Kelin Tusiru

Following her wedding the bride needed to dismount from her horse a distance from her groom’s house and walk the rest of the way. She would be wearing a big white shawl with fingers, and would be accompanied by many young girls. One of the groom’s brothers would hurry to ask shuinshi, telling them the bride was coming. When the bride arrived, some women would throw shuinshi.

Wealthy people would prepare separate yurts for the young. The bride would be wearing a veil, as she wouldn’t be allowed to show her face until the ‘bet ashar’ (a ceremony of the bride’s face being opened to everyone). Besides, she was not allowed to look straight to anyone. If she sat the wrong way the women would gossip, for she was required to be a bit childish and shy.

• Make up sentences from the words given below:

1. be/she/big/a/would/fingers/with wearing/shawl.

2. the/bride/when/arrived/would/some/through/ women/shuinshi/.

3. be/a/veil/the/would/bride/wearing/.

4. she/if/the/sat/way/women/the/wrong/the/gossip/would/.

• Translate into Kazakh:

1. groom’s house

2. a big white shawl

3. to ask shuinshi

4. wealthy people

5. wear a veil

• Fill in the prepositions and particles: to, by, for, with.

1. She would be accompanied … many young girls.

2. She would be wearing a big white shawl … fingers.

3. Wealthy people would prepare separate yurts …the young.

4. She was not allowed … show her face until the ‘bet ashar’.

Shildekhana

The Kazakh people are rich in traditions. One of them, the second celebration of new life, was called “Shildekhana”. This gathering included participation of many young people. All participants donned their best clothes and rode their horses to the event if they had one. Others rode their bulls, and sang songs. Elders came to give a “Bata”. Invited participants ate, had fun, and sang songs to the tune of the dombra – a traditional two-stringed instrument. Young people playing this instrument were expected to compose and improvise songs during their singing.

• Fill in the gaps:

1. The Kazakh people … rich in tradition.

2. All participants … their best clothes.

3. Other … songs.

4. Young people … … to compose and improvise songs during the singing.

• Put the verb into the correct form:

1. The second celebration was … Shildekhana. (call)

2. This gathering … participation of many young people. (include)

3. Others rode their bulls and … songs. (sing)

4. Elders … to give a “Bata”. (come)

• Answer the questions:

1. How was the second celebration of new life called?

2. How do the Kazakh people celebrate the birth of a baby?

3. Who gives a “Bata” to a child?

4. Do Kazakh people invite a lot of people to “Shildekhana”?

Cultural norms in kazakstan

• Before reading:

1. Answer the question: What could the text be about?

2. Match the words in section A with the words in section B and explain their meaning:

A) Acceptable, unacceptable, rural, related to, initiates, remove, put on, provided, are greeted, showing, superstitious, by extending, wrestle, Kissing ,embracing

B) An adjective, A verb, Participle 2, Gerund,

• While reading:

1. Read the text and answer the questions about the text:

Cultural norms related to acceptable and unacceptable behavior vary between urban and rural Kazakhs. As a rule, rural Kazakhs tend to follow the cultural norms more strictly.

Kazakh men always shake hands with someone they know when they see each other for the first time in a day. Usually a younger man initiates this, and shows respect by extending both hands and shaking an older man's hand. Both Kazakhs and non-Kazakhs remove their shoes when inside a house. Guests always remove their shoes at the door and often put on a pair of slippers provided by the host or hostess. Central Asian streets often can be very dusty or muddy, so wearing shoes indoors is a serious social offense.

Greetings are also very structured in Kazakhstan. In Kazakh culture, elder women and men are greeted with certain phrases showing respect. Kazakhs can be superstitious, and whistling inside a house is unacceptable in almost all Kazakh homes. It is believed that whistling inside will make the owner of the house poor. Public affection between friends is very common. Women and girls often hold hands as they walk; boys wrestle and often hook arms or walk with their arms around each other. Kissing cheeks and embracing is perfectly acceptable between good friends.

• Answer the questions:

1. Do cultural norms related to acceptable and unacceptable behavior vary between urban and rural Kazakhs?

2. Do rural Kazakhs tend to follow the cultural norms more strictly?

3. What do Kazakh men always do with someone they know when they see each other for the first time in a day?

4. Guests always remove their shoes at the door, don’t they?

5. Greetings are also very structured in Kazakhstan, aren’t they?

6. What do younger people show when they greet elder ones?

7. When can Kazakhs be superstitious?

8. What can friends do?

• Work in groups:

1. Complete the table.

2. Discuss the cultural norms of greetings in Kazakhstan.

Acceptable behavior	Younger men	Older men	Younger women	Older wo -men
Meeting for the first time in a day	Shake hands extending both hands; initiate this.
Greetings	Respectful phrases	Wait when they are greeted by younger men
Friendship	Wrestle and often hook arms or walk with their arms around each other	Embrace Kiss cheeks	Hold hands as they walk Kiss cheeks	Hold hands as they walk Kiss cheeks