Chasing girls and gnawing at sheep sternum-Kazakh marriage custom

Chasing the girl who gnawed at the sheep's sternum

-Kazak marriage customs

Chasing girls is a traditional activity for Kazakh young men and women to express their love. At the beginning of the activity, the girl and the young man rode side by side, and the young man could pour out his love to the girl and make jokes. Don't be angry whether the girl likes it or not, let the young man say. When looking back, the girl has the right to whip the young man, and the young man can only avoid but can't fight back. So, as soon as the journey turned around, the young man rode away and the girl followed him at the back door. If the girl is interested in the young man, she will hold the whip high and drop it gently, or just pretend to shake it on the young man's head. If the girl is not interested in the boy, then the boy will be severely whipped.

In Kazak marriage customs, there is also a "door-to-door" ceremony, which is held in the woman's home. At the door, the unmarried son-in-law and the girl sat in the tent and ate a piece of sheep sternum meat, because they were connected by flesh and blood, symbolizing that a couple would love each other forever.

Kazak weddings have the custom of tripping over the bride, who uses a trip rope to fuel the fire. When the groom led the bride home, the man's relatives and friends pulled up the rope on the road. If the bride wants to pass smoothly, she must give gifts to the rope arrangers one by one, or let the bridesmaids sing and replace things with songs.

After the bride arrives at the new house, a young man will sing the "Opening Song". In funny songs, young people will unveil the bride and introduce the elders and relatives of the man to the bride. The bride bows to her in-laws and sprinkles a spoonful of kerosene on the stove, symbolizing the future prosperity.