Mongolia - The Tsagaan Tsar

In Mongolia the lunar New Year, “Tsagaan Tsar”, which in Mongolian means “the white month” this year begins on 16 February and has been for centuries the most important traditional festival of the Mongols.

It corresponds to the first month of spring, the moment of the year when the difficult winter ends. It is the feast of family and relatives. During this festivity everyone goes to visit relatives, starting with the eldest.

Tsagaan sar also means “white food”: people drink milk and eat all the products derived from it, rice, buuz (steamed dumplings of mutton). On this day people also devote themselves to a thorough cleaning of the house and of the body, driving all negative things from the mind and beginning a “new life”.

The day before the festival is called “Bituun”, which means that the moon is not visible in the sky (start of a new lunar phase). The day is spent with the family eating, until completely full. In this way, it is believed that one will not be hungry for the whole year. During the evening of Bituun each family places three pieces of ice on top of the ger to quench the thirst of the donkey of the Buddha Palden Lhamo (protector of the Mongols), believing that on that day Palden Lhamo visits all living beings to take away their suffering.

On the first day of the new year people wake before sunrise, put on new clothes and go in the direction prescribed by the Buddhist horoscope. It is believed to be important to start one's path in the right direction on the first day of the year in order to be lucky all year long. The day begins by greeting the parents and the eldest in the house and then going to visit all the relatives over the following two days.

How to greet the elders and relatives on the day of Tsagaan sar
Амар байна уу?-Amar baina uu?
– How are you?

Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлж байна уу?-Sar shinedee saihan shinelj baina uu?-
– Are you having a good Tsagaan sar?

Он цагт тарган орж тавтай сайхан хаваржиж байна уу?-On tsagt targan orj tavtai saihan havarjij baina uu?
– Did you spend last year well? are you having a good spring?

Даага далантай бяруу булчинтай өнтэй сайхан хаваржиж байна уу?-Daaga dalantai byaruu bulchintai ontei saihan havarjij baina uu?
– Have the animals got through the winter well and are you having a good spring?

Сайхан битүүрч байна уу?-Saihan bituurch baina uu?-
Are you having a good Bituun?(the eve of the new year)

Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлээрэй.-Sar shinedee saihan shineleerei.
– I wish you a good Tsagaan Sar!

Read also the Mongolian tale “La rondine e la marmotta”>>