“UCHA” TRADITION IN KYRGYZ CULTURE AND ITS HISTORICALETHNOGRAPHIC COUNTERPARTS
“UCHA” TRADITION IN KYRGYZ CULTURE AND ITS HISTORICALETHNOGRAPHIC COUNTERPARTS

Summary/Abstract: There is an old Kyrgyz tradition named the “ucha tartuu” i.e. “sacral bone offer” which has been held by the Kyrgyzs since ancient times at feasts and receptions of distinguished, respected guests. This is the tradition of offering horseflesh, exactly a sacrum to the eldest guest of distinction or a very respected man. The sacrum is made from horseflesh. The Kyrgyzs slaughter a horse to show their respect to guests, cut it into pieces and then boil them. This ancient “ucha” i.e. sacrum tradition has been held and known as “nemat” among the Turkic-language ethnicities of Southern Siberia (Kuu- kiji, Kumandy, and Tuba) and in Tungus-languages, Evenks and Evens. “The Ucha tradition” has maintained a very significant role in Economic, Philosophical, Religious and Social life of Kyrgyz people. The main purpose of the “Ucha” ceremony is fair sharing of the hunters’ bags among the members of their tribes. Hunting, which was one of the main activities of social-economic structure, along with traditions and customs dealing with it, was of a great social, economic, religious and ritual significance amongst peoples and tribes living in a mountainous and forest areas, especially the Kyrgyzs. Also, there was another tradition called “shyralga” , i.e. “hunter’s gift” tradition which is related to hunting in the Kyrgyz culture. If one, who met a lucky hunter returning with a bulk of bag, called him saying “Shyralga”, according to the ancient tradition, the hunter would have to give a part of his gained trophy to the man. The imperative verb “shyralgala”, deriving from the noun “shyralga”, means “to wish luck to a hunter”. There were cases when even lucky hunters, who used to return home with a full bag, very often had to return with no piece because they were to share their bags, i.e. meat with those whom they met on their way home. Among the Siberian ethnicities (Evenks, Evens, etc.) there was a tradition to give the first met person an amount of meat from the hunter’s trophy, which would be equal to the person’s body and a part of the hunted animal’s skin if the hunter was lucky to capture a bigger animal, for example, a deer or an elk. This tradition is also common among Mongolian language ethnicities and it is named “shorlogo” in their languages. In Mongolian language, Buryats, the word “shorlogo” means “a piece of meat” or “sharing a piece of meat”. The basic meaning of the “ucha” tradition actually involves providing social equity, fair food share in hardships, mutual support, and a show of support to people according to their social age status qualities (children, elders). It is of a particular significance for those who meet by chance in bad weather conditions as they could help each other with food. This tradition also regulates and provides special rules and norms of extra food delivery.

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