The Turkmens are the people of the southwestern branch of the Altai group of the Turkic tribe, most related in language to the Ottoman Turks and Azerbaijanis, even closer to the Kyrgyz and especially to the Turkmens, from whom the Turkmens separated only about 300 years ago.

The territory of the Turkmen currently covers the area bordering the south of the river. Gürgen, the Kopetdag and Parapamiz ridges, from the north-west the coast, then Chink almost to, and from the north-east the Amu Darya River, cutting into the Khiva Khanate at the Aral Sea.
The number of Turks scattered over this huge area of ​​500,000 square kilometers, representing a typical Central Asian with a few oases, is 545,347 people of both sexes, with Russian possessions accounting for 261,597 people, Khiva and Bukhara - 203,750, and Persia - 80 000.

Turkmens are divided into tribes:

• Tekke (stone ram), in the Trans-Caspian region, occupying the entire Merv oasis, also Ahal and Atek and along the Tejen River. The most numerous tribe (200 thousand people), the most gifted and prosperous. It is divided into two sections: Ahal-Tekke and Merv-Tekke, and the latter into Tokhtamysh and Utamysh.
• The Chaudurs, or Chodors, and Imrayli, the supposed remnants of the Adali-Turkmen tribe that once lived on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, now live in the northwestern part
• Khiva.
• The Yomuts are on the Gurgen River, partly on the Krasnovodsk and Mangyshlak peninsulas, partly in Khiva, partly in Persia, leading a semi-nomadic, semi-sedentary lifestyle.
• The Gauquelins along the Atrek River and its tributaries, mainly in the Persian possessions, are almost all sedentary.
• Saryks, on the middle reaches of the Murhab, are mostly sedentary.
• The Salors, or Salyrs, the oldest of the Turkmen tribes, mentioned by the Arabs in the 7th century in the Amu Darya region, live mixed with other tribes in the Russian, Persian, Bukhara, Khiva and Afghan possessions.
• The Ersari along the banks of the Amu Darya, mainly along the left, almost from the Khiva oasis to the meridian of Mazar Sherif and Shiribad, are almost all sedentary.

Despite the undoubted Turkic origin, attested by language, historical data and folk legends, the type of Turkmen can least of all be called purely Turkic. “The nomads,” says Vambery, “from time immemorial, systematically engaged in raids and robbery, who were in the most lively communication with the Persians, Afghans, Uzbeks, Cossacks, Karakalpaks and Caucasians, could very little preserve the purity of the original type, which currently represents a mixture of the Old Turkic with Aryan."

Until very recently, the Turkmens were predominantly nomads who systematically indulged in alamans, that is, predatory raids to steal livestock, women and slaves, mainly from Persia. At present, raids have ceased, slavery has been abolished, and the sedentary population is predominant, and the time is near when the Turkmen will turn to a settled life. “Soon the words chomur and chorva, denoting nomadic and sedentary Turkmens, will completely disappear from the Turkmen language” (Yavorsky). But for now, at the first opportunity, every Turkmen, having more or less acquired wealth, acquires a herd and becomes a worm. The old habits of the nomad and especially favorable local conditions develop a new economic type, agricultural and pastoral. Sheep farming and cotton culture find a strong incentive in widespread demand from the most distant places (France, Moscow industrial region); Thanks to artificial irrigation, grain harvests are always guaranteed, and sales of handicrafts (carpets) are also guaranteed, so the economic well-being of the vast majority of Turkmens, especially the tekkes, is quite satisfactory.

The hardest working element in a Turkmen family is a woman. Until recently, the man knew only raids.
Cheating on women is punishable by death at the scene of the crime. Vambery also noted that the reputation of the Turkmens as desperate thugs who stop at nothing does not stem from the fundamental traits of their character, but was the result of historical conditions, the centuries-old struggle with the strongest enemies who persecuted them, and the poverty of nature of the country where they were driven by force.

In fact, the dominant character trait of the Turkmens is good nature, gentleness, hospitality to the point of self-sacrifice even towards the enemy, truthfulness, honesty, expansiveness combined with selfless courage, courage, and the ability to stand up for oneself at the right moment. In everyday life, Turkmens are more or less lazy and do not easily fall into a new groove of systematic work.

It affects a large percentage of singles, sometimes up to 27% (Yavorsky). Kalym is high (from 250-1500 rubles), not counting the obligatory gifts to the bride's relatives of robes, livestock, and food. Upon delivery of the ransom, the bride goes to the groom's house, where the marriage is formalized with prayer.

Wedding festivities are accompanied by feasts, horse races, songs of bakhshis (professional singers), and wrestling. Thanks to the previous custom of procuring women during the Alamans and the high bride price that brings a woman together for purchase and sale, the position of women among most Turkmen tribes is difficult and humiliating. Often the relatives of the deceased sell his widow into marriage, leaving the children with them. Daughters often serve as security for a civil claim and are sold into slavery by the lender for their father's debts.

Professor Yavorsky, who carried out anthropometric studies among the Turkmen, mainly among the tekke, gives the following data about the type of this numerous industry.

According to studies, the Chaudars retained a purer type, distinguished by a weaker physique and smaller head than the Kirghiz, a more conical than round skull, and a height of 5-6 feet. As one approaches the southern borders of the Trans-Caspian Lowland, the features of Iranian admixture become even more prominent, the facial hair becomes more abundant, the protrusion of the cheekbones is less noticeable, and only small, somewhat obliquely located eyes indicate Turkic origin. Among the Tekkins there is already a real Caucasian type, as well as among the Ottomans related to the Turkmens. The same can be said in general about the Turkmen, more or less neighboring the North, although their skin color is whiter than that of the Persians, and their physique is stronger than that of the thin Iranian. In women, the Turkic type is more noticeable, despite the significant percentage of Persians among them: the cheekbones are more prominent, and the hair on the head is relatively scanty. Beautiful female types resemble Ottoman beauties.

The body build is predominantly thin, but there is a significant proportion of moderately well-fed and overweight (26 out of 59). Height is high, average: 1,694, in particular for tekke 1,700. Chest circumference 862, ratio to height 50.88. Skin color in open areas: predominant - bronze tanned, then yellowish-pale, but there is also light color. In closed places it is generally lighter. Hair color: on the head and beard the predominant color is dark, but there are also dark brown ones. The hair on the head is shaved, the hair on the beard is often smooth, and occasionally curly. The lips are moderate, fairly full, straight. The shape of the skull is characteristic: extended posteriorly and upward, towards the top of the head, sometimes quite flat. The head is quite large, wider than tall. The shape of the forehead is predominantly round. The ears are large and protruding. The direction of the palpebral fissure is predominantly horizontal. The facial angle, according to Camper, ranges between 70°-80°.

Among the Turkmens, like many other peoples of Asia, there is a significant preponderance of the male population over the female population, in some places in the ratio of 100:80, without falling below 100:90, which is strictly dependent on the percentage of both sexes (76 girls per 100 boys), but at a later age the mortality rate of males is higher than that of females; the end result is still a significant preponderance of the male population. Miscarriages are common. Fecundity is 5.6 per mother on average, while for example, 8.8. The earliest onset of menstruation is at 10 years, the latest at 19 years, the average end of menstruation is 45 years. Getting married between 12-15 years, although early marriages are often fictitious for the time being.

In their customs, the Turkmen have already moved far away from other nomads related to them, like the Kyrgyz, for example.

National Costume

The national costume of the Turkmen is something intermediate between Central Asian and Persian, with a predominance of the first. Over the shirt and pants, men and women wear a long cloak (chapak), which among the wealthy is made from half-silk, half-woolen fabrics in thin stripes from Khiva and Bukhara. Hiking outerwear is shorter, reaching to the knees. In the summer, women make do with just a shirt and ankle-length pants that fit tightly at the bottom.

The headdress for men is a fur hat (telpek) entwined with a turban, for women it is a round hood with a veil descending to the back, as well as the all-Central Asian high shekel headdress. Jewelry like necklaces, hand bracelets, anklets, corals and the like are quite common among Turkmen women, who do not part with them even at night. Silver cases for talismans are especially valued. The Turkmen, who are less prosperous than the Kyrgyz, are very modest in decorating their homes.

National cuisine

In food, the Turkmens bear little resemblance to other Central Asian nomads: kumis and kazi (horsemeat sausage) are rarely consumed, but rice and bread (flour cakes) are commonly consumed, and sweets (Persian and Russian) are very popular. In general, the food of the Turkmens is the most unpretentious: flat bread, milk, gruel from pounded dzhugara, beetroot decoction with sesame oil. Pilaf with lamb or camel fat is considered a luxury. Turkmens are sober, although they prepare a light intoxicating drink (chal) from fermented milk. Smoking opium is starting to become popular in some places.

By religion they are Sunni Muslims, but they are little religious and not at all fanatical. Literacy is widespread to a limited extent. Folk poetry is very far from, but very close to the poetry of the Ottomans of Anatolia and the Azerbaijanis. The songs of Fuzuli, Badil and Memreb are sung in the Turkmen dialect. But the Turkmens also have national poets, the most remarkable of them is Makhdumkuli, revered as a saint. Justice is administered in Russian possessions under the chairmanship of the district chief according to adat, modified in more serious cases in the spirit of Russian legislation. The most common crimes are theft, followed by cattle rustling and robbery. Homicides are relatively rare.

The Turkmen calendar is Muslim, customs at birth, weddings, funerals and the like have significantly lost their primitive character, due to the lack of women, polygamy is a rare occurrence.

Valentin Seyidov was born and raised in one of the hottest cities in the world - Ashgabat. Seven years ago he came to Belarus to get higher education. The MSLU diploma is already in his pocket, but the guy is in no hurry to return home. “When choosing a place to study, the financial aspect was very important. It’s expensive to study in Moscow, I don’t like Kyiv, but Minsk is both affordable and pleasant,- says Valentin. - Education for foreigners is paid. Last year I finished my master’s degree and paid about $2 thousand.”

“I entered MSLU because my sisters studied here. Now I work for myself as a translator,- says our interlocutor. - It is possible to get a government job, but I don’t want to. There are salaries that insult the translation profession.”

The level of education in Belarus is much higher than in Turkmenistan. “They build huge marble universities there, but there is no education. Teachers of the old school either died or moved to live in other countries. More progressive students receive diplomas abroad, then return home and get a job,”- the guy explains.

Belarusian students, according to Seyidov, are in vain complaining about the domestic education system. “Not everyone knows how to use the knowledge they receive at university. Already from the first year, people begin to express dissatisfaction: “Why did I come here? It is not promising to be a translator. It would be better to study to be a programmer." But in reality, translators can earn as much as programmers. True, this requires effort, work,- says our hero. - Whoever wants to, will learn.”

Valentin himself worked a lot. The result is expulsion from the university. “I was expelled once, but it was my own fault. I decided that it was time to look for work and create a name for myself in the city. Focusing on this, I let my studies take their course,- the young man recalls. - No one in the dean's office was cooperative - they expelled me. Then, of course, I recovered, but I had to study for an extra year.”

“In the last months before leaving for Belarus, I almost crossed out the days on the calendar. I really wanted to leave as soon as possible,- says Valentin. - Now I understand that I did everything right, I don’t want to go back. But my sisters returned home. For one, life simply didn’t work out here, and for the other, it’s too cold in Belarus.” At first, the Belarusian climate seemed too harsh to Valentin. "It was very cold. Then I lived in the old hostel. We covered the windows with blankets and insulated them with cotton wool. I had to sleep in my clothes,- says the interlocutor. - Now I’m used to it and don’t feel any discomfort.”

Even though our hero doesn’t particularly look like a foreigner, the Belarusian students initially avoided him. “The Belarusians somehow did not communicate with us. I was friends with foreign students. Or maybe we were the ones who were closed,”- says the guy.

Valentin is interested in music. In Minsk, he created his own group, Blackpaperplanes, which translated means “Black paper airplanes.” “I became interested in music before leaving. There are music stores in Turkmenistan that sell Chinese instruments at prices from well-known brands. It would be good if there were 2-3 music teachers for the whole city. I am not familiar with people who, after graduating from Turkmen special schools, achieved success and continued to play,- the hero recalls. - Instruments, recording studios, and rehearsal rooms are available in Belarus. There are a lot of people making music here. For example, we play experimental instrumental rock.”

“Good development in the field of music is beginning in Belarus. Good bands are appearing and major festivals are being held. But the approach to the Slavic Bazaar needs to be changed. The festival is over 20 years old, and it is held in the same format as before. The hall is too small. We need to open additional venues, make not one stage, but three,”- the musician shares his opinion.

Belarusians have more opportunities for self-development than Turkmens. “There is a good standard of living here, judging by the number of expensive cars on the streets. I have something to compare with. But Belarusians look at Europe, strive for development,- the young man argues. - Lately, many Minsk residents have been somewhat angry. For some reason they don't smile. Apparently they are thinking about something so bad that it prevents them from smiling. Although it’s exactly the same in my homeland. Probably people are still dissatisfied with their standard of living.”

“You have good roads, well-groomed fields. The only pity is that you are not part of the European Union. If there were more opportunities, young people would not go abroad,- says Valentin. - I want to travel. But from here it’s difficult to travel anywhere with my passport. These are additional expenses, running around with papers.”

The young man has already studied Minsk well and can now conduct excursions for his foreign friends. “I try to showcase the city’s historical sites. But many people ask to see the National Library. I got the impression that there is a library in Minsk that is definitely worth a look,”- Valentin laughs.

The guy is also fascinated by our culture. “The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth interest me much more than Kievan Rus, for example. You often host knightly tournaments. Very interesting!- the interlocutor shares his impressions. - It is necessary to continue to support such events. I also really love potato pancakes and holodnik. This is my daily menu. I just eat in a cafe. I really don’t like cooking.”

The Belarusian girls also liked them. “Your girls are very beautiful. Better than Ukrainians and Russians. They have many interests and different activities. But Turkmen women are a completely different type. I don’t know any Turkmen girls who are passionate about something or getting an education. The main thing for them is to survive until marriage,- explains our hero. - I have nothing to talk about with girls like that. Yes, they won’t let me near them. There are five historical tribes in Turkmenistan. Girls from the same tribe try to marry “their” guys.”

“The Turkmen man always dominates. A woman must obey him even before marriage, because a man is always right,- says Valentin. - I have the opinion that girls in Belarus have not yet fully decided. Either they want to live by European standards and advocate for women's rights, or be supported by men. If they want a man to support them, then they should not be indignant. And if you stand for women’s rights, then please get a job, get paid - and we will be on equal terms. In more mature families, the budget is shared, but in a young couple, the girl believes that her personal salary does not count and the guy must support her.”

Valentin is also surprised by the optionality of Belarusians. “I've met quite a few irresponsible people. Even regarding banal punctuality. It is normal to make a person wait for 20-30 minutes. I've already started to be late,- says the young man. - Many young people are simply wasting their lives. People who live today at 20 are unlikely to feel normal at 40.”

Turkmens are more hospitable. “You come to a friend’s house and wait in the hallway while he gets ready. If such a situation had occurred in Turkmenistan, I would have left there only after an hour and a half,- the guy explains. - Mom will feed you, pour you tea, and talk. People usually don’t stand at the threshold there.”

Here Valentin feels calm and safe. “I became more trusting. Old friends notice that I speak differently. Got rid of the Turkmen accent,”- states our hero.

Seyidov likes to communicate with Belarusian youth. “When I left, the youth in Turkmenistan were so narrow-minded. She was not interested in anything except how to finish school and find some kind of job. And some are not even going to look for anything, they can live with their parents for the rest of their lives, They don't even want to go to another country and see something. Most of the population has never traveled outside of Turkmenistan. Either they think it’s difficult, or they’re just not interested.”

Turkmenistan is famous for its white marble buildings. “It was recently included in the Guinness Book of Records for the highest content of marble houses per square kilometer. In Ashgabat alone there are about 450 high-rise buildings entirely in marble,- says Valentin. - Glass would be better, because the price of marble cladding is equal to the cost of half a house. I don’t understand why to do this. After all, people are already tired of this.”

“In my opinion, the government there is not spending money very wisely. For example, an old university is demolished, and in its place a new building is built for a large number of students. They think that people will come to study,- says the young man. - As a result, the first floor is occupied, and all the rest are empty. It would be better to spend these funds on some more important things.”

Valentin's parents want to move from Ashgabat to Minsk. “We don't need much. I want to live in a calm environment, have my own home to have a good time,- the guy shares. - Laws change very often in Turkmenistan. All this is accompanied by hassle. They say that there is bureaucracy in Belarus, but everything is even worse there. If an order comes out to receive some new stamp or document, then there is a queue of 1,500 people. People stand there around the clock. My parents are already old, they want to take a break from this running around.”

It is quite difficult to obtain a residence permit in Belarus if there are no relatives here. “I got it thanks to my grandmother,- says Valentin. - She lives in Gomel. Otherwise you would have to pay a lot. Only those foreigners who have invested about 100 thousand euros in the Belarusian economy can quickly obtain a residence permit.”

“The tourism segment is developing in Minsk, and there are more opportunities for active recreation. There are a lot of cyclists now. There is a good bike path. Russians and Ukrainians come and are surprised: “How is this possible?” We don't have such a bike path! You drive along it and don’t think about anything at all,”- our hero says, smiling. - But if you look at Europe, there are more bicycles than cars. Minsk needs to strive for this too.”

Our capital also lacks interesting youth cafes. “We need more themed cafes. Now they are appearing. For example, “Gallery Ў”. Belarus has an interesting medieval history. This theme can be played well. Of course, we should not make such pompous restaurants where you come and immediately become some kind of knight, but more youthful, interactive,- the guy argues. - In Lviv, too, there is a coffee shop, which is also a coffee factory and a mine. The visitor just enters, and they put a helmet on him and send him to the mine to work - extract coffee. You walk along some corridors and come to a coffee shop. It attracts people. They will begin to advise each other. And tourists will already know that there is such and such a cafe in Minsk that they definitely need to visit.”

The architecture of Minsk cannot be compared with Ashgabat. “I like that they are now building in the old city, maintaining this style. Even if there are no frescoes there, the tiles are not made of stone, but they look good,- says Valentin. - I don’t like new residential buildings at all. Recently, friends from Latvia came to see me and asked the following question: “Why do you build new houses with old ones?” There is something from the Soviet Union.”

Valentin plans to continue living in the Belarusian capital. “I am now a co-owner of an infotainment website. I am also very interested in real estate. If you have initial capital, you can ensure a good life for yourself,- says the interlocutor. - I plan to start my own business. For example, open a hostel or recording studio. Compared to Turkmenistan, it’s possible to do all this here and it’s much easier.”

“I like Turkmens who come to other countries to get an education and then go back to their homeland,- says Valentin. - There is a chance that due to these people there will be some development in Turkmenistan. But many still do not return home.”

A group of dark-haired guys in leather jackets, moccasins, skinny jeans, from under which white socks peek out, are animatedly talking to each other about something “in their own language.” Moreover, this process occurs so noisily and emotionally that, willy-nilly, the passengers of trolleybus number four, sleepy and half-asleep, begin to fix their gaze on them.

It no longer surprises anyone that Vitebsk is full of foreigners. Most of the foreigners are students who came to study at a medical university or veterinary academy. It seems that everyone knows how inadequately some Belarusians perceive foreign guests. But what about the guests themselves in our northern capital? Has it become a home for some of them, welcoming and cozy?

Bega Hallyev, 21 years old, student of VSAVM, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

A smiling, young, handsome dark-haired guy, sociable, speaks Russian well, and also has good manners and upbringing - he breaks the stereotypes about Turkmens that have formed in my head.

Bega, please tell me how you ended up in Vitebsk? And why did you choose the veterinary academy?

I have been in Vitebsk for five years now. I recently passed my last exams and on July 5th I will receive a diploma of completion of VSAVM. How did I get here? There were many options where to go to study. I really didn’t want to stay in my homeland, I didn’t even take the exams on purpose so as not to get in. I thought about going to study in Ukraine, but my cousins ​​studied with me in Gorki (a city in the Mogilev region). My father suggested that I go to Belarus. To be honest, I really didn’t want to go to the veterinary academy at first. As I remember now, on the second of September (five years ago) I became acquainted with the city of Vitebsk (laughs).

Was there any fear? Still, a distant, unfamiliar country... And have you encountered outbreaks of aggression from local residents?

Of course, initially there was some kind of fear, it was dangerous, I thought that here, like in Moscow: if you are a foreigner, then you need to be prepared for anything. In Vitebsk, of course, it’s calmer, but you know, alas, there were plenty of unpleasant moments. Once I even had the opportunity to encounter racists and Nazis. There was even a situation when in one club they held a party only for Belarusian girls and Turkmen guys. The Belarusian guys were probably angry about this. And they started a fight. I even had a chance to visit the police department.

Since I live in a hostel, initially there were conflicts here too. But they haven’t gotten used to each other yet. Everything is fine now, much calmer. But many people do not like Turkmens. The first association most Belarusian people have with the word “Turkmen” is a savage who does not understand anything. And at the same time, many Turkmens have the opinion that if a girl is Slavic, then she is frivolous and accessible. Most Turkmens behave very ugly, because they came from villages. I even feel ashamed of them myself. And, in principle, I understand this hostility.

Of course, I don't just study here. I manage to realize myself creatively - I really like to sing. Initially I was engaged in choreography, I even danced in the Belarusian national costume, now I sing (there were several solo concerts). I write tracks in Russian - I don’t know why (smiles).

Looking at Begu, I notice that he is dressed for the weather and has not been touched by “Turkmen fashion”: moccasins, white socks. And that's why I ask:

Bega, please tell me, where did you get this fashion from, dressing inappropriately for the weather?

In a leather jacket and moccasins you see Turkmens on a frosty cold day, because the guys are breaking free (from the control of their parents), they want to be beautiful, despite the weather (laughs). The guys in the first and fifth years are different. They grow up and by the end of their training they look completely different.

Admit it, were you also influenced by this?

Oh no, what are you talking about, I didn’t walk like that! I don't like skinny jeans (laughs).

I really liked Vitebsk. Here I feel at home, because I am used to Vitebsk and this is my city. I feel very comfortable here, I have friends. I can’t even believe that I will fly away, there will be a completely different life, some changes. But I really want to go home, because after five years I know absolutely everything here.

Samuel Adu, 27 years old, Ghana, Kumasi, African, 5th year student of VSMU

Please tell me, Samuel, why did you decide to come to study in Vitebsk and specifically at VSMU?

How did I find out about Belarus? My father has a friend from Vitebsk, a surgeon himself. He advised. I studied at the preparatory course for a year, I wanted to know Russian, because I think it is necessary to speak the language of the country in which you spend such a large amount of time.

Wasn't it scary to go to a foreign country?

It’s not interesting to come to another country if you don’t know the language. You speak - they don’t understand you. You go into a store and take something you don’t need because you don’t know how to explain it; and then you have to throw it away. I remember this situation: I came to the store and wanted to buy tomato paste, but ended up buying tomato sauce, since these products were too similar for me at that moment.

What is your first impression of Vitebsk and its residents? Were there any unpleasant moments?

There were many unpleasant moments, they even attacked us in Vitebsk. For comparison: in Minsk people behave completely differently - they are friendly, they have, perhaps, a completely different culture, they come up, start getting acquainted, take pictures. But in Vitebsk it’s not at all like that. Perhaps this is due to the fact that someone was simply born here, has never left and considers himself the owner of the city; and others, they say, have no place here.

There was also a case when one of our guys was just walking, and a local walked behind him and spat on him. As a result, there was a fight, and when the police arrived, the local said: “This is my country and I do what I want.” And this, alas, is not an isolated case, there are many such cases. Trips to the disco almost always ended in court. When you travel on public transport, sometimes you hear: “That’s black!”, “Negro!”, all sorts of insults. But I just pretend that I don’t know Russian and don’t react.

Has this somehow affected your attitude towards the locals?

When everyone tells you that Belarusians are good, and then you come and are faced with such aggression, you notice that those words do not correspond to reality. But then, over time, you realize that here, in Vitebsk, there are both bad and good people. But most are still good. I understand this now that I have many Belarusian friends and a local girl.

What impression will you get from Vitebsk?

Well, you see, in Vitebsk, to be honest, I don’t like a lot of things, for example, the weather. I don’t know why, but in Vitebsk I feel tense - maybe because of studies, people, maybe because of the first impression. Guess I'm just still adjusting. But the city is really very beautiful and very clean. When I receive my diploma, I will, of course, return to my homeland.

Armen Viktorovich Bagramyan, 47 years old, Armenian, owner of a repair shop

Moving on to the description of the internal, home life of the Turkmens, it should be mentioned that all Turkmens, rich and poor, live almost exactly the same. A little better wagon, clothes made of silk, a few extra carpets and silver jewelry on women, that’s all that can distinguish the wagon of a bai (rich) from the wagon of a poor man.
A Turkmen day begins at sunrise. In the morning he usually drinks green tea without sugar with churek (a type of flatbread), at about 9 o’clock he has breakfast with sour milk with churek, and if there is no milk, he cooks “kara shorba” - a soup made from lard, onions and crumbled churek; at 2 o'clock - tea with churek, or one churek and, finally. in the evening, after sunset, dinner consisting of the same products as breakfast.
In general, Turkmen food is very unpretentious and lacks variety. Usually it consists of churek, camel or cow's unleavened or sour milk, porridge from pounded dzhugara (sorghum), sometimes from a hot soup consisting of the same milk with water, or a broth from beetroot with sesame oil, and for more sufficient ones with the addition of dried lamb or smoked fat; They also eat noodles. In the summer, this food is varied with some boiled or raw herbs and vegetables. The herbs consumed are: yunja, wild parsley, spinach, sorrel, mint and goat. Pilaf, lamb or camel meat constitute a luxury allowed by the wealthier on the occasion of any celebrations: weddings, circumcisions, etc. At the end of summer they eat a lot of melons and watermelons.
For drinking, “chal”, a drink made from camel milk, is prepared. Chal has a sweet-sour taste with some alcoholic strength; After 2-3 cups of this drink, Turkmens become more cheerful, and sometimes even slightly tipsy. Turkmens have a wide distribution of tea, and they drink mostly green tea, of lower grade, purchased in Persia.
The preparation of all specified food, as well as all household work in general, is the responsibility of women.

Position of a woman in the family

The Turkmen views a woman as an inferior being, calling her “nachar” (unequal) and does not allow her to interfere in conversations between men and in the discussion of public issues. But for this reason, a woman enjoys great influence in household matters and without a prior agreement with her, the Turkmen rarely sells or buys anything. In the marriage of a son and in the marriage of daughters, the consent of the mother is considered mandatory. In her inner life, a Turkmen woman enjoys much more independence than other Central Asian women: Sartyans, Tajiks and Persians. But nevertheless, she is eternally dependent on a man, and only in the absence of any male relatives on her father’s side does she become independent. As a girl, she belongs, and belongs as property, to her father or, in the absence of one, to the eldest in his family, who sell her into marriage at their own discretion and appropriate the money received for their own benefit. When she marries, she belongs to her husband; Having been widowed without children, she again becomes the property of the same immediate relatives. Only motherhood to some extent ensures independent widowhood, since she is the guardian of her children and cannot be forcibly sold into a new marriage.

Marriage

Turkmen marriages, as already mentioned, are identified by custom with a trade transaction, which is carried out, with rare exceptions, without any participation of the young people getting married by their parents or guardians. At the same time, they bargain over the price, as when selling goods, and, often, the marriage breaks down precisely for this reason. The price of a girl, equal to 30 Ahal tumans 20 years ago (a tuman is about 4 rubles), has now increased to 200 or more tumans. Rich people or widowers and polygamists sometimes pay up to 400 and 600 tomans for a girl. Such a rise in prices for girls makes marriage an unlikely dream for people who are insufficient, in search of which most young Turkmens, who do not have large and wealthy relatives, go through a harsh school of labor and hardship, denying themselves everything for a long number of years and giving away every penny they earn and purchased cattle for their future father-in-law, remembering that only by paying the entire price can they get a wife. This custom has a bad effect on the correct distribution of women among the population, leaving many young people in forced celibacy and allowing the rich to have several wives. The vast majority of Turkmen have one wife and do not approve of polygamy.
Marriage is usually concluded between the ages of 10 and 15, although there are cases of girls being married off earlier.
The purpose of such early marriages is the desire to quickly receive the dowry payment, to enable the husband to pay the entire required amount before reaching adulthood and to obtain the right to use the excess share of public water and land.
A Turkmen marriage is carried out as follows: after preliminary negotiations on the amount of kalym (redemption price), several aksakals (honorable old men) go to the bride’s parents and pay part of the ransom for her, half of which is usually paid in money, and the other half in cattle; then, they make gifts to the bride's relatives and give several taps to women and men blocking the bride's exit path and, finally, deliver her to the groom's wagon. On the same day, the wedding ceremony is performed by one of the literate Turkmens present. In the evening, the gathered guests are treated to pilaf, tea and rich chureks; Several bakhshi (singers) are invited and the feast lasts until late at night. The next day, in the morning, races and competitions in wrestling, running and shooting at a target are held. All winners are given small prizes by the groom's father, usually consisting of robes or several yards of paper; the next evening and the next day, guests are given the same pleasures as the day before.
The Turkmens often practice the abduction of girls, arranged by mutual agreement of the bride and groom. Those who fled hide in the tent of some honorary aksakal, who, willy-nilly, has to take on the role of a mediator and reconcile the parents of the bride and groom.
After the marriage, the young woman remains in her husband’s wagon for three days if the marriage was between minors, and up to 10 days if the young people have reached puberty; then, the wife returns to the house of her parents or guardians, where she lives until the bride price is paid in full, which, in the case of an insolvent groom, happens after 8-10, and sometimes more, years. During this period, the young spouses are strictly prohibited from having any overnight visits, which is closely monitored by the parents, since if the wife becomes pregnant during this period, custom requires her to immediately return to her husband’s wagon, without waiting for the full payment of the bride price; Therefore, it often happens that a husband in love, who wants to kiss his lawful wife at an inopportune hour, is severely beaten by her parents.

Divorce, birth of a child

Divorces among Turkmens are very rare and then almost exclusively through the courts.
Despite the fact that a girl brings her father a fortune when she marries, the birth of a female child, according to custom, goes unnoticed, while the birth of a boy is a whole event: all relatives and friends are notified about it, who bring congratulations to the father of the newborn and accept treats from him . The name of a newborn is usually given by the father, without the participation of the mullah. A Turkmen names his child not according to the Arabic missal, but mainly in accordance with the time and circumstances of the child’s birth. Often there are names: Anna Geldy (Friday has come), Gun Dogdy (the sun has risen), etc. If there has been no child for a long time, then he is called Alla Berdy (God gave), but if several girls are born in a row, then the last one is given the name Ogul Gerek, which means we need a boy.
When the boy is 6-7 years old, circumcision is performed, accompanied by the rich with a feast for the people and horse races,

Widowhood, second marriage

According to Turkmen custom, children belong to the husband, and in the event of his death, to his relatives. Although a widowed mother is allowed to be their guardian and raise them, she must live with her husband’s relatives; She has no right to take them with her to her native village, or take them when she gets married for a second time. Therefore, when a widow enters into a second marriage, she must separate from her children from her first marriage, even if they are minors.
In the case of daughters being sold into marriage, the entire dowry is received by the closest relatives on the father's side, and nothing is given to the mother, with the rare exception when there are no such relatives at all.

Funeral rites

Regarding funeral rites, the Turkmens have the following customs.
Upon the death of one of the Turkmens, the relatives and neighbors of the deceased gather in the wagon of the deceased and, emitting screams, mourn him. Then, after washing the body, men are wrapped in a triple shroud, and women in a five-fold shroud, they perform “jinaza” (funeral prayer) and are taken to the cemetery on a camel or horse, and if the cemetery is close, they are carried in their arms. The relatives of the deceased slaughter a lamb, bake chureki and take all this to the deceased for distribution to those present at the funeral; In addition, the deceased, if he was a wealthy person, is led by a camel or a horse, the money from the sale of which is intended to be distributed to the poor and people who dug a grave for the deceased, who are also given pieces of the material that covered the body of the deceased on the way to the grave. It is remarkable that of the children or relatives of the deceased, only one accompanies his body to the cemetery, and the widow of the deceased, when the body is taken away, runs several times, sobbing, around the horse or camel on which it is being taken away. The ceremony is not performed at the cemetery, and the mullah is not present either. The dead are usually buried on the same day in cemeteries, often built near the grave of some saint. On the 3rd, 7th, 40th, 100th days and on the anniversary of the death, the relatives of the deceased call neighbors and the poor and organize a wake with the indispensable participation of the mullah, to whom the appropriate prayers are read.
It is considered an indispensable duty of all relatives and relatives of the deceased to visit his tent to express their condolences to the closest relatives and children of the deceased; For this purpose, sometimes they come hundreds of miles away, and such visits occur even several years after the death of a given person.

Entertainment

Entertainment for the Turkmens is mainly horse racing, then wrestling, running and target shooting competitions, held during major holidays and weddings. Turkmens love to listen to their singers (bakhshi), who, to the accompaniment of a two-string guitar or reed pipe, sing about the deeds of their fathers or the adventures of folk heroes; The more developed Turkmens play chess. Turkmens have no idea about dancing. Children amuse themselves by playing blind man's buff, wolf and sheep, grandmothers, etc. For girls, the only entertainment is the swing.

Literature

Books written in the Turkmen dialect are very rare; of the available ones, most of the spiritual content is copied from the works of Khiva authors; from the original books one can point to the history of Oguz Khan, available in various versions, and to collections of songs by Goklan poets: Makhtum Kuli, a lyric poet, a Herkez, who lived about 100 years ago on Atrek; Zalili-Mullu, who lived on Gurgen, and Veli Magomed Mullu. In addition, there is a collection of poems, beloved by folk singers, called “Yusuf-Ahmed,” glorifying the exploits and adventures of two heroes, Yusuf and Ahmed, and the Khiva collection “Shah Senem.”

Folk morality

Even so recently, the habit of engaging in alamans, robberies and robbery for the purpose of profit, abandoned by the Turkmen, was in some incomprehensible way combined with impeccable public morality. Having become a Russian subject, the Turkmen abandoned his favorite pastimes completely. The Trans-Caspian steppes and oases, where 20 years ago a traveler could not go without risking his own life and freedom, have become safer than the Caucasus, and even than many provinces of European Russia. Murders for the purpose of robbery, if they happen in the region, the culprit is almost always someone from the newcomer population: a Caucasian foreigner, a Persian, but not a Turkmen. Wounding and murder are not uncommon among the native population, but their cause is outraged love, insulted honor or a quarrel, but never the goal of profit. Cases of robbery or robbery almost never occur at all, and theft of money and things is very rare. The most common type of theft is cattle rustling, which native public opinion treats leniently, considering this crime a kind of youthfulness, a relic of the recent past.
Adultery and offenses against public morality are considered a great crime among the Turkmens. Even now, it is not uncommon to kill unwary lovers and cut off the ear of local womanizers.

Sharia and common law

Although the Turkmen belong to the followers of Islam, the Sharia regulations of which should serve as the only spiritual, criminal, civil and moral law for a Muslim, the Turkmens are guided by the Sharia, and then to some extent, only in matters of divorce and division of inheritance. All other parts of the Sharia are replaced by customary regulations, which are not only not similar to the Sharia, but often directly contradict them.
The common law makes no distinction between criminal and civil crimes and does not impose any personal penalties. Every crime is considered from the point of view of the harm or loss caused. For murder, custom establishes blood revenge or a monetary ransom (hun), usually equal to 100 Tekin tomans. Bloodshed consisted in the fact that the relatives of the murdered person killed the culprit, or, since he usually managed to escape, one of his relatives. This custom is currently persecuted by Russian laws. For livestock theft or theft, according to custom, only the return of the stolen property and the damage caused is due.
Native customary law, which regulates the life of the native population to the smallest detail, does not constitute a written code, but is passed down from generation to generation orally in the form of tradition.

People's Court

In free Turkmenistan, where there was no ruling power, there was also no organized court. The offended person either settled with his offender, or, by mutual agreement, turned to the old men, who sorted out the matter according to custom. Since there was no executive power to enforce decisions, this responsibility was assumed by the whole society, declaring those who disobeyed the decision of the old people “bi mamle,” that is, excluded from society, an outcast. In matters of Sharia jurisdiction: divorce and division of inheritance, the Turkmens turned to mullahs and qaziy (an expert on Sharia law).
With the establishment of Russian rule, the natives were given a properly organized people's court in the form of three courts of appeal, which tried criminal cases and litigation that arose between the natives according to customary law. The first instance is the aul court, consisting of three judges elected by the society of each aul; the second is the bailiff court, where 5 aul judges sit in turn under the chairmanship of the bailiff, and the third is the Extraordinary Congress of People's Judges, which meets in Askhabad once or twice a year. The decisions of this congress, approved by the Head of the region, are considered final. Unlike the previous one, in the Merv district the first instance is the Pristavsky court, and the second is the district congress of people's judges.

Administration

In addition to the Military Ministry and the Turkestan Governor-General, who have the highest leadership in the management of the region, direct control of the population is carried out by the Head of the Transcaspian region, as the highest local administrative body, district chiefs in the districts, bailiffs and population managers in the bailiffs and districts. All of the above commanding officers are appointed from military officer ranks.
The closest executive power in individual villages is entrusted to village elders, elected by the population itself from among itself. In addition, the internal affairs of auls are managed by aul assemblies, consisting of all tent owners of the aul.

Taxes

The taxation of the population in favor of the treasury consists of the state occupancy tax and the zemstvo tax for public needs. The unit of taxation is the wagon, as a sign of the economic independence of the family.
The state tax is set at 4 rubles per year from each caravan, and the zemstvo tax for public needs is 2 rubles per caravan.
In most districts of the region, when collecting taxes, an internal distribution of taxes is used, in accordance with the wealth of individual tent owners. Poor widows, orphans, persons unable to work, as well as persons who have served in the Turkmen division for 10 years are completely exempt from taxes.
The native population of the region annually contributes about 392 thousand rubles, of which 273 thousand rubles are state taxes and 119 thousand zemstvo taxes, which is 1 ruble each. 25 k. per year per capita.

Turkmenistan is quite close to Russia, so often girls from Russia, Ukraine and other “our” countries often meet Turkmens. If you are one of these women, then this article is for you.

Turkmenistan is a country of green forests, sands, seaside boarding houses, famous for their mud baths.

For many women, traveling to Turkmenistan is a real fabulous adventure, during which they can meet men from this country. The entire population of this amazing state is proud of its traditions, holidays and customs. A girl who meets a man from Turkmenistan will positively perceive their religion and traditions.

Peculiarities

The local cuisine is one of the most delicious. Many citizens of other countries come here to taste local dishes. The most popular dishes are soups with peas and tomatoes, as well as pilaf. Visitors are also impressed by the local sweets.

You can talk a lot about Turkmen cuisine, but it’s still best to try it. If you communicate with a citizen of this country, you will be able to fully see its beauty, try different dishes, and also get acquainted with the customs of the state.

The people here are very hardworking, and laziness and idleness are unacceptable for them. Citizens of the country do not like selfish, frivolous people. Men of Turkmenistan are prudent, thrifty, never waste money, and give their wives expensive gifts. They will always help spouses with advice and deeds, will find a positive way out of any situation, and will never cause pain in a relationship. Turkmens value their families very much, help in all matters, and provide as much as they can. As a rule, men in the country are ready to do anything for the sake of their loved ones.

The Turkmen is great in bed; he pays maximum attention to the girl’s feelings. During lovemaking, a citizen of this country completely liberates and opens up. A Turkmen in bed is significantly different from other young people.

Family

In a country like Turkmenistan, the family is treated differently than in many Asian countries, where marriage is only an agreement between the parents of a guy and a girl. This union can be called a marriage of convenience, although, as a rule, there is simply an agreement between the parties to marry the children and bring together two respected families.

In such a case, no one thinks about what awaits the young people after marriage. You don’t even have to talk about the emergence of feelings. Such a marriage is only a forced existence; the spouses simply live in the same house and raise children.

In this country, they are very sensitive to the feelings of young people who have decided to take such a serious step as starting a family. A little earlier, parents independently decided the fate of their children, choosing a mate for their child.

Nowadays, this is extremely rare; young people now have freedom of choice. They themselves can find a person with whom they can live happily ever after.

Before deciding to get married, young people listen to the advice of their parents, who decide whether the couple can live together or whether it is too early to think about a serious family relationship.

Nowadays in Turkmenistan, marriages are more thoughtful. Now people, before getting married, try to create a material basis for a prosperous life, which will allow them to create a full-fledged family, quickly putting it on its feet.

This country is known to everyone for its interesting customs and traditions, which accompany all celebrations and significant events in the life of every citizen of the state. Local weddings are filled with various rituals that must be observed so that the young family is prosperous and happy.

Weddings in this country are held much the same as in other countries of the world. The first thing that happens is matchmaking, during which the future husband's relatives go with gifts to the bride's house. Then they ask for the girl’s hand in marriage. For this action, the most senior and respected people in the young family are selected, who can best conduct important negotiations. When consent is received, the bride's parents choose the date for the celebration.

Although a lot of time passes immediately before the ceremony after matchmaking, since both the bride and groom organize celebrations for friends. Together with them they say goodbye to bachelor life.

In this country, the bride invites all her friends. They come to the celebration not empty-handed, but with refreshments. Representatives of the fair sex dance a lot, sing, and try in every possible way to amuse the bride, who will soon have to leave her father's house, where she lived all her childhood. Young people are having fun in the groom's house.

The solemn day itself is also filled with a large number of different customs, each of which has a special meaning for future spouses, for their home, and future children.

Before the wedding, the groom's parents should think about where their son will bring his young wife. Therefore, the issue of housing is strictly relevant here.

In this country, as a rule, young people must immediately move into separate housing and start their lives.

Therefore, many parents cannot allow their sons to get married until they can provide good living conditions for their child and his family.

If we talk about the bride's parents, then they must make a big, expensive gift for the newly formed family. This could be either a sum of money (large!), or jewelry, or furniture for a new home. Also, the bride and groom are obliged to present each other with expensive gifts. A lot of money is spent on these gifts. Relatives also need to be given something so as not to offend.

We conclude that a wedding in Turkmenistan is a significant event that requires considerable financial expenses. Let us note that parents never skimp on gifts, as well as on amenities for their children, who will then be able to live happily.

Then there will be enough time to collect a rich dowry and prepare money for the celebration, purchasing gifts for all relatives and, of course, the newlyweds.