Customs related to the cutting child's hair for the first time
Title
Customs related to the cutting child's hair for the first time
Alternative Title
Хүүхэдтэй холбоотой ёс, зан үйл, найр - Хүүхдийн даахь үргээх ёслол
Publication Type
Language
mon
eng
Location
Mongolia
Keywords
Child
Hair cutting
Customs
Tradition
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
ICH Genre
Description
There are many child-related customs among Mongolians, such as the custom of cutting the child’s hair for the first time. This is the first time a child’s virgin hair has been touched. Among Mongolians, there are many names for this tradition. Boys’ hair should be cut at the age of 3 or 5, in autumn, and girls’ hair should be touched at the age of 2 or 4, in summer. The child is seated at the head of the table, and behind him sits someone born with the same zodiac sign. The leader of the party begins, “Now let’s touch the hair of the son (daughter).”. In the Khalkha, Durvud, Bayad, Myangand, and Khotgoid ethnic groups, the oldest or most respected person, and in Buryatia, the “midwife,” first touches the child’s hair using a wooden knife and scissors. The guests will give the child a milk to taste, cut the hair with scissors tied with khadag (piece of silk), and give them gifts with blessings for them to become a helpful person to their parents and the country and to live a long life. If the siblings are late or do not show up, some of the hair is left so they can participate in the custom later. When everyone touched the hair of the child, the head of the child will be shaved. Boys will be left with locks of hair above the forehead (teveg), and girls will be left with locks of hair on two sides (sonjuu). The “Custom of cutting the child’s hair for the first time” heritage element is registered in the “Traditional festivals, rituals, customs, games, and chants” domain of the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mongolia.
Publisher
National Center for Cultural Heritage
Place of Publication
Mongolia
Date of Publication
2022
Academic Field
heritage management
Community/Ethnic Group
Mongolia
Active Contribution
Mongolia, FY 2024