 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Tsagaan Sar" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Tsagaan Sar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also called | Mongolian New Year Mongol New Year Tsagaan Sar Sagaalgan Tsahan sar |
| Observed by | Mongolia Russia (Agin-Buryat Okrug,Altai Republic,Buryatia,Kalmykia,Tuva,Ust-Orda Buryat Okrug) China (Bayingolin,Bortala,Dorbod,Fuxin,Haixi,Harqin Zuoyi,Henan,Hoboksar,Inner Mongolia,Qian Gorlos,Subei,Weichang). |
| Type | Cultural (Mongolian) Religious (Buddhist andShamanist) |
| Significance | New Year holiday |
| 2025 date | 1 March |
| 2026 date | 18 February |
| Duration | 3 days |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Sagaalgan (Buryatia, Russia), Shagaa (Tuva, Russia), Tsagan Sar (Kalmykia, Russia), Chaga Bayram (Altai, Russia) |
| Part ofa series on |
| Tengrism |
|---|
 |
| ACentral Asian–Eurasian Steppe and partlySiberian–East Asian religion |
| Supreme deity |
| Other deities/spirits |
| Movements |
| Related movements |
| People |
| Priests |
| Scriptures |
| Holy places |
| Toponyms |
| Related conceptions |
| Festivals |
 Religion portal |
TheMongolian Lunar New Year, commonly known asTsagaan Sar (Mongolian:Цагаан сарᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨᠰᠠᠷᠠ[tsʰɐʁáːɴsɐr̥];lit. 'White Moon'),[note 1] is the first day of the year according to theMongolian lunisolar calendar. The festival of theLunar New Year is celebrated byMongolic and someTurkic peoples. The holiday has shamanistic influences.[1][2][3][4][5]
The White Moon festival is celebrated on the first through third days of the first lunar month. Tsagaan Sar is one of the most important Mongolian holidays.[6] Originally, it was celebrated in spring.[7] Tsagaan Sar falls on the same date asLosar (Tibetan New Year)in Mongolia, while theMongols in China falls on the same date as theChinese Lunar New Year.[8][9]
The Mongols ofGenghis Khan used the twelve-year animal cycle to mark their chronology. The Secret History of the Mongols written in 1240 as well as many letters of the Khans extensively use the twelve-year animal cycle. On the Year of the Red Hare, Genghis Khan ascended and purified himself on the first day of the lunar new year, wore new clothes, paid respects to Heaven and Earth, bowed and greeted his motherHoelun and took part in a ceremony in his palace. On the first day of the lunar new year of the Year of the Rat (1216), Genghis Khan distributed gold presents to people aged over 60.
Marco Polo describes a Mongolian Lunar New Year (White Moon) celebrated byKublai Khan in the 13th century during theYuan dynasty. In Book Two, Part One he writes:
The beginning of their New Year is the month of February, and on that occasion the Great Khan and all his subjects made such a Feast as I now shall describe. It is the custom that on this occasion the Khan and all his subjects should be clothed entirely in white; so, that day, everybody is in white, men and women, great and small. And this is done in order that they may thrive all through the year, for they deem that white clothing is lucky. On that day also all the people of all the provinces and governments and kingdoms and countries that owe allegiance to the Khan bring him great presents of gold and silver, and pearls and gems, and rich textures of divers kinds. And this they do that the Emperor throughout the year may have abundance of treasure and enjoyment without care. And the people also make presents to each other of white things, and embrace and kiss and make merry, and wish each other happiness and good luck for the coming year.
After theRed Turban Rebellion resulted in the fall of the Yuan dynasty in 1368, theNorthern Yuan dynasty continued Mongol traditions in the Mongol homeland. In contrast to theNaadam festival in summer which celebrates manly virtues Tsagaan Sar celebrates the softer virtues of peace and harmony. The color white represented especially by the white foods or "tsagaan idee" (various dairy products and rice with raisins) symbolize purity of intent. In Paragraph 254 of the Secret History of the Mongols the sons of Genghis Khan fight over who will succeed as next Khan. Genghis Khan sits silently as they fight. Khukhuchos speaks up and reprimands Chagatai (whose name, also written Tsagaadai, incidentally means White): "Chagatai, you have spoken careless words that have frozen the warm liver of your good queen mother, grieved her loving heart, dried her oil-like thoughts and curdled her milk white spirit." During Tsagaan Sar emphasis is placed on purity of intent or whiteness of spirit when visiting elder relatives. The greeting "Amar baina uu" (Are you in peace?) is said while the arms are extended with open palms showing no bad intention. The younger places his or her arms below the elder in a supporting fashion, both bow and embrace and the traditional Mongolian "sniff-kiss" is given by the elder on both cheeks. This traditional gesture is calledzolgokh (greeting).[10] Quarreling is taboo and emphasis is placed on genuine reconciliation. Gift-giving is central to Tsagaan Sar. A lavish feast is usually laid out to wish for happiness and prosperity in the coming year.
During theQing Dynasty, the Mongolians followed the "shar zurhai" (yellow horoscope) to determine the day of the Lunar New Year. From 1911 onwards during theBogd Khanate of Mongolia, the Mongolians have used the Tugs Bayasgalant horoscope which differs from the yellow horoscope on certain years.
In 2011, the holiday was nominated forUNESCO'sIntangible cultural heritage list.[11]
The customs of Tsagaan Sar are significantly different depending on the region. InMongolia around the New Year for example, families burn candles at the altar symbolizing Buddhistenlightenment. Also people greet each other with holiday-specific greetings such as Амар байна уу? (Amar baina uu?), meaning "Are you living peacefully?"[12] Mongols also visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family.[13] Many people will be dressed in a full garment ofMongolian traditional clothing. When greeting their elders during the White Moon festival, Mongols perform thezolgokh greeting, grasping them by their elbows to show support for them. The eldest receives greetings from each member of the family except for their spouse.[13] During the greeting ceremony, family members hold long, typically blue, silk cloths called akhadag.[6] After the ceremony, the extended family eats sheep's tail, mutton, rice with curds, dairy products, andbuuz. It is also typical to drinkairag and exchange gifts. Before the day, many Mongols had to clean their houses.[14]
The day before Tsagaan Sar is calledBituun, the name of the lunar phase of a new ordark moon. The lunar phases are Bituun (dark moon), Shined (new crescent moon), Tergel (full moon), and Huuchid (waxing moon). On the Bituun day, people thoroughly clean around home, herders also clean the livestock barns and shades, to meet the New Year fresh. The Bituun ceremony also includes burning candles to symbolize enlightenment of the samsara and all sentient beings and putting three pieces of ice at the doorway so that the horse of the deityPalden Lhamo could drink as the deity is believed to visit every household on this day. In the evening, families gather together—usually immediate family,[13] in contrast to the large feast gatherings of White Moon day — and see out the old year eating dairy products and buuz. Traditionally, Mongolians settle all issues and repay all debts from the old year by this day.[13]
Depending on the region, food is prepared in a diverse array of forms. For example, thetraditional food in Mongolia for the festival includes dairy products, rice with curds (tsagaa-цагаа) or rice with raisins (berees-бэрээс), a pyramid of traditional cookies erected on a large dish in a special fashion symbolisingMount Sumeru orShambhala realm, a grilled side of sheep and minced beef or minced mutton steamed inside pastry, steamed dumplings known asbuuz, horse meat and traditional cookiesBoortsog.[15] Tsagaan Sar is a lavish feast, requiring preparation days in advance, as the men and women make large quantities of buuz as a whole family, along withul boov, a pastry reserved for both dessert and presentation.[13]
During Mongolia'sSocialist period, the government banned Tsagaan Sar after Choibalsan's death in 1952 and tried to replace it with a holiday called "Collective Herder's Day", but the holiday was practiced again after the1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia.[16]
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2018) |
TheMongol calendar in the Tegus Buyantu (Төгсбуянт) system is alunisolar calendar. The Tegus Buyantu astrology was developed by Mongol high priest Luvsandanzanjantsan (1639–1704), thought to be the first reincarnation of the Blama-yin Gegegen (Ламын гэгээн).[17]Tsagaan Sar is celebrated on the first through third days of the firstlunar month.
| Gregorian year | Mongol year[17] | Transliteration | Tsagaan Sar | Element and animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Цагаан | Tsagaan | 7 February – 10 February | female earthSnake |
| 1990 | Машид согтонги | Mashid sogtongi | 26 February – 28 February | male ironHorse |
| 1991 | Төрөлхтний эзэн | Törölkhtnii eeen | 15 February – 17 February | female ironSheep |
| 1992 | Ангира | Apgira | 4 February – 7 February | male waterMonkey |
| 1993 | Цогт нигурт | Tsogt nigurt | 25 January – 30 January | female waterRooster |
| 1994 | Бода | Boda | 11 February – 13 February | male woodenDog |
| 1995 | Насан төгөлдөр | Nasan tögöldör | 31 January – 5 February | female woodenPig |
| 1996 | Баригч | Barigch | 19 February – 21 February | male fireMouse |
| 1997 | Эрхэт | Erkhet | 8 February – 10 February | female fireOx |
| 1998 | Олон үрт | Olon ürt | 28 February – 2 March | male earthTiger |
| 1999 | Согтох төгөлдөр | Sogtokh tögöldör | 17 February – 19 February | female earthRabbit |
| 2000 | Тийн дарагч | Tiin daragch | 5 February – 8 February | male ironDragon |
| 2001 | Сүргийн манлай | Sürgiin manlai | 24 January – 26 January | female ironSnake |
| 2002 | Элдэв | Eldev | 13 February – 15 February | male waterHorse |
| 2003 | Наран | Naran | 2 February – 4 February | female waterSheep |
| 2004 | Наран гэтэлгэгч | Naran getelgegch | 21 February – 23 February | male woodMonkey |
| 2005 | Газар тэтгэгч | Gazar tetgegch | 9 February – 11 February* | female woodRooster |
| 2006 | Барагдашгүй | Baragdashgüi | 30 January – 1 February | male fireDog |
| 2007 | Хамгийг номхотгогч | Khamgiig nomkhotgogch | 18 February – 20 February | female firePig |
| 2008 | Хотолыг баригч | Khotolyg barigch | 8 February – 10 February | male earthMouse |
| 2009 | Харшлалт | Kharshlalt | 25 February – 27 February | female earthOx |
| 2010 | Тийн урвагч | Tiin urvagch | 14 February – 17 February | male ironTiger |
| 2011 | Илжиг | Iljig | 3 February – 5 February | female ironRabbit |
| 2012 | Баясгалан | Bayasgalan | 22 February – 25 February | male waterDragon |
| 2013 | Тийн ялагч | Tiin yalagch | 11 February – 13 February | female waterSnake |
| 2014 | Ялгуусан | Yalguusan | 30 January – 1 February | male woodHorse |
| 2015 | Галзууруулагч | Galzuuruulagch | 19 February – 21 February | female woodSheep |
| 2016 | Муу нүүрт | Muu nuurt | 9 February – 11 February | male fireMonkey |
| 2017 | Алтан унжлагат | Altan unjlagat | 27 February – 1 March | female fireRooster |
| 2018 | Тийн унжлагат | Tiin unjlagat | 16 February – 18 February | male earthDog |
| 2019 | Урвуулагч | Urvuulagch | 5 February – 7 February | female earthPig |
| 2020 | Хотол төгс | Khotol tugs | 24 February – 26 February | white male ironMouse |
| 2021 | Цөөвөр | Tsöövör | 12 February – 14 February | white femaleCow |
| 2022 | Буян үйлдэгч | Buyan uildegch | 2 February – 4 February | water maleTiger |
| 2023 | Үзэсгэлэнт болгогч | Uzesgelent bolgogch | 21 February – 23 February | black femaleRabbit |
| 2024 | Хилэнт эм | Hilent em | 10 February – 12 February | wood maleDragon |
| 2025 | Элдэв эрдэнэт | Eldev erdenet | 1 March – 3 March | blue femaleSnake |
| 2026 | Сүрээр дарагч | Sureer daragch | 18 February – 20 February | male redHorse |
Oirat topics | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oirat People |
| ||||||||
| Culture | |||||||||
| Cuisine | |||||||||
