I. Translate:
1. Он не умел ни читать, ни писать. 2. Коран, будучи священной книгой, отражает основные обязанности мусульман. 3. Его последователи раскололись на две ветви, так как не могли решить, кто будет их новым лидером. 4. Эта книга дает наставления человеку во всех областях жизни. 5. Пост способствует тому, чтобы отвлечь человека от повседневной рутины.
J. Make your own “mind-map” about the fast:
2. Read and translate the text: Nauryz Meyrami
Nauryz is a non-religious Kazakh folk celebration of the Vernal (spring) equinox and of the symbolic renewal of nature. Although the official calendar in Kazakhstan is being kept as everywhere in the world, Nauryz also remains a strong tradition in our country.
In ancient times the beginning of the year was announced by the appearance of greenery. New Year in our area was called Ulystyn uly kuni meaning tribe or clan day. The tradition of reconciliation between relatives around a festive table, exchange of presents and good wishes was set for this day. It is believed that it originates from ancient Mesopotamia. In Babylon the New Year was celebrated on the 21st day of the month of the Nissanu (corresponding to March-April) with festivities held further 12 days, each commemorated with individual rites, amusements and performances.
The present day name of Nauryz derives from the Persian Novruz translated as a new day. The patient resistance to the winter hardships has come to an end, and now, with the coming of spring it is time to participate in the life-giving festival.
At its core, the Nauryz festival celebrates the awakening of Nature. This awakening symbolizes the triumph of good - the Spring, winning against the evil forces of darkness that are represented by the Winter. Nauryz is the point when the oppressive presence of the cold Winter finally begins to retrieve with the commencement of the lively and hopeful Spring. This symbolic and poetic change corresponds to the mathematical instance of the sun leaving the zodiac of Pisces and entering the zodiacal sign of Aries, also known as the Spring Equinox.
Nauryz has a remarkable endurance and survival capacity through a long and dramatic history of Kazakhstan. It is certain to have been celebrated since pre-Islamic times but during the Soviet period, it was declared ideologically inconsistent and was “hushed-up”. It was formally reinstated as a public holiday in Kazakhstan in 1988.
Nauryz has many unique features. In the past it used to last from three to nine days. The Kazakhs today meet Nauryz at homes, in the streets, squares, parks and stadiums. They say “Koktem tudy” (spring is born) to each other. Various kinds of competitions are included in the festival program, such as horse races and hand-to-hand combats between stalwart fellows. The Aytis (a contest of two or more improvising folk poet-musicians) is a joyful competition of wit and poetic skill. And of course there are many songs, dances and games. One of the bright traditions that we meet in Abai’s manuscript is the “Nauryz-bata” or Nauryz blessing. To receive a blessing on this day from the lips of aqsaqals (elderly) and aje (women of old age) is considered a big honour and sign of kindness. The Kazakhs often call this holiday (проверить) as “Ulystin uly kuni” which means “the great day of the nation”.
In spring people want to revive themselves both physically and spiritually, to liquidate their debts, to get rid of old unwanted things, to repair clothes, the house, water canals and wells. They ask for forgiveness for past wrongs, reconcile with neighbours, invite quests and present relatives with gifts. Everyone has to visit seven houses and invite seven guests to his home.
It is believed that Nauryz’s night brings luck and realization of wishes. Therefore everyone has to greet it with clear soul and mind. All the vessels at home should be filled in with milk, grain or spring water so that prosperity never leaves your household. But Nauryz is not only about festivities and dastarkhan. During the month you have to help the land clear its life-giving arteries – to clean natural and artificial water channels and chutes, water wells and springs sprinkling them with hallowed milk thus wishing fertility to Mother-land; it is time to start cultivation, planting and other agricultural work.
During the Nauryz holiday it is customary to share generously one’s dastarkhan (table). The main ritual dish of this festival is nauryz-kozheh. Nauryz-kozheh always includes seven ingredients, signifying the seven life-beginnings – water, meat, salt, fat, flour, cereal (rice, corn, wheat) and milk. They symbolize joy, luck, wisdom, health, wealth, growth and Heavenly protection. If milk symbolizes the New Year, the old year is symbolized by meat, particularly smoked meat from the reserves of the past year. The pot containing the nauryz-kozheh certainly has to be full to the brim to signify full life.
In each yurt (nomadic tent house) everyone would have their own recipe. The only rule for making it is the number of ingredients: seven. Other delicious meat dishes such as qazy, qarta, shujiq (lamb and horse meat delicacies) are served to the guests.
The central theme of Nauryz is renewal, cleansing, the coming of spring, and the birth of new life. Love and beauty run through numerous literary and scientific works of the geniuses of the Eastern Middle Ages: Mahmud Kashgari, Al-Biruni, Firdawsi, Alisher Navoi, and Omar Khayyam. Many verses have been devoted to this magnificent holiday in the works of the outstanding Kazakh intellectuals, such as Abay Qunanbayuli, Alihan Bukeihanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, Mirjaqip Dulatuli, Saken Seifulin and others.
This holiday is widely celebrated in the countries of Central Asia as well as in Afghanistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Nowadays it is one of the most favourite holidays in Kazakhstan.