The history of Tajik people, their culture, traditions and cookery were developing many years. There are several factors which influence on recipes of Tajik cuisine. The first is that mostly Tajik people live in mountainous area, as 90% of the territory is covered with high mountains, and they were always raising livestock and hunted; that’s why they often use meat in cooking. The most popular meat in Tajik cuisine is lamb meat. The climate of the country also influenced on ingredients, which are used in recipes of Tajik cookery. The last important factor is neighboring countries. For example, the meals of Tajik cuisine are abundantly spiced, as most of all Asian people usually do. Tajik people cook lamb, tail fat, fowl (pheasant, quail, partridge etc), turkey, beef, fish, goat etc. Pork is completely excluded from food allowance. Flour products take an important place in Tajik cuisine. Lepyoshka (flat bread), sambusa (samsa), chak-chak, sanza, manti. Among vegetables carrot, potato, turnip and pumpkin are mostly widespread. Salads and cold appetizers also takes a special place in Tajik cookery, besides the assortment of first and second courses are wide too: Shurbo, Ugro, Mastoba, Cholob are like a symbols of first courses and kabobs, lagman, kuardak, moshkichiri, manpar, shavlya and of course many kinds of pilaf are the symbols of second courses of Tajik cuisine. From ancient times people eat cultivated and wild growing herbs, spicy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits and many sorts of jam, sherbets etc.
As all of the peoples in the world Tajik people have centuries-old national customs and traditions, which were formed by the ancestors, were passed from generation to generation and remained till present days. Old customs and rituals become the basic way of life for each individual from childbirth. Ancient rituals, various superstitions, customs and traditions of Tajik people formed an orient mentality in their minds.
Wedding Traditions
Wedding traditions of Tajik people, who live on flat country, differs from those, who live in mountains. Everything starts from matchmaking and engagement of man and woman. In ancient times there was practiced “engagement from the cradle”, that was called “govorbakhsh” and “matchmaking of infants”, when the parents decide the destiny of their children. In youth age parents also could find the bride or the groom for their children and the also used the service of matchmaker (sovcha). Young man was told about his bride the month before. His mother went towards bride’s house with the plate filled with pilaf and freshly baked bread (lepyoshka). The bride’s parents invited relatives and neighbors to the dinner and announced about engagement. Officially engagement of the bride and groom was considered, when old man broke lepyoshka (flat bread) into pieces before having a dinner and prayed for their happiness. When both sides discussed everything and were agreed with all conditions they sent matchmakers and appointed the day of transit the “kalym” (ransom for the bride) to bride’s father. Wedding ceremony was usually appointed in autumn in the end of the harvesting. Modern Tajik Wedding lasts 7 days. On the first day they announce about the decision to marry and after that they organize dinners from both sides during three days. Then the groom goes to the bride’s house with his friends and relatives, where newlyweds swear an oath ahead of imam. The ritual is considered fixed and finished after the dinner for newlyweds, which consists of cup of water, meat, bread and salt. beginning from this moment the wedding party starts, then groom brings the bride to parents house, where they have to live for 40 days (honeymoon) and parents should help them at the beginning with some problems, which may occurred with young family.
Traditional Tajik clothing had its own peculiarities in each of the ethnic regions, but also had common features. Traditionally men wore - loose shirt, wide pants, robe, belt, headscarf, skullcap, turban and leather boots, leather galoshes (they wore it separately), in the mountains — shoes, which look like clogs with three spikes on the sole for comfortable walking on mountain paths. In winter time men wore quilted robes made of colored fabric cloths – “satrashi” (it was like a towel according to its structure), wide trousers – “gioraeza”, wide robe with long sleeves – “chakman”. Men also wore headdresses such as skullcap – “tuybeteika”. For mountain inhabitants was typical a skullcap of conical shape with round band.
Traditional men’s wear - tunic-cut dresses “kurta”, in rural areas — dresses made of smooth cloths, in mountain southern regions – embroidered dresses, especially in Darvaz and Kulyab (samples of national decorative art). They also wore wide trousers – “ezor” and quilted robe – “tsoma”. The headdress of Tajik women – are shawls – “rumol”, “soba”, “doka”, scarves and skullcaps (Hissar women). Townswomen and women who live in lowland regions wore a robe and local shoes.
March 8 - “Mother’s Day”
In Tajikistan this day is proclaimed as Mother’s Day in 2009 with the purpose of making respect to woman – the educator of generations and the mentor of youth. Mother’s Day is the day off for all Tajikistan citizens. On this day men give the flowers and gifts, organize dinners, say gentle words and make good deeds. Usually children give presents and bouquets of flowers to their mothers. In school pupils learn poems devoted to women and prepare gifts.
March 21 - Navruz
This ancient holiday symbolizes the beginning of new year in astronomic solar calendar. It is considered that from this day the renovation and prosperity starts. According to the traditions Tajik people clean their houses, return their debts and cook national meals. Early morning the sounds of “karnai” (ancient musical instruments of Tajik people) summon the people for holiday celebration. This day women cook the main meal of the holiday “sumalak” (germinated seeds of wheat, grinded and boiled on a fire not less than 8 hours) gathering together around big cauldron. In these days people organize various events devoted to celebration of Navruz. They arrange horse racing, wrestling, dancing, singing and many other traditional events.
June 27 - National Unity Day
This holiday was announced in 1998 in honor of the end of five-year civil war in Tajikistan by the presidential decree of Emomali Rakhmonov. 100 thousand people and millions of Tajik people became the refugees during this war. The agreement “About the concepts of peace and national consensus establishment in Tajikistan” was assigned on June 27 in 1997 in Kremlin by conflicting parties. Ambassadors of foreign countries, dozens of thousand citizens and the leaders of international organizations, who are accredited in Tajikistan, took a part in holiday celebration event.
September 9 – Independence Day
People in Tajikistan widely celebrate this holiday. According to the constitutional provision about state flag of Tajikistan, the flag is raised on this holiday. The official meetings of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan parliament leaders are held on celebration of Independence Day. A wide range of questions devoted to cooperation between three Persian- social is a day off for all citizens in Tajikistan.
May 9 – Victory Day
The celebrations of Victory Day are held everywhere in Tajikistan. Historical data say that Tajikistan was one of the most reliable countries for Soviet army. About 300 thousand people took a part in the Second World War, at that times it was about 15% of population; about 100 thousand didn’t come back from frontline; 54 thousand participants were awarded as Heroes of Soviet Union. This holiday is widely celebrated for 70 years.
Uraza Bayram
Eid ul-Fitr (Uraza Bayram) is one of two major holidays of Islam and it starts after the end of Holy month of Ramadan. The holiday is the implication of overall great joy and a good opportunity for each Muslim to develop spiritual experience. In this day all Muslim people after ablution wear traditional holiday clothes and go to the mosque for prayer. After prayer they visit their relatives to congratulate them, or invite them for festive meal. In this holiday Muslim people give donations to all people who is in need and it is called “zakyat ul-fitr”.
Kurban Bayram
Kurban Bayram or Eid ul-Adkha is a holiday of sacrifice and the part of Muslim ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca. But as not all of Muslim people are able to go to Mecca, so those who can’t do it must make a sacrifice wherever they are. In the morning after ablution they go to mosque and it is not recommended to eat before prayer. Then they gather on the streets or in yards to sing “takbir” (glorification to Allah) together. After that they go to the mosque again for sermon from mullah or imam-khatib and then go to graveyard to pray for dead relatives and friends. Returning from the graveyard they start the sacrificial rite. Making immolation, people must make a treat for poor and hungry people and it is called “khudoi” or “sadaka” (ritual treat). Usually ritual khudoi is made for the avoidance of misfortune and illnesses.