What are the customs in Inner Mongolia?

Mongolian people have a traditional virtue of attaching importance to family and hospitality, which has been passed down from ancient times to the present. Take you to know some common customs in Inner Mongolia-customs and taboos in Inner Mongolia.

If you have the opportunity to visit the yurt, you will be immediately embraced into the yurt by the hospitable herdsmen. The yurt is covered with felt or carpet, and everyone sits on the floor. It is impolite to sit on the felt without taking off your shoes. But after the host gives up his seat, he can sit down, and then he should greet the host's family in turn. After the meeting etiquette, I began to explain my purpose and get down to business.

First of all, guests come to offer tea.

Offering tea to guests is a noble traditional Mongolian etiquette. In the history of Mongolia, whether it is a rich family or a poor family, whether it is an upper class or a common people, whether it is in communication or at home, on the road, or on all other occasions, tea is an entertainment. Tea is an indispensable treat when guests come home. Therefore, as usual, herders will offer a bowl of milk tea to distinguished guests when entertaining them. Usually, they want to drink it. It is impolite not to drink. Then the host served fried rice and a big bowl of cream, milk tofu and milk skin. When the host asks you to taste it, don't refuse it, otherwise it will break the host's heart and make him feel sorry. However, these dairy foods are full. If you can't eat them, break a small piece of milk tofu or scoop a little cream to show delicious taste, which will also make the owner happy.

Second, milk wine respects guests.

Then housewives dressed in national costumes bring fragrant milk wine to entertain guests, which is also the traditional etiquette of Mongolian people. If you show some courtesy, everyone will sing a touching toast, and the host will advise you to drink in poetic language: "Guests from afar will treat you to a glass of grassland wine, which is the essence of our traditional cuisine and the kindness and affection of our grassland people." When you accept the host's kindness and drink the glass at once, the director will feel extremely happy. Because you respect your master and accept his friendship as pure as milk wine. At this time, the hospitable host meets his intimate friends and drinks wine with you. Indeed, there is also the heroism of "meeting each other late". Only in this way can you really be in the happy atmosphere of Mongolian "wine culture".

Third, present Hada.

Offering Hada is a traditional Mongolian etiquette. Hada is a kind of etiquette supplies, which are needed for worshipping Buddha, offering sacrifices, weddings, funerals, New Year greetings, respecting the old and loving the young. Hada is made of silk, usually white, light blue and yellow. It is usually about five feet in length and varies in width. Some are embroidered with folk patterns such as "Yunlin" and "Eight Treasures". When giving Hada to the elders, the giver leans forward slightly, hands above his head, Hada is folded in half, and the seam faces the elders; For peers, extend your hands to each other; For junior students, Hada is usually worn around their necks.

Fourth, snuff bottles.

Sacrificing snuff bottles is a daily gift for Mongolian herders. Snuff bottles are made of jade, ivory, crystal, agate, jadeite, amber and ceramics. When the younger generation sees the elder, the younger generation bows and presents the snuff bottle to the elder with both hands. The elder picks it up with his left hand and returns it after smelling it. When the companions meet, they exchange snuff bottles with their right hands, and both parties will return them after smelling them.

Five, taboo etiquette-fire taboo

Taboo etiquette fire taboo, Mongolians worship fire, thinking that Vulcan or Kitchen God is a sacred object to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, after people enter Mongolian yurts, it is forbidden to roast their feet on the stove or wet their boots and shoes by the stove. It is not allowed to cross and push the stove, knock on the cigarette bag, throw things or throw dirty things on the stove. You can't pick a fire with a knife, you can't insert a knife into the fire, and you can't take meat from the pot with a knife.

Six, taboo etiquette-avoid stepping on the threshold

Avoiding stepping on the threshold is one of Mongolian taboos. Go to the herdsmen's house, go in and out of the yurts, and never step on the threshold. Mongolians in agricultural areas, semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas also have this taboo. In ancient times, if someone mistakenly stepped on the threshold of Mongolian Khan's official account, they would be put to death. This taboo custom continues to this day.

Seven, taboo etiquette-water taboo

Water taboo is also one of Mongolian taboos. Mongolians believe that water is a pure god. Don't wash your hands and bathe in the river, don't wash women's dirty clothes, and don't throw stolen goods into the river. This is because the grassland is dry and short of water, and herders rely on water plants to graze. They can't live without water. Therefore, herders are used to saving water, paying attention to keeping water clean and taking water as the source of life.

Eight, white festival

White Festival, called Chagansari (Bai Yue, the first month) in Mongolian, means New Year and Spring Festival. Ancient Mongols regarded white as a pure and auspicious color, so they called the Spring Festival White Festival. The white festival is on the first day of the first month. Celebrating white festivals is a custom passed down from ancient times. When Yuan Shizu Kublai Khan was in power, he attached great importance to white festivals. On the 30 th night of the twelfth lunar month, the whole family put on holiday costumes and got together for the New Year, staying up all night. Usually, the whole family, old and young, burn incense and worship Buddha first, and then the younger generation presents Hada or kowtows, toasts and worships Buddha to their elders. In the early morning of the first day, family and friends began to pay New Year greetings to each other, and it didn't end until the 15th or the end of the month.

Nine, sacrifice with fire

Burning fire is one of the oldest sacrificial activities of Mongolian people. The Vulcan and the Kitchen God. Ordinary farmers and herdsmen generally offer fire sacrifices on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. The noble and Taj Mahal are on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. In some places, fire is sacrificed in autumn and at weddings.

Sacrifice obo

Sacrificing Aobao is Mongolian, which means making a pile or drum. Sacrificing Aobao is one of the grand activities of Mongolian people. Aobao is generally located in the mountains or hills, and it is a cone-shaped solid tower made of stone. There is a long pole inserted at the top, and the head is pierced with animal hair horns and warp cloth, and there are cushion stones burning cedar incense in all directions. There are also branches planted next to Aobao, which are used to make whole sheep, koumiss, butter and cheese. When offering sacrifices, in ancient times, shaman wizards beat gongs and drums, recited spells, worshipped and prayed; In modern times, lamas burn incense and make fires, chanting scriptures and chanting scriptures. Herdsmen all surrounded Aobao and made three turns from left to right, praying for God's blessing.

XI。 Sacrifice to the west

Mongols also have the custom of offering sacrifices to the West (meaning making sacred trees). Usually under a lonely sacred tree, the branches are decorated with colorful flowers and strips of cloth. An old man in disguise, Shangxi, sat cross-legged under the sacred tree. Men, women and children gathered together to worship Shangxi, and several priests were selected to hold Hada, wine and milk for the old man. After the ceremony, traditional cultural and sports activities loved by the Mongolian people were carried out.

Twelve. Sacrifice to the mausoleum of Genghis Khan

Sacrifice to Genghis Khan Mausoleum is the most grand and solemn sacrifice activity of Mongolian people, which is called "Sacrificing Mausoleum" for short. Genghis Khan is a national hero revered by the Mongolian people. /kloc-At the beginning of the third century, the Mongolian ministries were unified, and the Mongolian khanate across Europe and Asia was established, which shocked the world and became a "generation of pride". The custom of offering sacrifices to Genghis Khan by Mongols first began in Wokuotai era, and was officially promulgated in Kublai Khan era, which stipulated various sacrifices to Genghis Khan and improved it day by day. Today, Genghis Khan Festival in Ejinhoro Banner of Ordos is a ceremony that follows ancient legends. Sacrificial ceremonies are generally divided into Japanese sacrifices, monthly sacrifices and seasonal sacrifices, all of which have fixed dates. Sacrifices are complete, all for whole sheep, holy wine and all kinds of milk food, and a grand memorial ceremony is held. Every year, March 21st of the lunar calendar is the Spring Festival, which is the largest and most grand. Representatives of various leagues or individuals sent representatives to Fuling, Ejinhoro Banner to offer sacrifices.

Thirteen. Sacrifice Suludine

Genghis Khan's military flag or emblem "Suludin Sacrifice" is one of the most precious ancient cultural relics of Mongolian people, and it is treasured in Genghis Khan Cemetery in Ordos Plateau. Suludin is the invincible flag of Genghis Khan's expedition, and it is also the mascot when nothing happens. Every year on March 17 of the lunar calendar, the Mongolians hold a grand ceremony of offering sacrifices to Suludin. In the sacrificial ceremony, the whole sheep were placed on the sacrificial table, and there were offerings such as koumiss and milk food. The Mongolian people who participated in the sacrifice came in an endless stream, each of them bowed down to Suluddin with sacrifices to express their admiration for Khan in Chenggu Temple and to remember Genghis Khan's great achievements.

Attachment: Other taboos

Don't touch your head, don't let others beat your dog, and don't let outsiders visit your delivery room.

No-no, when there are people who are seriously ill or dying at home, herders usually hang a rope on the left side of the yurt and bury one end of the rope on the east side, indicating that there are serious patients at home and they don't entertain guests.