National traditions of Mongolia. Habits, mentality and the way of living

Mongols are the heirs of the great Mongolian empire, which is the largest in history. They are incredibly freedom-loving, faithful to their ancient traditions and unwilling to give up nomadism. Russia was a great influence in the development of Mongolian culture in the 20th century. Large cities became more Europeanized and their inhabitants began to abandon some of the old-fashioned traditions and rites. However, the Mongols honor their culture and the legacy of their great ancestors to this day. The style and way of life of nomads is very different from the traditional life in the megalopolis and therefore the difference in mentality between tourists and locals is incredibly evident.

The first thing that catches your eye is the sluggishness of the locals and their spontaneous nature. Life in the steppe has its own unhurried rhythm. During each season, Nomadic Cattlemen perform the same set of activities –harvesting wool, extracting milk and grazing cattle. For the rest of the time, they are quite free and are left to themselves. They have time for traditional tea- drinking ceremonies, engaging in leisure conversations and deliberating on the surrounding world. Mongols live in isolation. They independently procure food, foodstuff and can make clothes from animal skins and wool, thereby causing them to be less dependent on the outside world. They may become isolated even within their family and social circle. They often use large cattle to move around. Practically all Mongols are excellent cattle riders.

The Mongols sincerely sympathize with people who are always in a hurry somewhere, lead an active lifestyle, move around a lot and are constantly late. They cordially meet guests on the doorstep of their house, invite them to join the feast, and pour them a traditional Mongolian drink (Kumis from Mare milk). They are in no hurry to question their guest about what he does for a living, preferring rather to let the talk to go freely in one direction or another. Mongols are literally sniffing at their new acquaintances, conducting long conversations with them on extensive topics. Acquaintance for the Mongols is a complete ritual, and they treat rituals with special honor. It is not accepted to ask questions on the spur of the moment without prior acquaintance. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Religion in Mongolia is quite a complex system. Tibetan Buddhism is very widespread in the country. It became the prevalent religion in the 17th century. Also in Mongolia, many people practice Shamanism and worship local spirits. A vivid example is the ritual of Obo, which is the piling of stones in places where they consider sacred. Such piles can form whole complexes or not have an ordered form. They are created in certain places usually by roadsides, lakes, on mountain passes, and mountain tops. Sometimes milky vodka is sprayed around the Obo as a sign of worship of the spirits. It is believed that Obo on the road helps to get permission from the spirits to move, improve health, or just get support from the higher forces. The tradition of Obo was included in Tibetan Buddhism.

The cult Tengri is also present in Mongolia. It represents faith in the sacred sky and the recognition of the impenetrable sky god Tengri. In addition to it, in legends it is spoken about the goddess Umai and the god of the underworld Erlik, depicted as an old man. Among the traditions of the cult are the worship of fire, respect for the dead ancestors, and faith in the life force. About 3% of the population professes Islam, and about 2% refer to themselves as Christians, while more than half of the Mongols consider themselves Buddhists. The Mongols still believe in Signs and Omens by which one can predict the future and know of future successes or troubles. For example, in no case should you pour milk, step on the entrance of a yurt, or desecrate water.

The most vulnerable to the spirits are children. In the past, they were smeared with soot or charcoal at night. Mongols traditionally bring a sacrifice to the Obo preferably rice and sweets, so they “coax the air” before embarking on a trip or any other important undertaking. Many Mongols, particularly those who continue to lead a nomadic way of life, still live in yurts. They wear traditional clothes most comfortable for living in the Steppe. They believe in signs, and honor their dead relatives and spirits inhabiting the Steppe. Mongols relate to life quite simply, though they tend to live it as richly as possible and for this they have to work hard. Endurance is another characteristic feature of the locals. Shamans and fortunetellers enjoy great respect among the Mongols.