Kazakh folk games

The specific attitude of steppe people to horses has generated a love for horse games. Such Kazakh games are countless and each djigit (male) deems it his duty to take part in at least one kind of horse sport.

“Alaman baiga”, the long and super long distance race, is one of the oldest and most popular types of competitions. It is associated with nomadism, the need to train horses for long journeys, especially in wartime, or in hijacking the heds of enemies as well as to improve the breeds of horses. “Alaman baiga” was the main part of major folk festivals or … funerals (as). Competitions were held in the steppe, on a straight road, full of natural obstacles, without limiting the number of horses and breeds.

“ Kyz-kuu”. Among the shows particularly popular among Kazakh youth was the riding game “ Kyz-kuu” ( catch a girl). According to custom Djigit claiming the hand and heart of a girl, caught his bride on a spanker horse. During the folk festival youth rode horses, galloping in the field. On a sign, the girl flicks the horse and rips away from her betrothed at full gallop.

“Kokpar”. One of the favorite games, without which there was no celebration and mass entertainment, was “kokpar” – the struggle of riders for a goat carcass. “kokpar-kokbori” means “gray wolf” in Kazakh. For nomads, the wolf was a bitter enemy, and if anyone was able to kill one, he had to present its head it to the genearch and to give the carcass to pull it to pieces.

Exercise 6. Make a plan to the text.

Exercise 7. Write an essay. The symbolism of the cradle in Kazakh tradition .( use 100 words).

Check yourself

1. It is associated with _______ , the need to train horses for long journeys.

a) cradle

b) etiquette

c) obstacle

d) nomadism

2. Alaman baiga was the main part of major ________ festivals.

a) nomad

b) cradle

c) folk

d) insight

3. I’m ____________ buying a new camera.

a) think on

b) thinking with

c) thinking about

d) thinking to

4. Djigit ……the hand and heart of a girl caught his bride on a horse.

a) claiming

b) bringing

c) observing

d) noticing

Glossary

English	Kazakh	Russian
nomad ['nəumæd]	көшпенділер	кочевники
obstacle ['ɔbstəkl]	кедергі	препятствие
bride [braɪd]	қалыңдық	невеста
cradle ['kreɪdl]	бесік	колыбель
whip [(h)wɪp]	қамшы	кнут
ragged horse ['rægɪd hɔːs]	жүйрік ат	резвый скакун
bewitch [bɪ'wɪʧ]	көз тию	сглазить
betrothed [bɪ'trəuðd]	атасқан; атастыру	помолвленный
ancient ['eɪn(t)ʃ(ə)nt]	ежелгі	древний
associated[ə'sōsēˌātid]	байланысты	связанный

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