Ancient traditions such as “gifting melons”, “gifting heels”, “gifting leather” are still preserved in memories of Turkmen nation. The information revealed by the groups of scientific-creative workers for the purpose of studying the national heritage of our people is interesting, because the scientific research they conducted during our research showed that we have unique spiritual values and noble traditions. Ample opportunities are created to thoroughly study the cultural heritage of the Turkmen people, which they have contributed to the world culture, on a scientific basis, to improve the rich cultural values created by our ancestors with modern influences.
There is a wonderful tradition in Turkmen culture related to melons which also has a name as “giving a melon as a gift”. Among the Turkmen people, the notions of gifting melons, leather, heels are preserved. Behind these customs, there are spiritual principles that have been developed and perfected by our ancestors. It is a gift itself to attract a respectable person what was favoured by our forefathers. This custom passed down to the new generation and became more prosperous. All of these spiritual principles uphold human dignity, it’s a profession that has its own charm, it gives us motivation and inspiration to work more.
This custom is about double-melons which consists of two melons at once. As it’s believed, if the melon is double, then it’s considered as a miraculous. Taking a double melon without asking it from its owner was believed as you get in trouble on your own. In some villages, ten more melons are added to the double melon as a gift. To the person who was given the melons brought a good fortune. According to some believes, father Khydyr caressed this melon every morning when it was still unripe and the melon which father Khydyr caressed grew as double-melon. The person who got melons as a gift had to gather all his neighbours and provide them with food and drink, celebrate it to the honour melons’ Babadaihan. Although the other melons that were given as a gift were all eaten, double-melons were not eaten for a long period of time. Double-melons were placed in the middle of the room to make it visible to everybody came to visit. Furthermore, in some villages, all the children, neighbours could gather together and eat melons. In some areas, the person who got cantaloupe from the harvest, picked melons three times out of nine, twenty seven in total, and even added one more to them and gave it to someone else as a present. One day children and neighbours gathered together and ate double-melons. Following an ancient custom, melon was tapped three times on the forehead of the ram before the melon burst itself. The man who cut the melon said : “It was the ram in the mountains and a jay wandering in the desert that burst the melon”. Here rams are described as the animals of atonement. Sharing melons motivates person to make new friends, it is an effort of a person to lead a happy life for his family, a good prayer for the repair of homes. The double-melons are believed to protect home from damages, rot and is placed on the top of the cut.
Some other tribes threw one of their melon to the water if their crop yielded a good amount of melons. That means, they sacrificed melons in honour of respecting water. This actively demonstrates that water has always been a source of life, a blessing in the minds of people.
Among the Turkmen hunters, ancient custom about skinning has been preserved. Animals such as wolf, tiger have always been a threat to Castle herds. The hunters hunted these animals because of their voraciousness. The children of the prey carried the skin of the prey in their hands and went house to house like scoundrels, and everyone liked them. Then the hunters gave the skin to herdsmen as a reward. Children showed their excitement on their faces and said: “Some hunters hunted a tiger so now, nothing can scare the flock”. Hunters gave the skin as a gift to wealthy families, and this tradition has a name as “gifting skin”. Wealthy man exchanged a skin of a wolf with a sheep. Hunters gifted a wolf’s skin with great honour to Guljemal Khan, who was the Khan of Mary at that time. Later, Guljemal Khan: “Hunters used to give me a skin of lion, and if you do not gift me something better than this, do not expect a mercy from me” says Umur Esen, famous heiress.
Heel pulling was a popular custom among men to create respect and dignity. That is, they pulled an ankle bone of the food that was cooked only for wedding parties. People who sat down and were satisfied were kicked. Or maybe it’s used as a test to find the future. The athlete had several rules and conditions to try. The first was to feed the crowd. If he couldn’t do it, the condition was that he had to remove the heel whenever he asked. Although he was on his way to some places, he carried his ankles with him, even though he worked hard on the ground and watered his crops. The design of the ankle can be carried from the front of the knee to the bottom of the heel. No matter how hard the heeler tried to make him go bald, it didn’t happen. In the evening, when he was laying down, he took the ankle out of fetus. One day, after threshing, as he was taking a refreshing dip in a stream, the rids were scattered in both directions, “Give me my ankle” a voice is heard. Walking into the water, he pulls his ankle out of his mouth. Then the heeler is grateful and allows heel to drop. In this way, our fathers have developed skills such as perseverance and attentiveness in their children through experimental training. With the help of different types of games, professionals, they found and did not leave the education.
It is remembered that there was a tradition of tying a thread. In the evening, brides and grooms are gathered in a certain house, and each of them were busy with their handicrafts. During the rejoicing of the royal family, they played with the pearls and beads. Berdi Kerbabayev in his novel “Aygytly adim” artistically describes the test of young men by tying a thread of hope. There are seven girls who gather together and take care of the house. Slender finger draw a fine line. The story continues. And Ashyr walks through the door, soon a bride takes a red-tripped thread into the Ashyr’s robe. Unable to thread the needle, she stops next to Artyk. Ayna is also suprised to hear herself say :”I have a bag”.
As we can see, these unique customs were created for the respect of man. On the basis of these principles, its felt that Turkmen people have always elevated human dignity. Its origins go back to centuries and millennia. Currently, only the traditions of sharing melons are observed.
The noble traditions and spiritual values of the Turkmen people are an inexhaustible source for educating young people in virtue and patriotism.
References
- Begjanow A. Maňňyşlak türkmenleri. – A.: Magaryf, 1995.
- Кербабаев Б. Айгытлы ǝдим. Ашхабад, 1955.
- Ümür Esen. Mirasnama. – A.: Ylym, 2004.
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