Over Memorial Day weekend, 2011, families with children adopted from Kyrgyzstan came to the DC area from as far away as Colorado, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, to attend the first Kyrgyzstan Heritage Weekend. It provided a wonderful opportunity for whole families to experience and learn about the culture and traditions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as for the families to meet each other and members of the Kyrgyz community.
Below are a few of the highlights from the weekend.
Saturday Morning
Crafts for the Littlest Ones
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- Children colored pages with Kyrgyz themes.
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- Children decorated hats with felt, Kyrgyz designs.
Hair Braiding, Kyrgyz style
Learning about Kyrgyz Culture and Traditions
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- Gula taught some Kyrgyz games, chuko, using sheep knee bones, and top-tash, a game with 5 stones.
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- Salamat taught some words in the Kyrgyz language.
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- Learning some Kyrgyz words.
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- Saltanat told the story of Manas, the famous Kyrgyz epic.
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- Learning techniques for making shyrdaks.
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- Watching a DVD on making shyrdaks.
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- Gula showing the technique of embroidery with a punch needle, chokuma.
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- Making the mat for shyrdak, called chiy.
In the Kitchen
The older children and adults were able to participate in cooking Kyrgyz dishes, including samsa and plov.
Decorating the Kyrgyz Flag Cakes
The Boutique
Items were sold to benefit the orphanages in Kyrgyzstan.
Lunch with delicious Kyrgyz dishes
Saturday Afternoon
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- Kyrgyz Ambassador Muktar Djumaliev presented a certificate to Kyrgyz Children’s Future
Fashion Show of Kyrgyz National Dress
Performances
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- Guljan Abyshova played traditional Kyrgyz music on the komuz.
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- Nurmira Greenberg demonstrated Kyrgyz music on both the komuz and the cello.
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- The Abyshov family played mouth komuz.
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- Marat played a Kyrgyz flute
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- Marat also played this Kyrgyz wind instrument.
Sunday – Picnic and Games at the Park
Grilled Shashlik for Lunch
Playing
The children also enjoyed the playground and play areas.
Kyrgyz Games
“Tushoo kesuu” or “cutting of the rope.” This is a race that celebrates when the toddlers take their first steps in life. It’s a big celebration to wish the child well in life.
We finished up the afternoon with “chachila chachuu”, the spreading of the goodies (candy, cookies, boorsoks) for the children. This is the way that every “toi” or Kyrgyz celebration ends. It represents spreading well wishes to everyone.
Videos that include the Weekend
- by Kyrgyz Club (15:15)
The Director of Kyrgyz Children’s Future speaks for the first 6-1/2 minutes in Russian (with some footage of the event mixed in), and then highlights from the musical performances are shown. - by Voice of America (4:10)
This video focuses on the experience of a family attending the event who is still waiting to complete their adoption from Kyrgyzstan.