execute.

Saint George’s is also celebrated by the Bulgarians of Vynohradivka day. When it comes to vacation, dozens of whom once left the village keep coming back house. Some party traditions because of this vacation are very different for Gagauzes and Bulgarians. Nonetheless, there are many more similarities.