This holiday symbolizes the arrival of spring and the Buddhist New Year. It is traditionally celebrated according to the lunar calendar in accordance with ancient traditions. Sagaalgan 2019 will be a clear confirmation of this.

What date is the holiday

For some Turkic peoples, this holiday has a different name - Tsagan Sar or the White Month. In Russia it is celebrated in:

• Republic of Tyva;
• Kalmykia;
• Republic of Komi;
• Altai Territory;
• Buryatia.

The Buddhist New Year does not have a fixed date. It is calculated every year according to the lunar calendar. It usually takes place between the end of January and the middle of March. The white month begins after the first spring New Moon according to the lunar calendar. When there will be a holiday, it is calculated according to ancient tables. Astrological calculus in different regions is different, so the dates of the holiday may vary. Usually, data for the following year are published each year. Along with the date, an astrological forecast for representatives of different zodiac signs is also printed. In 2019, this holiday will be celebrated on 02/05/19.

history of the holiday

Previously, Sagaalgan was associated with the harvest festival and was celebrated in the fall. At this time, milk products were prepared for the winter. The people called it - the holiday of dairy products. This continued until about the fourteenth century. Then Khan Kublai (grandson of Genghis Khan) by his order transferred Tsagan Sar to the beginning of the year according to the lunar calendar. The meaning of the holiday began to take on a different character. Now it has become a holiday of spring and renewal of all life. Good expectations and dreams began to be associated with him. On this holiday, not only nature is born, but man himself is renewed. Now the holiday symbolizes holiness, purity, prosperity and new beginnings.

Tsagan Sar still has a strong Buddhist influence. During the holiday, many rituals and rituals are performed, taken from this eastern religion.

Previously, this holiday was celebrated throughout the lunar month. Now this tradition has been preserved only among some nationalities, for example, among the Volga Kalmyks. At present, most nations celebrate only the first three days.

This holiday in the days of the USSR experienced not the best of times. In the thirties it was banned. As a national celebration, it was recognized only in 1990. In 2004, Kalmykia approved it as a national holiday. Today it is a day off in Buryatia, Transbaikalia, Khakassia and some other regions of the Russian Federation.

Celebration traditions

The celebration can be divided into religious and folk components. According to folk traditions, fifteen main rituals are performed. All of them are dedicated to the miracles of the Buddha.

Preparations for the holiday begin in advance. First of all, put things in order in the house. All unnecessary things are taken out into the field, laid out in one line and burned. They try to finish all important things before the holiday. Women wash old things and prepare new clothes for the upcoming celebrations. Men make sure that there is complete order in the courtyard. In time, they put things that are unnecessary for a given period.

In religious terms, the holiday takes place in datsans. Here, special books and prayers are read for fifteen days.

Before the onset of the 29th day according to the lunar calendar, a ceremony associated with fire is performed. It is believed that fire is able to purify a person from everything negative that has accumulated over the past year. The walls for the holiday are decorated with images of Buddhist shrines. Special candles are lit in front of them.

The descendants of the Mongols attach special importance to the food that is required to be consumed on holidays. There is an opinion that the prosperity of the family depends on what the festive meal will be. Therefore, Tsagan Sar prepares the most exquisite meat and milk dishes, which are not typical for weekdays.

Rites

During the holiday, a number of important rituals are held, which have deep historical roots:

"Dugzhuuba":	It is held 2 days before the holiday and is a ritual of purification and getting rid of all negativity. It is believed that thanks to him, prosperity, peace, tranquility and, ultimately, success are obtained. The procedure itself looks like this: before the holiday, the house and courtyard are cleaned; the accumulated garbage is taken out into the street: then all the rubbish is divided into nine parts; laid out on the ground in one line; then everything is set on fire; while special prayers are performed by the lama. This esoteric rite takes place when the body is rubbed with a piece of dough, which should help get rid of adversity and other hardships.
Worship of the heavenly goddess Palden Lhamo:	She is considered the protector of all life on earth. On the eve of the holiday, the goddess goes around all her possessions, so be sure to be at home in the presence of all your relatives.
Worship the master of fire:	This ceremony expresses gratitude for the comfort, warmth and well-being in the house. At the same time, all household deities are remembered.

With the advent of the White month, the owner of the house should go outside with the first rays of the Sun and ask for well-being and health to all family members. Only after this ritual can the celebrations begin. The closest relatives, neighbors and friends are invited to the house. The more guests, the more wealth will be next year. A special place is given to gifts. Everyone should get them.

Importance is attached to the first guest. It is believed that if a man comes to the house first, there will be prosperity and well-being in the family.

The holiday of Sagaalgan cannot be imagined without the Zolgokho ritual. Its meaning lies in the fact that initially they congratulate the older members of the family, then relatives, etc. At the same time, they adhere to strict traditions. After congratulations have been received by all those present, the guests sit down at the table. Before leaving home, all guests give gifts to the host.

sacred meal

On the festive table, the hostesses prepare a variety of dishes that the family loves. Buuzes occupy a special place in the menu. They are somewhat similar to the well-known dumplings. It is customary to make them before the holiday with the whole family. On the festive table must also be present:

• lamb dishes;
• meat broth;
• blood sausage;
• milk dishes (various cheeses, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc.);
• sharbin - a dish similar to our belyashi, only fresh.

Any alcohol is not welcome. Instead, they drink a special drink - aarsy.

It is customary to celebrate the Buddhist New Year in all white. Moreover, the tablecloth, dishes and other paraphernalia should be of the same color.

The New Year according to the lunar calendar, together with their friends and relatives, is celebrated by all the inhabitants of Buryatia, demonstrating respect for the national customs of the Buryats. "Sagaalgan" as a public holiday of the Republic of Buryatia is a symbol of friendship, unity and harmony among the multinational population of the republic. Declared a day off, it naturally complements and completes the series of Russian New Year holidays.

Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in Mongolia, countries of Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam.

In Buryatia, in the last decade, traditions of celebrating the White Moon Holiday have developed. The holiday lasts a whole month, the New Year itself is celebrated on the first three days.

Preparations for Sagaalgan begin long before the holiday. First, it is necessary to put in order all the economic affairs for the preparation of firewood, hay. Men polish or order new harnesses for their horses. Women are engaged in cleaning and sewing clothes. All families are engaged in cleaning the house and in the yards, ruthlessly throw away old and broken things. Then it is necessary to fumigate household members, cattle, house and all buildings with incense.

In most datsans, special solemn services are held - khurals. Believers gather in the courtyard of the datsan, where there is a cone-shaped structure "Dugzhuuba" made of boards and firewood, covered with fabric, with a likeness of flames. Paper flags are attached to this cone, rushing up. "Dugzhuuba" is a symbol of all human sins in a year. Toward evening, the rite of burning Dugzhuuba is performed. Everyone who wants to bring pieces of cloth or a piece of unleavened dough, having previously wiped themselves and household members with them. In the process of burning "Dugzhuuba", you need to throw the brought pieces into a burning fire. By doing this, you protect yourself and your loved ones from diseases, misfortunes and bad thoughts, performing the rite of purification by fire. Now you can safely meet Sagaalgan with a pure soul and body.

There you can also order a prayer that protects you and your loved ones from ailments and wish happiness, joy and good luck in the coming year. A special prayer must be ordered for people whose year of birth according to the eastern 12-year animal calendar is coming, as the next cycle of life ends and a new one begins.

The next day, prayers are read to the goddess - the guardian of the faith Lkhamo, who is also the patroness of the Ivolginsky datsan. According to legend, on this day she makes a round of the whole earth, counting livestock and people. At dawn, when the New Year comes into its own, a fifteen-day khural is arranged in all datsans, dedicated to the victory of the Buddha over the enemies of his teaching. According to legend, this is exactly how long it took the Buddha to win by manifesting various miracles. At the same time, lamas read sacred books and prayers, pray for fertility, health, prosperity and well-being in the New Year.

Sagaalgan can be conditionally divided into three main phases: eve, the first day of the New Year, the rest of the month.

New Year's Eve

On the eve (butuu uder), it is desirable for everyone to be at home, among their relatives and friends. On this day, no less important rituals are performed than on the first day of the New Year, including the symbolic rite of “breaking” or “opening” any objects. This is a form of manifestation of the ancient magical action of breaking the old and clearing the way for the new. For example, they take out meat prepared for the winter, take out a shovel or tibia of a ram (hulde) and extract bone marrow from it, which contains the life force of livestock

Another New Year's Eve rite is "Burha delgehe", or worship of household deities. Buryat Buddhist believers in each house in the northern or northeastern side had a shrine (khoimor), where sculptures and sacred books or other Buddhist objects were placed, images of Buddhist deities were hung. Everyone who came to the house, first of all, rushed to the goddess to testify their respect to the deities. Before the images of deities, a lamp (itch) was lit, incense (sanze) was burned, various treats were placed, for example, dairy products, cookies and other sweets on trays. The mutton brisket (ubsuun), which was served along with the thigh bone (mojo semgen), had magical significance. Such a treat (buuleg tabiha) should stand for several days.

The rite "Dalga" was considered especially significant - an offering to the owner of the fire, in which all family members participated. Each one broke off pieces of food from all the dishes and threw them into the fire, saying: “The old year has rang, the new year has come, I am sacrificing with a white sheep’s brisket. May death and suffering disappear, may happiness and well-being be established.

Only after that, everyone sat down together at the festive table. The abundance of the festive table had its magical meaning - the richer the treat, the better the next year will be. Therefore, the table abounded most of all with dairy dishes, which symbolized a good milk yield and an excellent offspring of livestock in the coming year.

Kitchen

National dishes deserve special attention - there are at least a dozen lamb dishes. These are boiled lamb in broth (buheleer), lamb head (toolei), which was served to the most respected and honored guest, brisket (ubsuun), blood sausage in the ventricle (hotyn shuһan), liver and blood sausage (ereelzhe), spin (oreomog), rectum (hoshkhonog). And, of course, not a single table in Sagaalgan is complete without poses (buuza).

Dairy dishes are used to prepare cottage cheese (airkhan), homemade cheese (khuruud), and salamat. For sweets, milk foams (urmen) and unleavened biscuits of various shapes fried in boiling oil (boovy) are served.

Specially for the New Year, in the old days, they distilled milk vodka (that archi), although it is forbidden to drink on the eve of the holiday. In general, on the days of the holiday, the use of alcohol was limited or not welcomed at all.

On New Year's Eve, everyone had to try all the dishes without fail, it was undesirable to leave the table unsatisfied. After the festive treat was over, everyone went to bed early so as not to miss the dawn in the morning.

First day of the New Year

Early in the morning on New Year's Day, the host should be the first to go outside to greet the sunrise with gifts from the family. It was obligatory to offer sacrifices to the spirit of the area. D. Banzarov wrote about the custom of erecting an altar of stone or dry manure (argala) in front of each yurt at sunrise on the first morning of the New Year. Then fragrant herbs were burned here.

After that, the whole family walked around the dais and prayed, kneeling down. Now this rite is not performed in this form, as well as collective exits to the place of residence of the spirit-patron of the area. Over time, the collective exit of the family was abolished. Currently, men, on behalf of the whole family, go to the local obo. They kindle a fire, burn incense, present gifts to the spirits of the area, say prayers asking for well-being, fertility and a rich offspring, and bypass the obo in the sun.

New Year's festivities

With the completion of all obligatory ceremonies, the festivities began. The whole first day passed in mutual congratulations, receiving guests and visiting guests. First of all, members of each family congratulated each other, it was obligatory to visit parents and older relatives with the presentation of gifts and good wishes (yurol).

In Sagaalgan, gift exchange is obligatory. It can be a scarf, a piece of fabric, a tea bag for a woman; tobacco, hadak (a sign of special honor in the form of a piece of white, blue or yellow silk fabric) for a man, sweets or money for children. In recent years, the search for a gift is not difficult, the assortment of goods in stores provides ample opportunities for choosing a token of attention.

Treating family members and guests is considered important and significant. The most honored guests in the old days sat on the north side of the yurt, younger men on the right side, women on the left. The feast begins with the fact that the host with a sharp knife, according to all the rules of the art of cutting meat, separates the pieces from the sacrum of the ram and treats them to the guests, starting with the oldest. A well-sharpened knife indicates that the head of the family is an excellent host. The knife should cut like clockwork. The hostess distributes bowls of milk vodka to the guests (in the absence of which different varieties are now used), Each guest must drink or sip the offered three bowls of vodka, then etiquette allows you to avoid alcohol.

Then, after a treat with family and closest friends and relatives, a continuous chain of walking from yurt to yurt began. It happened that people agreed in advance on the order of walking. Usually the oldest and most respected relatives were visited first. Then it was the turn of the others. Visiting smartly decorated houses formed the so-called public opinion about the owner and mistress, their children and relatives.

The New Year greeting zolgokh deserves special attention. When the younger one extends both hands to the elder (or the woman to the man, if they are the same age), palms up, the elder, in turn, puts his hands on top, palms down, the younger supports the elder under the elbows. Among the Agin Buryats, it is supplemented with one more detail: the younger approaches the elder, holding a khadak on outstretched hands, puts it on the outstretched hands of the older, he returns it, shifting it to the right hand of the younger, and only after that both perform zolgokh. Women did not receive a hadak, but simply a scarf, and when performing the ceremony, unlike men, they do not take off their hats, and the cuffs of their sleeves are lowered.

First "happy" guest

On the first day of Sagaalgan, everyone should only celebrate and the big ones should do nothing. There is a belief that the more guests who visit the house, the happier the coming year will be. It matters a lot who gets in first. The first guest or the first person you meet on the street is a very important person among many peoples, not only among the Buryats. Meeting him is magical. In the first met or in the first visitors, different properties were valued: wealth, large families, intelligence and other qualities. Preferably it should be a man. But most of all they valued their "happiness", i.e. the ability to magically endow everyone who gets in their way with their happiness.

It is important to note that Sagaalgan was not only the date of counting the real time, but also the birthday - on this day all the Buryats added one year to their age. Before the revolution, it was not customary for the Buryats to memorize or write down the date of birth. Even if someone was born in half a year or even a month, then another year was attributed to him. The year was added to the cattle. This custom is still observed in the villages. The spring offspring grew over the summer, and in the autumn the foal turned into a one-year-old lonchak, and the calf became a one-year-old surf. Related to this is a peculiar form of greeting, traditionally used only on New Year's Eve. Those who met for the first time in Sagaalgan asked each other: “Are the muscles of the chipper strong? Is the lunchbox well fed? And they hear in response: "Strong, strong, well-fed, well-fed."

New Year's games and divination

The evening of the first day of Sagaalgan in the old days was full of entertainment. The people gathered in one of the yurts, often it was the yurt of the oldest and most respected inhabitant of the ulus, they sang songs, listened to storytellers (Uligershins), played the morin-khur. Sometimes on the very first evening, and in some places only on the third day, fortunetelling and games were arranged.

Fortune-telling was the work of lamas-astrologers (zurhai), who could draw up an individual horoscope for everyone who wished, using a special table of astrological calculations and a guide to it, set out in the Buddhist work Binder Garav. This was usually done on the eve of Sagaalgan, because among the tips, instructions played a significant role in which direction the first step should be taken from the yurt on the morning of the first New Year's day, what should be done or, conversely, in no case should one step over and how to eliminate the threat of any danger or trouble. All this was called seer gargaha i.e. Literally, "take out bad luck." And the old people, having gathered in a yurt, based on centuries-old folk experience and observations, predicted by the weather and the behavior of animals, what kind of reptile would be, whether the offspring of livestock would be large. In a number of places, the custom is noted of carving out of felt or wood a figurine of the animal in the year of which a person was born. It is stored: for a year, and then thrown away.

The games that were played in the early days of Sagaalgan were quite diverse: chess (Tatars), dominoes (daaluu). They are played everywhere and are not associated with any particular season of the year. But there are also such games, the symbolism of which is associated specifically with Sagaalgan: these are “motley turtle” (alag melhy), “drive a deer” (buga tabiha), “shoot money” (step haroaha), “grab money” (step shuurehe), "circle" (khorlo), etc. Each of them has a certain philosophical or magical meaning.

At the beginning of the XX century. the Buryats knew several dozen games of grandmas (walk). Researchers see in them a relationship with the magic of fertility in cattle breeding. In the game walk harvakh, for example, they lined up a chain of 8 or 12 grandmas, stacking them two by two, and “shooted” other grandmas at the target using a special board. The one with the most money at the end of the game wins. In the game shagai niilehe, grandmothers were tossed up and then collected on the ground or on the floor in pairs, lying with the same sides up. Then, snapping a finger, they “shot” one grandmother at another, trying not to hurt the neighbors. With a successful “shot”, the player took both bones for himself. Again, the one who scored the most money by the end of the game won.

In the game alag melkhy, out of 88 or 92 grandmothers, they laid out the figure of a turtle. In succession, each of the players rolled a six-sided die with dots on each side from one to six, and according to what number fell out, they took the corresponding number of grandmas from the turtle figure. In all these games, the concentration of a large number of bones in one hand was supposed to magically contribute to an increase in the offspring of their owner's livestock.

In the popular New Year's game Khorlo, 60 wooden square tablets were used: 48 were four times repeated images of animals of a 12-year cycle, and 12 tablets were three times repeated images of a circle (khorlo), a precious stone (zendemeni), the king of birds - Garuda and a lion. The last 12 tablets had a greater magical value in this game than the first 48. Of all the tablets, 12 piles were laid out, five in each, and divided between the participants in the game, who could be from two to 12 and who had to lay out a yurt from these tablets. In the beginning, less valuable tablets were used, as the end of the game approached, more valuable ones were used. The winner was the one who placed in the center, associated with the smoke hole of the yurt, the tablet with the image of a horlo (there were only three of them) that had the highest value. This game had cosmic symbolism. The numbers 3, 4, 5, 12, 60 are endowed with important semantic significance in the mythology and cosmogony of the Mongols (the threefold nature of time and space: the world is upper, middle, lower, i.e. underground; time past, present, future; four cardinal points, five elements universe; 12 and 60 years - calendar cycles). All of them, in combination with each other, allow some researchers to consider this game as a kind of action of cosmic creation, in which laying out a yurt from game plates acts as an analogue to the creation of the world. Each of the games provides for a large number of participants, and the evenings of the first days of Sagaalgan are the most suitable time for them.

The first three days of the new year are the most eventful. However, the rest of the month is considered a holiday. Visiting continues, it is possible and even recommended to go to relatives living in remote areas and exchange greetings and gifts with them.

In former, distant times, a brave hunter, a well-aimed shooter lived in the world. He always hit without a miss, never came home empty-handed.

But then one day he walked through the forest all day and until the evening he did not meet either an animal or a bird. Tired, exhausted, he went to bed. He sleeps and sees a strange dream: a yellow fog fell on him, and then a motley fog approached. The hunter woke up and sees: a yellow fog is approaching him. He was frightened, grabbed his bow, put an arrow in, but a human voice was heard from the fog:
- Do not shoot me, brave hunter, I will not harm you. The fog became even thicker, denser and turned into a yellow snake with colorful rattling wings. The Spotted Serpent said:
- Let's be friends, brave hunter, well-aimed shooter. I need your help. For many years I have been at war with the yellow-winged serpent and I cannot overcome it. Together we will defeat him.
- I'm ready to help you, - said the hunter.
“Then let’s go to the valley where the battle will be,” said the motley-winged serpent.
They came to a wide valley.
“Our battle will be long,” said the variegated serpent. We will ascend to the sky three times and descend to the earth three times. When we rise for the fourth time, my enemy will overcome me, take over; when we go down, he will be at the top and I will be at the bottom. At this time, do not yawn: I will turn his yellow head towards you, and you shoot in his only eye. This eye is in his forehead, in the very middle of his forehead. Now hide in this hole, soon the yellow-winged serpent will rush from the sky right at me.
The hunter hid in a hole.
Soon, a yellow-winged serpent rushed from the sky. The battle has begun. The snakes, having grappled, rose three times to the sky, three times fell to the ground. The forces were equal. But now they rose to the sky for the fourth time, and the yellow-winged serpent overcame the motley-winged one. When they descended, the yellow-winged one was above and the variegated-winged one was below. But the motley-winged one quickly turned the head of his enemy to the hunter. The sharpshooter was just waiting for that. The string of his bow was drawn. A moment was enough for him to shoot an arrow and pierce the yellow eye of a yellow-winged serpent. And then a yellow poisonous fog fell on the ground, from which all the trees in the forest withered, and all the animals died. The hunter was saved by a variegated serpent. He covered his friend with mighty dense wings and kept him under them for three days and three nights until the yellow poisonous fog dissipated.
And when the sun shone again, the variegated serpent said:
We have defeated a formidable enemy. Thank you hunter. The yellow-winged serpent did a lot of harm. Every day he swallowed three beasts and devoured the fiery serpents, my subjects. If not for you, he would have killed me and devoured all the fire kites. Come visit me. You will see my palace, my subjects, my old parents.
The hunter agreed, and he and the serpent descended into a deep pit, and from there through an underground passage they got into a palace sparkling with gold and precious stones. On the floor lay fiery serpents coiled into coils. One room was followed by another, even richer. And so they came to the largest hall. In it, near the hearth, sat two old multi-winged snakes.
“These are my parents,” said the serpent. The hunter greeted them.
- This hunter saved me and all my khanate, - said the serpent. - He killed our old enemy.
"Thank you," said the snake's old parents. - You will be rewarded for this. If you want, we will give you gold and precious stones, as much as you can carry. If you want, we will teach seven ten languages, so that you can understand the conversations of birds, animals and fish. Choose!
“Teach me seventy languages,” said the hunter.
- Take better gold and jewelry, - said the old parents of the snake. - For someone who knows seventy languages, life is not easy.
“No, I don’t want gold, teach me languages,” the hunter asked.
"Well, have it your way," said the old motley-winged serpent. - From now on you know seventy languages, from now on you hear the conversations of birds, fish and animals. But this is a secret. You must keep it from people. If you let it slip, you will die the same day.
The hunter left the Spotted Serpent Khanate and went home. He walks through the forest and rejoices: after all, he understands everything that animals and birds say among themselves. The hunter came out of the forest. Here is the yurt. "I'll go into it," he thinks. And the dog barks:
- Don't come in here. Although it is a rich yurt, our owner is mean. Here you will not only meat - they will not give you milk.
The hunter moved on. Near another yurt, a dog barks:
- Come here, traveler. Although this is a poor man's yurt, but our host is kind, he will treat you. We have only one cow, but the owner will give you milk, we have only one black ram, but the owner pays the last ram for the guest.
The hunter entered the poor man's yurt. The owner politely greeted him, seated him in a place of honor. The host's wife served the guest a bowl of milk. The poor man invited the hunter to spend the night, and in the evening killed a black ram for him. As they ate, the dog whined:
- Good guest, drop the mutton shoulder, I will grab it and run out, the owner will not be angry with you.
The hunter dropped his shovel. The dog grabbed her and ran away. And then she barked:
- A kind guest treated me to a delicious spatula. I will not sleep all night, I will guard the yurt.
The wolves came at night. They stopped near the poor man's yurt and howled:
- Now we'll pull the horse!
- My master has only one horse, you can't eat it. If you come closer, I will raise a loud bark. The owner will wake up, his guest-hunter will wake up, and then you will be unhappy. Better go there, to the rich man, bully his fat gray mare, he has many horses, and his dogs are hungry, they will not want to bark at you.

Celebration of Sagaalgan, photo from the website of the Center for the Culture of Indigenous Peoples of the Baikal Region, etno.pribaikal.ru

In general, in the international family of the inhabitants of Irkutsk and the region, the New Year according to the lunar calendar is honored and celebrated by many. Sagaalgan - the holiday of the White Month is a symbol of the renewal of man and nature, and its ideals of peace, good neighborliness, respect for elders are shared by representatives of all nationalities.
Sagaalgan starts from the first spring new moon. Unlike our usual New Year, which we celebrate at midnight from December 31 to January 1, Sagaalgan comes early in the morning, immediately after sunrise.
On the eve of the white month Buryats clean up the house, renew their clothes, get rid of old things. Thus, people, as it were, say goodbye to the past, to what is gone.

Sounds like a Russian New Year celebration, doesn't it? We are also generals, getting rid of the dilapidated, broken, old and unnecessary.

At about 4-5 in the morning, the Buryats are already awake, and at dawn they greet the Sun and the Eternally blue sky.
According to legend, it is at dawn, at sunrise, that a deity enters every house - Palden Lhamo, the patroness of Tibet, and counts everyone who is in the house. It is believed that Lhamo counts only those people who are awake, who are awake, dressed up and ready to meet the new day. If someone oversleeps, he will not be taken into account by the deity and, accordingly, misses his luck for the whole year.

Maybe the Russian proverb: “He who gets up early, God gives him” was born for a reason?

According to the rules of the Sagaalgan meeting you must first introduce yourself to the Sun and thank you for the year that has ended successfully. Gratitude includes not only warm words of gratitude, but also offerings (treats) for the spirits. It can be milk, sweets, tea, vodka.
Then you need to introduce the Sun and the Eternally blue sky, as well as the spirits that the person worships, all members of his family. Only after that ask for what you want for the next year. Basically, this is the well-being of the family and the health of all relatives and friends.

Celebration of Sagaalgan, photo of the administration of the Aginsk district, aginskoe.ru

The shaman, who gave a lecture on the traditions of celebrating the white month, said that among the wishes of the Buryats in Sagaalgan, one usually finds such things as health for livestock, a good harvest, prosperity for the family business, meeting with one’s soul mate, and having children.
As it turned out, the dreams of all nationalities are the same.

On the first day of Sagaalgan they don't visit. This day is spent exclusively in the family circle.
At the forefront are such universal values ​​as honoring elders and respect for each other, strengthening the family, familiarizing young people with the cultural heritage of their ancestors. This seemingly simple folk philosophy, the holiday passes from generation to generation.
For example, in the ceremony of presenting gifts to each other, the youngest in the family are the first to congratulate and give gifts. That is, children go to their parents, parents to their parents, and so on. This is a sign of respect and reverence for elders. Parents, having accepted congratulations and gifts from their children, congratulate everyone in response to seniority, while first congratulating men (boys), and then women (girls).
Significance is attached to the very message of the gift, while its form, high cost, prestige do not matter. In the ritual of exchanging gifts, the main thing is attention.

On the other days of the celebration of Sagaalgan It is customary to visit guests and treat guests at home. The more guests during the celebration visit the house, and the richer the table, the more successful and satisfying the coming year will be.


In the tradition of the Buryats, there is such a rule - never answer the question “how are you?”, “How are you?”, that “everything is bad.” For example, when a Buryat asks: “How are you?” He will definitely answer that “everything is fine”, or that “everything is on the sly”. But never answer - "everything is bad", "no money", "depression", "bad luck".
Even if his affairs are not really important, he will answer:
"How's the cattle?"
- “Grows slowly” (even if he has a case).
- "Do cows get fat?"
- “There is a little, we feed, we try” (even if it was a dry year and there was nothing to feed the cattle).

A good tradition, because the thought is material)

Ancient times it was not customary for the Buryats to remember their birthdays, and even more so to celebrate them. With the onset of the White month, each Buryat added a year to himself. In this case, the year was considered from the year of conception, and not from the year of birth. That is, for example, you are now 30 years old and + a year in your mother’s stomach, that is, 31 years old.
Even if you were born on the eve of Sagaalgan, then in ancient times you would have added a year and + a year in your stomach, so a month-old baby could be 2 years old.
The same was done with the age of the cattle. All cows, horses, pigs, rams were added 1 year with the onset of Sagaalgan.
It is said that even now in some villages this custom is still observed.

Articles about traveling around Buryatia:
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Sagaalgan is one of the most famous holidays of the Mongolian-speaking peoples, which is timed to coincide with the beginning of the New Year according to the old Mongolian solar-lunar calendar.

The Sagaalgan holiday goes back to the ancient national and religious traditions of the Mongolian peoples. It is a symbol of the renewal of man and nature, openness and purity of thoughts, hope and good expectations.

The name comes from the word "Sagaan" - white. Sagaalgan in the old days was considered a holiday of dairy products and was celebrated in the fall. At this time, the preparation of dairy products for the future ended, which were consumed on holidays. One of the descendants - the holders of the throne of Genghis - Khan moved the time of the celebration of the New Year from autumn to the end of winter.

In 2018, Sagaalgan will begin to be celebrated on Friday, February 16 at sunrise. This day will become a non-working (day off) in the following regions: Kalmykia, Buryatia, Tuva, Altai, Trans-Baikal Territory. In these republics, Sagaalgan is celebrated for almost a whole month. In view of the fact that the family ties among the Buryats are quite strong and large, a month may not be enough to go around all the relatives and visit each house.

Sagaalgan 2018: Buryat traditions of celebration

On the last day of the old year, which is referred to as "butuuder", Buddhists observe a one-day fast. Eating on this day is not recommended at all. This is necessary in order to cleanse the body, heart and soul of evil, envy, filth, slander and negative emotions. It is also not recommended to sleep on the night before the holiday. You can occupy yourself in the dark half of the day by reading mantras. At the same time, it is necessary to wait for the early morning (4-5 hours), when Baldan-Lkhamo, the deity who gives happiness and good luck to all residents for the next year, enters the house.

The Buryats have one interesting custom, which is referred to as the "rule of measure and sufficiency." And this is the only rule from the ethics of everyday life of representatives of the Buddhist faith, which can be ignored in Sagaalgan. Its meaning is that you can not take more than you need and eat more than you want. On the Buddhist New Year, it is allowed to break this rule: you can buy everything you like and overeat at the festive table.

Sagaalgan 2018: festivities in Irkutsk

This purification ritual is carried out to eliminate interference and everything bad, so that in the new year a person finds well-being, happiness, and health. On the Khural, worship and offerings are made to the protector of the Teaching Choyzhal sahyuusan, and “soor” is burned, which symbolizes everything negative and negative.

Address: Irkutsk datsan, st. Winter, 56B

Flashmob "Global Yohor"

Anyone can take part in the VII World Flash Mob "Global Yohor". Feel the connection with your ancestors as you perform traditional sacred dance movements.

Address: Square near the Palace of Sports "Trud", st. Lenina, 48

Concert of Buryat groups

On the same day, a festive concert of the song and dance ensemble "Ulaalzai" - "Hello, White Moon!" The event will take place as part of the opening of the celebration of the New Year according to the lunar calendar.

Address: Theater of the Young Spectator named after A. Vampilova, st. Lenina, 23

Rite of New Year's Eve according to the lunar calendar

Irkutsk shamans will celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar. Participation in the ritual grants well-being, wealth and good luck in the coming year. You need to bring white food, cookies, gingerbread or other sweets with you.

Address: House of Culture. Gorky, st. Clara Zetkin, 13A

On February 24, in the village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye, a creative evening of the folklore folk ensemble "Ayanga" will take place.

On March 3, the annual final Gala Concert - "In the Shine of the White Moon" will take place. Bright and varied performances of invited artists will not leave anyone indifferent. According to the established tradition, the organizers of the event are preparing a pleasant surprise for their viewers.

On March 17, events will be held in the cities of Slyudyanka and Baikalsk to mark the end of the celebration of the White Month. The Ulaalzai Song and Dance Ensemble and the Angara National Dance Ensemble will arrive there with field concerts.

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The Buddhist New Year has many names - the White Month, Tsagan Sar, Sagalgaan, Sagaalgan - and this is not a complete list. The holiday has so many names due to the fact that it is celebrated by different peoples and the pronunciation depends on the region in which it is celebrated:

• Mongolia
• Inner Mongolia
• Altai Republic
• The Republic of Buryatia
• Zabaykalsky Krai
• Irkutsk region
• Republic of Kalmykia
• The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
• Tyva Republic
• The Republic of Khakassia

Unlike the Russian New Year, Sagaalgan is not a secular, but a religious holiday. Even the number of this significant event is different every year and is tied to the phase of the moon. New Year's Day falls on the first lunar day of the spring month, and it depends on what date the White month will come.

What date

Dates of Sagaalgan for the coming years:

For Buddhists, the New Year symbolizes life from a new leaf - with its onset, not only nature is updated. By the arrival of this holiday, people cleanse their souls, clean their houses, renew their clothes.

The celebration of the White month can be conditionally divided into three stages:

1. Eve of Sagaalgan;
2. The first day of the new cycle is the meeting of the New Year;
3. Remaining month.

Preparing for Tsagan Sar, what is done on the eve of the holiday

Since Tsagan Sar is the most significant and large-scale holiday, preparations for it begin long before it starts. All yurts undergo general cleaning, old and broken things are ruthlessly and with pleasure thrown away, getting rid of them means parting with failures and ailments. In every yard, the owner of the house renews the teams for the horses, the housewives are busy sewing beautiful clothes for the holiday.

Three days before Sagaagala, it is customary to visit datsans (Buddhist monasteries), where chorales (prayers, services) are held for the purification of the soul. The symbol of purification is fire, in the courtyards of the monasteries a ritual of sacred fire is performed. Believing Buddhists gather around a wooden pyramid-shaped structure - Dugzhub or Dugzhub and pray for the cleansing of the soul from everything bad and dirty. In some regions, throwing scraps of cloth and pieces of dough into the fire is part of the ritual. With these items, parishioners wipe themselves and their families at home, symbolically washing away sins, and during the chorale they throw them into Dugzhuba so that all bad things disappear without a trace. However, in other regions, it is considered blasphemy. This is explained by the fact that the flame of Dugzhuuba is sacred, and throwing garbage at it is a sin and disrespect.

The last day before the New Year is usually celebrated with family. Cleaning on this day is prohibited. It is important to update the decorations on the altar, to light the lamp. In the evening, having gathered at the table, it is customary to have tea, and the first cup of tea is offered to the deity and fire, then to the household. The eve of Tsagan Sar is considered lenten - you can not eat meat products and drink alcohol. It is necessary to meet the renewed year in a pure, enlightened mind and body.

Everyone dresses festively, neatly, suits are fastened with all buttons, according to custom - men put on hats. A rich table is laid, replete with dishes, preferably white. Be sure to present dishes from lamb meat, dairy products.

The most important night

The night of the first lunar day is the last hours of the outgoing year. According to Buddhist rules, Sagaalgan comes at dawn. The most important thing is not to fall asleep, or wake up a couple of hours before the onset of the White month. It is believed that the Buddhist deity Lhamo at these moments appears in houses and distributes good luck and happiness for the whole coming year, but only to those who meet him. Many Buddhists spend this night in datsans.

How is the first day of the White month celebrated?

On the first lunar day, it is only allowed to have fun and rejoice at the arrival of Tsagan Sara. It is obligatory and paramount to visit the most revered members of the family - parents and other eldest relatives of the family family. There is a belief - whichever person enters the house first, this will be the year - happy or unhappy. On this day, the hosts may not be found at home, so the order of visits is sometimes agreed in advance.

Gifts

Congratulating on the White month, people exchange gifts. Some gifts are symbolic. So, for example, wrestlers - dough figures have their own meaning, depending on what the figure represents.

Women are given handkerchiefs or tea, men are traditionally presented with a hadak - a piece of fabric in white, blue or yellow. You can give sweet gifts, treats and even money. It is considered perfectly in the order of things to give a child a few coins instead of sweets.

new year month

Buddhists celebrate the New Year for a whole month. This tradition is rooted in the past, by the time when you could only get to visit on horseback, and the distances were quite long. From this, the distribution of congratulations stretched for a whole month.

There are different opinions about drinking alcohol on this holiday. Some people think that drinking is strictly forbidden, as it is a sin. In fact, the measure is simply important. Previously, on holidays, they poured only those who had reached the age of fifty, raised children, and acquired a household. Now this is easier.