Since marriage and family continues to be main pillars of Azerbaijani culture we have numerous traditions connected with engagements, weddings, family life and children…
Traditions connected with pre-wedding times are numerous. The more the family feels attached to traditions more creative they can be :) Ok, I might be a bit exaggerating but with desire and time and financials allowing different ceremonies can be arranged that bring a lot of joy and lots of work to immediate families and entertainment to relatives and guests. One of traditions is called “bayramlıq”, bayram means holiday and the ending “lıq” can be translated as gift for holiday and means the ceremony of bringing gifts to the engaged girl. As long as the couple is engaged and not yet married bayramlıq ceremony can be arranged for all holidays that take place during the period…
According to tradition the family of engaged man brings all kinds of sweets and some gold jewelry to the engaged girl; all presents are brought in “xonça” to be read as khoncha and meaning decorated basket or tray with presents. Colour associated with these ceremonies is usually red. Do not quote me but I assume that this might be connected with the fact that Azeris were Zoroastrians in ancient times and fire and its colour are still strong elements of culture…Girl’s family in return in accordance with tradition of hospitality which is another very important part of culture receives the guests in her house, lays the table and prepares the food and then gives some of sweets back to boy’s family to sweeten their mouth as we say here as well as to all the guests and other relatives who were not participating at the ceremony…:)
There is a famous saying in Russian "Восток дело тонкое" that might be translated as "East is a delicate/fine matter..." thus sophistication and attention to detail is very important to Sheki people if I may say with pride :) and in this context this applies to khonchas and hospitality…
Below are some pictures of khonchas brought as New Year bayramlıq.
Below are some pictures of khonchas brought as New Year bayramlıq.
One of wishes to newly engaged would be not to let routine to turn their future holidays to commonness and that they continue to make the most of their holidays just like they do it now :)
No bayram without famous Sheki khalva :)
1 comment:
Fascinating, in Vietnam and in Vietnamese culture there is a similar custom for engagements as well! Right down to the engaged man and his entourage presenting trays of fruit, candies, and small gifts in red trays to the bride-to-be's house!
This tradition pre-dates the Buddhist faith that predominates in Vietnam... I do not know its origin.
The translation of the ceremony would be 'Asking Ceremony' whereby the engaged man asks permission from the engaged woman's family and her ancestors for her hand in marriage and sweetens the deal with these ceremonial gifts. Along the way every relative and friend from both sides of the families are introduced: from eldest to youngest, kin to friend. Afterwards there's a huge meal.
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