Central Asian countries have started to celebrate their Lunar New Year for welcoming the Year of Horse. Dates of the New Year in Asian nations vary because the calendar is maintained by Lunar movement.
As for Mongolians who have the unique traditional lifestyle of oriental culture, they traditionally welcome the New Year on the last day of the end month of winter. This year, the day happens from January 30th to February 2nd by the Lunar calendar.
On the eve of New Year, Mongolians do a ritual called “Bituun” because on this night is completely dark as the moon is not seen. The bituun is also considered as the last dinner of old year, symbolizing abundance for the New Year. So all family members and relatives gather at home to make the ritual.
Every procedure of the Lunar New Year presages all the best, for example, people start to eat meat, buuz, bansh or distilled vodka, and ends the dinner with dairy foods because all meat foods represent the end of dark happenings of old year, and dairy food is sign of all new beginnings for New Year. As ending “Bituun”, people are about to welcome the New Year.
On the first day of New Year, family members wake up early at the same time of sunrise, and begin the traditional ceremonies. Family members wear new clothes and prepare breakfast. Firstly, housewife offers the choicest food to the Sun and the Earth. After this, they members start the Tsagaan Sar greeting which is called “Zolgolt”. The senior or eldest member is greeted first and sits to the north of the home.
The zolgolt lasts for three days, and people visit each other’s homes to greet them. The Lunar New Year or the Tsagaan Sar is sometimes considered as a celebration of relatives, and it is the biggest traditional event for Mongolians, having a lesson of philosophy of Mongolian people, custom and tradition of saving the nature, and respecting elders