Childbirth Traditions and Customs of the Kazakh People

Abstract

This article describes beliefs, rites, customs, and traditions of the Kazakh people concerning childbirth. The significance of prophetic dreams associated with childbirth, pilgrimages to holy places to receive beneficent signs, ceremonial placing of the infant in the cradle [besik], and cutting of “constraints” at a child’s first steps is examined. These folk traditions are manifest widely in Kazakh epics. In addition, genesis of ancient beliefs that have been preserved in Kazakh myths and tales is discussed.

Keywords:

• childbirth
• birth festivity (şildexana)
• Kazakh custom
• epos
• traditions
• ritual vest (“dog’s shirt”)
• cradle (besik)

Notes

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2. Iu.I. Drobyshev, Chelovei i priroda v kochevykh obshchestvakh Tsentral’noi Azii (III v. do n.e.–XVI v. n.e.) /D.D. Vasil’ev, resp. ed. (Moscow: Institut vostokovedeniia RAN, 2014), pp. 72–73.

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4. Dzheims Dzhordzh Frezer [J.G. Frazer], Fol’klor v Vetkhom zavete, “Biblioteka ateisticheskoi literatury” series (Moscow: Izdatel’stvo politicheskoi literatury, 1989), p. 282 [Original: Sir James George Frazer, Folk-Lore in the Old Testament, vol. III (London: MacMillan and Co., 1919), p. 447].

5. B. Äbjet, Turan jäne Iran mädeni baylanıstarı (Turkestan: Izd. “Turan,” 2015), p. 91.

6. Babalar sözi: Jüztomdıq (Astana: “Foliant,” 2011), vol. 78: “Qazaq mïfteri,” pp. 48–49.

7. S.A.Galliamov, Bashkordskaia filosofiia. Etika, vol. 3 (Ufa: Kitap, 2005), p. 63.

8. Qazaq ädebïetiniñ tarïxı. On tomdıq, vol. 1 (Almaty: QazAqparat, 2008), p. 108.

9. Babalar sözi: Jüztomdıq (Astana: “Foliant,” 2011), vol. 74: “Qïyal-ğajayıp yertegiler,” pp. 35–38.

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11. O.M. Chunakova, prep., Zoroastriiskie teksty. Soderzhanie [Suzhdeniia] Dukha razuma (Dadestan-i menog-i khrad). Sotvorenie osnovy (Bundakhishn) i drugie teksty (Moscow: Izdatel’skaia firma “Vostochnaia literatura” RAN, 1997), p. 293.

12. Ä Dïvaev, Tartw (Almaty: Ana tili, 1992), p. 211.

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21. E.D. Tursınov, Qazaq awız ädebïetin jasawşılardıñ bayırğı ökilderi (Almaty: Qazaq SSR “Ğılım” baspası, 1976), p. 134.

22. Qazaq fol’klorınıñ tarïxïlığı (Almaty: Ğılım, 1993), pp. 251–52.

23. S. Qondıbay, Tolıq şığarmalar jïnağı, vol. 1: “Qazaq mïfologïyasına kirispe,” book 1 (Almaty: Izd. “Arys” [Arıs], 2008), p. 89.

24. E.D. Tursunov, Drevnetiurkskii fol’klor: istoki i stanovlenie (Almaty: Daik-press, 2001), p. 32.

a. Translator Stephan Lang found a facsimile version of Frazer’s famous original 1919 book for the citation: Sir James George Frazer, Folk-Lore in the Old Testament, vol. III (London: MacMillan and Co., 1919), p. 447.

b. Translator Stephan Lang was not able to find this passage as attributed, in either the Avesta or the Bundakhishn. It must be part of “other texts” of ancient Zoroastrianism, as cited in the authors’ note 11.

c. This interpretation of a “matriarchal epoch” is left over from Soviet period Morgan-Engels-Marxist teachings that propagandized world history as a series of uniform epochs representing Progress, with matriarchy preceding patriarchy. Some contemporary folklorists and archeologists of Eurasia, especially those not exposed to recent Western sources that critique the old-fashioned Marxist and James Frazer worldviews (without dismissing all their data), continue such historical over-generalizations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bakyt S. Abzhet

Bakyt Syrymuly Abzhet [Baqıt Sırımulı Abjet], candidate of philological sciences, is a senior research fellow at the Turkology Research Institute of Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh–Turkish University and a docent. Email: [email protected].

Zhuldyz A. Zhumashova

Zhuldyz Amanbaevna Zhumashova [Juldız Amanbayevna Jumaşova], PhD in culturology, is a senior instructor at “Turan” University, Department of “Regional Studies and International Relations.” Email: [email protected].