Gagauzes are A christian that is orthodox turkic-speaking, the descendants regarding the nomadic Oghuz tribes. The Ukrainian Gagauzes have already been compactly surviving in the villages and urban centers 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 holiday breaks associated with Gagauz individuals, Hederlez or Saint George’s Day, is combining pagan, Muslim, and Christian elements.

Vynohradivka is a town in Bessarabia, that has been launched because of the Gagauzes and Bulgarians during the early century that is 19th. The village ended up being unofficially divided in to the Bulgarian in addition to 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. In accordance with the legend now told by the locals, whenever Gagauzes and Bulgarians found this land, they first allow their lambs out to graze. They made a decision to subside where in actuality the lambs discovered meals.

Nowadays the 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 children that are local discover the Gagauz language . Besides, the Regional Centre of Gagauz culture and a museum had been established in Vynohradivka. Writer of the very first textbooks, in addition to manager for the Сultural Сentre, is Olga Kulaksyz.

Through the ancient times, the Gagauz calendar had a silly feature: it approximately divided the season into two periods — summer time and wintertime. Each started with one of the primary Gagauz holiday breaks: Hederlez and Kas?m. This unit is connected with sheep agriculture, which has been the primary task of those people for years and years. Summertime started with all the Hederlez vacation whenever the herd owners made an understanding using the shepherds and handed the herds up to them for grazing. Once the right time arrived to come back the herds, it signified the start of the cold weather duration. These breaks are provided by numerous Turkic individuals. The holiday season got spiritual context later, after Gagauzes adopted Christianity.

The Gagauz Hederlez

Hederlez * * Ay Yorgi — Saint George’s Day — may be the holiday associated with world’s revival, the very first dew, the very first offspring. Its probably the most honoured holiday breaks for several Turkic individuals. The Orthodox Christian Gagauzes call this vacation Saint George’s Day and honour it just as much as Easter. Some time ways brightbrides.net sugardaddymeet of celebration somewhat vary for the various individuals. Crimean Tatars, for instance, celebrate Hederlez on the initial Friday of might, while for the Gagauzes it is in the 6th of May.

This holiday is associated with a meeting of Islamic prophets Illia (Ilyas) and al-Khidr (Khedher) on earth in Muslim tradition. Ilyas, that is thought to be the patron of water and cattle, originates from the western. Khedher, in turn, originates from the East and it is the patron of people. Names associated with two prophets are combined within the true title for the vacation. The very first day’s Hederlez event could be the time once they meet, that your Turkic people think become from the very first week of might.

In Vynohradivka, Hederlez is celebrated on 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” .

A significant part of this vacation in Vynohradivka is planning a dish called bulguru that is kurban . A complete carcass of the lamb has been donated into the mind regarding the regional church. Villagers genuinely believe that this brings welfare, comfort and wellness to families within the the following year.

Everyone else into the town is invited for the event. You can now participate in company regarding the celebrations:

— who would like can add a lamb that is sacrificed. This type of contribution is known to create a healthy body. If you find 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 (the afternoon associated with the Village) about this time. The church in Vynohradivka is truly known as after Saint George, therefore the tradition is well-kept.

If newlyweds have actually opted for Saint George since the protector of these household, or mind associated with household’s title is George, then this vacation is celebrated in family members group.

Party may be divided in to two phases: spiritual and entertaining. Each day, villagers visit church when it comes to holy solution, and after that they gather for holiday dinner 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 are going to be served as opposed to meat.

Following the supper, it is time for festivities. In past times, horse events, sport tournaments, and wrestling had been typically held. Now the structure changed only a little, as Olga Kulaksyz claims:

In Vynohradivka we now have no appropriate area to hold a horse competition, despite the fact that 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.

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

Saint George’s Day can be celebrated because of the Bulgarians of Vynohradivka. All those who once left the village come back home for the holiday. Some party traditions because of this vacation will vary for Gagauzes and Bulgarians. But, there are many more similarities.