Buy Kyrgyz headdress for men. Kyrgyz headdress. They fumigate the markets with smoke from the evil eye

Kalpak is the Kyrgyz national headdress, which does not lose its popularity at the present time. It can be called a visiting card of Kyrgyzstan. The parade uniform of Kyrgyz athletes at international competitions necessarily includes a white cap. In 2011, Kalpak Day was established in the country, which is now celebrated annually on March 5th. Since ancient times, this headdress has had a special relationship: one cannot re-gift one's kalpak, it must always be clean, it must not be thrown, it should be removed only with two hands, put in a special place or next to oneself. And the one who lost the kalpak is sure to face trouble.

Kalpak is a Kyrgyz national hat, which is still quite popular. It might be called the hallmark of the Kyrgyzstan. Uniform of Kyrgyz athletes in international competitions includes white kalpak as an essential element. In 2011 Kalpak's Day was established in the country and celebrated annually on March 5. From ancient times there was a special attitude toward this headdress: kalpak cannot be regiven, it should always be clean, it cannot be thrown, it should be taken off only with two hands and put on a special place. There is a legend for everyone who lost kalpak is expected to get in trouble.

However, to find real kalpak made from felt in the Kyrgyzstan today is very difficult but kalpaks made from Chinese synthetics are sold at every step. As it turned out, it is unprofitable for people or they are too lazy to work for the production of quality headdress. To receive good felt people have to grow certain breeds of sheep, shear the wool, process into felt and sew kalpak. It is much faster and cheaper to buy Chinese synthetic felt and sew hundreds of cheap kalpaks. Moreover, the population tends to not only wear the forgery, but also gives it as a present to foreigners or during visits to other countries.

True, in order to find a real kalpak in Kyrgyzstan today - made of natural felt - you will have to go around a lot of shops and shops, but kalpaks made of Chinese synthetics are sold at every step. As it turned out, people are unprofitable or too lazy to work for the production of high-quality headgear. It is much faster and much more profitable to buy Chinese synthetic felt and sew hundreds of cheap caps. Moreover, the population not only wears a fake, but also gives it to foreigners or during visits to other countries.

Once, together with an Italian journalist, we were walking through the colorful bazaar of the city of Osh.

— What souvenir should I buy in Kyrgyzstan? asked my companion unexpectedly.

- Buy yourself a kalpak - a Kyrgyz men's headdress, - I answered without hesitation. And we went to the souvenir rows.

Here a great disappointment awaited me: we went around shop after shop and could not find a real felt kalpak. (“kalpak” is the Turkic spelling of the name of the national headdress, shaped like a cap). Everywhere they sold his fake made of Chinese synthetics for 150 soms (slightly more than $2). Finally, in the last row we found two shops with real kalpaks - 1200-1600 soms (about $17-22).

- Why so expensive? I asked the salesperson.

“There is no felt in the country,” she heard in response.

- Why is there no felt? Are the sheep gone? — I did not let up. The seller just smiled. He sold us a real Kyrgyz kalpak without giving up even 50 soms. And I decided to learn not only about the history of this headdress, but also its modern production.

Features of the Kyrgyz national game kok-boru (goat-cutting) are available at this link

Kalpak - a symbol of mountains

Ak-kalpak is a headdress made of white felt with black velvet lapels. In folklore, its shape is associated with a snowy peak. The word "ak", which translates as "white", is used by the Kyrgyz in several senses, except for the designation of color: pure, honest, sacred. With regard to kalpak, most likely, two meanings are used - white and sacred.

Since ancient times, this headdress has had a special relationship: one cannot re-gift one's kalpak - only pass it on from generation to generation, it must always be clean, it must not be thrown, twirled, it must be removed only with two hands, put in a special place or next to you. And the one who lost the kalpak is sure to face trouble.

Perhaps the prefix “ak” is also used for self-identification of the Kyrgyz, because the people have many clans and tribes, and the name “white-cap Kirghiz” is, as it were, one for all (here we recall the Karakalpaks who have an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, in translation this word means “black hats"). The largest national epic "Manas" says that "the Kirghiz are a people wearing a white kalpak, the top of which is white, like the peaks of the Tien Shan mountains, and the base is dark, like their foot."

Kalpak is sewn from four wedges, expanding downwards. Patterns are traditionally embroidered with silk threads, the margins are most often trimmed with black velvet, the top is decorated with a tassel that hangs down in front.

Kalpak has many varieties; earlier, one could learn a lot about a person by the height and design of the headdress. For example, representatives of the nobility or artists wore kalpaks higher than those worn by ordinary people. Kalpaks "to go out" were made of expensive thin felt and good velvet and decorated with special patterns. White patterns were embroidered on the groom's wedding kalpak.

This is a universal headdress, which is not hot in summer and warm in winter, is made with slits in front or on the sides. On rainy days, you can lower back, so that the rain does not fall behind the collar, and in the heat - the front, so that you get a visor for protection from the sun.

Kalpak is very proud in Kyrgyzstan. Bus stops are made in the form of this headgear, kalpaks are put on by the country's Olympic team, in 2008 a postage stamp with his image was even issued - a denomination of 6 soms, and in 2011 Kalpak Day was established.

Kyrgyz postage stamp depicting ak-kalpak

Kalpak is sewn, but not in kalpak style

The fact that the kalpak is still an integral attribute of men's clothing in Kyrgyzstan is evidenced by the huge number of people wearing it. But more and more often, preference is given to the "Chinese" kalpak, the quality of which differs markedly from the real one. I specifically looked at dozens of photos taken by the media during various events: participants in the celebrations in honor of Kalpak Day, the Olympic team, even some deputies - in Chinese synthetics.

The Olympic team of Kyrgyzstan also wears synthetic kalpaks (c) Sputnik.kg

What happened to this popular cultural attribute, why is it being replaced by a cheaper synthetic counterpart? It's simple: it is unprofitable or too lazy to produce high-quality headwear. To get good felt, you need to raise certain breeds of sheep, shear their wool, process it into felt and sew kalpaks. It is much faster and much more profitable to buy Chinese synthetic felt and sew hundreds of cheap kalpaks. Moreover, the population not only wears a fake, but also gives it to foreigners.

Through these links you can read about various dishes countries of the region from the rubric Cuisine of Central Asia: Osh tandoor samsa, Karakol ashlyamfu, tandoor flatbread, beshbarmak, Tajik kurutob, kurut - Kyrgyz dry cheese, national drink koumiss.

The population of Kyrgyzstan wears "china"

…After returning to Bishkek, I called the national association of folk art crafts “Kyyal”, about which one of the resolutions of the Kyrgyz parliament says that “this is the only enterprise engaged in the production and promotion of Kyrgyz folk applied art.” “Real kalpaks should definitely be sewing there,” in this confidence I took up the phone. They transferred me from one number to another, “chased” me around the shops: “We haven’t sewed kalpaks for a long time”, “Call another shop, they definitely sew there”. And so over and over again, until I realized that kalpaks are not produced in "Kyyal". After asking my friends, I got the number of the woman who deals with these hats, the head of the Min Kyal Public Foundation Aidai Asangulova. She made an appointment for me just in "Kyyala", which, as it turned out, had long been divided into small rooms for rent.

Kalpaks, which were sewn at the Kyyal enterprise, 1976

I arrived early in order to have time to walk through the souvenir rows of the Osh market in Bishkek before the meeting began. The picture is the same as in the bazaar in Osh - kalpaks, rugs and other products made from Chinese synthetics. I also saw a few things made of natural felt. “Chinese” kalpak can be bought for 150 soms (a little more than $2), the price of felt ones starts from 700 soms ($10). Merchants answered that the population most often buys synthetic kalpaks. “Especially a lot of them are taken as a gift to foreigners, because they don’t know the difference,” one saleswoman frankly said.

By clicking on these links, you can read materials about the Soviet heritage of Kyrgyzstan. Part I - about Osh and Part II - about 10 signs of the New Year in the USSR, Part III - about the metropolitan telegraph, its bomb shelter and chimes, Part IV - about the Lenin Museum in Bishkek.

Synthetic kalpaks at the Osh market in Bishkek

New concept

It was time for the interview, we settled in a small workshop, where the client, manaschy (narrator of the Kyrgyz epic about the hero Manas) from Talas, ordered an individual kalpak for himself, and two girls sent off orders.

Real felt caps

“About ten years ago, there were problems with felt kalpaks in the market of Kyrgyzstan, and the bazaars were filled with synthetic products,” Aidai Asangulova began her story. - Previously, the Kyrgyz kalpak was made by hand, during the Soviet era they began to produce it in large quantities and according to a single standard at the Kyyal enterprise. Kalpak has always been carefully kept and passed down from generation to generation.

It seems that people know about the kalpak and respect it, but suddenly they switched to a synthetic fake, which they began to give to everyone in a row, and this national headdress began to lose its value.

I spent my childhood with my grandmother. Everything that was connected with the head, including hats, she considered very valuable. And in the Kyrgyz folklore it is said that you cannot give your headdress, throw it, twist it, leave it on the floor. The side of the bride never gives the bridegroom a kalpak for the wedding: they say, we give the whole bride away, but it’s not supposed to give the “head” either.

White kalpaks, 1980s

Kalpak is an important part of the national heritage, and I decided to study its history. We wrote a project, received a grant, and began to travel around the regions, meet with ethnographers and artists, collect photographs from the State Archives, and watch old films. Many interesting things about the Kyrgyz national dress were told to us by the bearers of traditional knowledge, the old-timers of the villages. Unfortunately, every day there are fewer of them, and our culture is leaving with them.

So, before the Kyrgyz never celebrated a birthday every year, they celebrated a 12-year cycle of life - much a l. In 2011, we proposed a modern concept of the kalpak, based on the knowledge of the elderly - headdresses that symbolize every 12 years of a person's life with a border of a certain color and a special pattern.

For the 12th birthday of a child, we offer a kalpak with a green border - the color of young grass - and a pattern in the form of ram's horns, which symbolizes the beginning of the boy's transformation into a man. For the 24th anniversary - a kalpak with a blue border and a tunduk pattern (upper base of the yurt), which means that a man begins to think about creating his hearth. At 36, brown: a patriotic man and thinks about his land. A golden eagle is embroidered on the kalpak, which means that a person looks at everything from above - from a height of years. The border of the kalpak for a 48-year-old man is beige, the leopard is embroidered: the man is already smart and can give advice to the younger generation. The color of the kalpak border for 60-year-olds is black and white. Such hats were worn by elders, who could already distinguish black from white, that is, bad from good. As a pattern, we decided to use the image of a deer with branched horns, which means branching of the genus, offspring.

The modern concept of Kalpaks

In 2011, we wrote a book about kalpak and, together with the Historical Museum, organized an exhibition at which we presented more than 100 headdresses - not only kalpaks of a new concept, but also kalpaks from the funds of the museum, Kyrgyzfilm, the Kyyal enterprise, and even made for the Olympics - 80". Some ancient kalpaks were lent to us by people, others we received in exchange for new headgear during our field research.”

Varieties of Kalpaks, 1080s

The main problem is the lack of felt

In the workshop of the Kyyal enterprise, where I interviewed, the director of the Kyrgyz Kalpagy muundan-muunga association (Kyrgyz kalpak from generation to generation) sews kalpaks together with two girls Clara Asangulova. She said that earlier, when these hats were made by hand, each stitch on them meant something: protection from the evil eye or illness. Now people are asking to make kalpaks with an individual pattern, some with the label of their company and a certain height. Often they ask not too high, so that in kalpak you can get into the car.

“So far I have four kalpak outlets in Bishkek and two more in Osh. The clientele is growing: people are beginning to understand what a good kalpak is. But there is a problem of shortage of good felt. After the collapse of the USSR, sheep with semi-fine wool, the very one from which good felt is obtained, disappeared. We tried to make felt ourselves, but its quantity was only enough for ten kalpaks, but for a hundred units it must be harvested on an industrial scale. Now we buy felt from private entrepreneurs who bought machines from industrial plants in the 1990s. There is not enough felt, and we have to stand in line for weeks,” complained Klara Asangulova. - Of course, kalpak needs to be revived, but this should be done at the state level, starting from breeding the desired breed of sheep and ending with the creation of a plant for the production of felt and sewing kalpak. Then the country will be able to massively replace synthetics with a traditional headdress.”

Kalpaki from the archive of the film studio "Kyrgyzfilm"

Today, March 5, Kyrgyzstan celebrates the Day of the Kyrgyz national headdress - ak kalpak. V last years it was worn only on rare ceremonial occasions. In order to popularize the traditional headdress, the authorities established Ak Kalpak Day in 2011. It should be noted that the efforts have yielded positive results. Young people hold flash mobs in a white hood, designers offer new concepts for a traditional headdress, and foreigners massively buy an exotic accessory for them.

In Kyrgyz culture, kalpak was perhaps the most democratic headdress. It was worn by all men without exception - from the khan to the poor, from young men to the elderly. They differed only in shape and color, which spoke of social status, financial situation and age of the owner.

Now the tradition of giving a kalpak has even become part of the state etiquette. When appointing or electing officials, they are now honored with a white kalpak, and dress uniform Kyrgyz athletes at international competitions must include a white kalpak.

Real kalpak is sewn only from natural felt. For him, a special felt is made separately from brushed, combed, white fine-fleeced wool of fresh processing. Therefore, kalpak was considered not only a traditional headdress of the Kyrgyz, but also emphasized the material well-being of the owner. In ancient times, they even said: "An adult camel is the price of a kalpak from that cloth."

Now kalpak made of natural felt in Kyrgyzstan is valued at least 1,500 soms, while its analogue with an admixture of synthetic materials costs about 200-300 soms. It costs almost twice as much in online stores, where it is mainly ordered by foreigners who have heard about the practicality of a headdress. In Moscow, kalpak can be bought for about 2 thousand rubles, in an online store it costs from $30 to 50.

Speaking about practicality, it should be noted that kalpak is the most "mobile" headgear. Thanks to the soft felt, it can be turned inside out, and the banded wedges allow it to be folded four times without losing its shape. Due to the dense felt made of natural wool, the kalpak warms in the cold, cools in the heat, and does not let moisture through in the rain.

Kalpaki kroyat different forms, and they all have a peculiar ornament, but each embroidery and color has its own meaning. The four edging lines are a symbol of life; tassels on the crown represent the offspring and memory of ancestors; the pattern speaks of the branching of the genus, but it is not customary to make patterns that are too complex, so as not to seem like a braggart. The color of the edging signifies the age and life experience of its wearer.

It is customary for boys at the age of 12 to give kalpaks with a green border, as a sign that they are at the beginning of their life and must learn everything.

24-year-old young people are given a kalpak with a blue border, 36-year-old men - with a brown one, personifying the earth. This means that at this age, men have already started families of their own and have gained enough experience to benefit their homeland.

At the age of 48, it is supposed to give a headdress with a beige border, which means that they can already set an example for the younger generation, and 60-year-old men can be given kalpaks with a black velvet border. A black line on a white background means wisdom, rich life experience of its owner and the ability to distinguish good from bad.

There are about 80 types of kalpak. They are divided by form, degree of complexity of manufacture, meaning and practicality.

Kalpak also spoke about the marital status of a man. If a young man went out in a white kalpak with a red border, then this indicated that he was in an active search for the second half. At this moment, the matchmakers had to hurry up and bring him to a potential bride.

When an elderly widower put on a white kalpak with a border of black felt, this meant that the grown-up children allowed him to marry a second time.

A kalpak made of snow-white felt trimmed with white fabrics is given only in recognition of a person's leadership.

Kalpak cannot be thrown, lost, placed on the ground, sold or donated to another kalpak. It was believed that with him a person loses his dignity, mind and piety. The headdress symbolized sacred protection, and attacking its wearer was considered sacrilege and blasphemy.

Kalpak must be removed with both hands and placed only in a place of honor, and before going to bed it must be left at the head of the bed.

Elechek (kimishek, bass orau) - the headdress of married women among some Turkic peoples (Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Nogai - peoples very close to each other in language and genealogy - Sanzhyre peoples). Today, when there is a revival of one's own cultural values, it is very important not to close oneself in one's national apartments and look for differences between closely related peoples. It is much more important to find common ground and restore the rich heritage of one's own common ancestors without any disputes about what is, for example, Kyrgyz or Kazakh, and who had it first. How can something be divided into one's own and another's if we come from the same ancestors? Therefore, all types of elecheks are presented here, which the Kyrgyz could have or will have, since they were and are among other fraternal peoples. In parallel, I will try to give explanations to certain details of the elechek, of course, in my own interpretation, and the correctness of the conclusions at the choice of the reader - I just express my opinion.

Strictly speaking, elechek is a turban, which is very common among many nations, orientalized (the image of the East in the eyes of the West), the image of which is associated with the image of luxury and palace-harem sexuality. However, among the Turkic peoples, the elechek turban, on the contrary, is associated with the image of the purity of female and maternal decency. Already in ancient times in Central Asia, the turban was symbolically associated more with the feminine principle and the feminine cycle, often conditionally tied to the lunar cycle, which reflected the ability to bear children.

Reconstruction of a female headdress, made on the basis of a wall painting in Penjikent (7th century), depicting the goddess of the moon

What exactly is considered an elechek and how does it differ from a turban? Elechek must consist of at least two (three) parts, (1) a turban (elechek proper), (2) a turban tail covering the braids and (3) fabric covering the cheeks and neck). Sometimes, to preserve the shape of the elechek, it is wrapped around a skullcap.

Elechek protected married women not only from the evil eye, but also from sun rays. No wonder the poetic epithets of young daughters-in-law and wives (kelin-zheӊe) became “white cheeks” and / or “white neck”, since, unlike a girl’s hat, an elechek protected a woman’s skin from sunburn. Optionally, elechek could be made of white material, for example, among the Karakalpaks, young wives wore kimishki made of red material, and older ones wore white ones.

Red and white Kimisheks of the Karakalpak

The word Kimishek (among the Kazakhs and Karakalpaks), perhaps, is an abbreviation for “kiyim elechek” - at least, this is how the Kyrgyz called elechek Kazakh women. Another female headdress of the Karakalpaks provides a possible explanation for one of the details of the elechek. Among the Karakalpaks, women wear “popek” on their skullcaps - an additional decoration in the form of a carpal ball or brush - moreover, unmarried girls and girls wear popek on the left side, and married women wear popek on the right side of the skullcap.

Popek on the skullcaps of Karakalpak women

This suggests that the popek showed that the woman belonged to one side or another - remember that the yurt is divided into female and male halves and the Turkic el in ancient times was also divided into the Kagan (conditionally male) and Katun (conditionally female) wings. Popek on one side or another of the skullcap also symbolized the woman's belonging to herself (to the left side, to which one can still walk) or belonging to some man. In the same way, part of the material of the elechek was bent in one direction or another, which additionally (besides the elechek itself) symbolized that the woman already belongs to this or that man, however, like him to her.

Elechek, turned to the right (Kazakhs and Karakalpaks)

And here a little explanation is needed why some elecheks are turned to the left, and others to the right. Perhaps this is due to the fact that in ancient times, among the Turks, the (conditionally) male dominant wing was considered the left wing, but later (perhaps in the post-Mongolian period) the right wing became the main (conditionally), therefore, in the symbolic designation, belonging to the male was a little confused. Or perhaps it was just the women of one kind-tribe that turned the elechek in one direction only because the women of another kind-tribe turned it in the opposite direction (here it is appropriate to add the phrase used by Muslim historians: “Allah knows best”, especially when it comes to women's clothing).

Elechek, wrapped to the left (Kyrgyz, Kazakhs)

The variety of Elecheks varies not only from belonging to one or another clan-tribe, but also from the status of a woman in the family. So, for example, widows wore black elechek, and women of higher status wore elechek of large sizes or higher, or both higher, and more. For example, in this photo of the bow of the newly-made Kazakh groom to the mother and relatives of the bride, it is immediately clear to whom exactly the bow is addressed in the first place, which, by the way, today Kazakh horsemen refuse to do, unlike, for example, Kyrgyz grooms.

Meanwhile, the number of varieties of Kazakh Kimishek is worthy of worship.

Some varieties of Kazakh Kimishek

However, like any other Turkic people, whose married women wear elechek. Some elecheks were with a ledge forward, which is very similar to copying the Saka kalpak.

Kazakhs (Syrdarya)

Among other things, it is possible that two ponytails may be present in elecheks, since a married woman braided two braids (we use one wide one), as we see on these Polovtsian sculptures.

However, the question arises, how did women work in such large headdresses? Again, most likely, the amount of elechek material and, accordingly, its weight and comfort for work depended on the status and age of the woman in the family. In addition, women could work not only in small elecheks, but also in headscarves, like, for example, these two Kazakh young men who had to work for five.

The dependence of the size of the turban on the position of the woman as a whole can be traced in the turbans of other ethnic groups, whose status was unequal to the status of the ruling Turkic-Muslim elite. So, for example, turbans and kimisheks of Gypsies, Chala-Kazakhs and Jews were much smaller in size and weight, as was the weight of these groups in the then society.

Gypsy, chala Kazakh, Jewish

Therefore, perhaps, one should take into account the dependence of the size of the elechek on the status of a woman in the family and her age. A light version of the elechek is very possible, which, apparently, existed. This miniature from Shah-nameh, painted in the 16th century for the Turkish sultan and kept in Topkapi in Istanbul, shows women with small turbans (judging by the circles on the headdress, the fabric is wrapped several times around the head, like elechek) and braids.

Afghan Kyrgyz women use a light version of the elechek, which is very convenient for everyday life.

Most likely, we are used to large elecheks due to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, when photographs of Kyrgyz women in elecheks or their own memories were taken, they were worn mainly by older women, who were supposed to wear more material on their heads due to their status . Today, when the convenience of casual wear is the defining choice of women, it is quite possible to recommend wearing elecheki and smaller sizes on the occasion. The revival of national cultural values ​​can go not only on the basis of the preserved ethnographic history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, you can go much further and diversify the wardrobe of our women, which they themselves will be happy about.

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Radio Azattyk - The Kyrgyz edition of Radio Liberty has just reported that Kyrgyz deputies have prepared a draft law obliging the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament to wear the national headdress ak kalpak (white cap) during official receptions and foreign visits. The draft law also obliges athletes to wear the national headdress in international competitions. According to the authors of the document, this is necessary for the "spiritual development and preservation of the centuries-old tradition of the Kyrgyz people" and in order to "increase the recognition of the people of Kyrgyzstan." The bill equates ak kalpak to national flag, coat of arms and anthem.

Kalpak is a Kyrgyz national men's headdress. It is called “ak kalpak” (white cap), as it is sewn mainly from white felt.

Ak kalpak men began to wear in Central Asia in ancient times, from the 13th century. It was worn from the khan to the poor, from young horsemen to elders. What people and who exactly invented this headdress is no longer known, but it can be said with almost certainty that the Kyrgyz are the only ones who still wear it en masse.

Kalpak not only complemented the traditional men's clothing, consisting of a felt or sheepskin coat and boots, but was also the main attribute in establishing the social affiliation of its wearer. A rich man wore a taller kalpak - he, as it were, added height and made a person more imposing. The kalpak gave the rider masculinity thanks to the curved corners directed forward. And it was in him that a persistent artistic taste was historically developed, rooted in the mists of time.

For calp felt, washed, brushed, combed, nowhere used white fine-fleeced wool is used. After the felt is made, it is artistically cut and then cut out.

In the 19th century, the production of caps was a women's business, and men sold them. For the manufacture of kalpak, the customer handed over a whole fleece of a young lamb and the fleece was taken as payment.

Each element of kalpak is not accidental. This ancient national headdress is sewn from four wedges, expanding downwards, the wedges are not completely sewn on the sides, which allows you to raise or lower the brim, protecting your eyes from the bright sun of the highlands.
At the top of the kalpak, 4 edging lines intersect:
1. The personification of the sun.
2. A symbol of life, being and existence.

The top is necessarily decorated with a tassel. It should always be in front: the tassel symbolizes archa, which the Kyrgyz associate with eternity.
Tassels on top:
1. The personification of offspring and putting down deep roots.
2. A symbol of peace, prosperity and well-fed life.
3. Personifies joyful youth and venerable old age.

A kind of cap - ai kalpai, was without split fields. And there are hundreds of legends about the ornaments decorating the white felt of kalpak.

There are about 80 types of kalpak. They are divided by shape, complexity of manufacturing, meaning and, of course, color. More precisely, ak kalpak itself, for that and “ak”, which should traditionally always remain white, but the edging changes depending on age.

Green or red trim- children's cap. The boys wore it. Green color is a symbol of youth, and it showed that they are at the beginning of their life journey and must learn everything

Blue or cyan edging- youthful ak kalpak. This color was worn by young people after 20 years. The color of the sky spoke of growth and maturation.

Kalpak with brown piping worn by men over 30, when the family was already growing, the heads of families had accumulated enough life experience and could benefit their homeland.

brown on beige edging color men changed already in adulthood, after forty. When they could set an example for others, the younger generation.

Black piping appeared on the kalpak of a man who had crossed the 60-year mark. A black line on a white background means wisdom. But if an elderly widower put on a white kalpak with a border of black felt, this meant that the grown-up children allowed him to marry a second time.

most honorable all white hood- headdress of elders, aksakals. It is given only in recognition of a person's leadership.

The parade uniform of the Kyrgyz people at various official events, athletes from the Kyrgyz Republic at international competitions necessarily includes a white kalpak. When they are appointed to a position or elected officials, they are necessarily honored with a white kalpak: the tradition of giving a kalpak in sovereign Kyrgyzstan has even become part of state etiquette!

It is believed that the kalpak, as the most democratic headdress, is the best match for the parliamentary state. It is also called both the most mobile and the most practical: thanks to the bordered wedges, the kalpak can be folded into four without prejudice to its shape; you can turn it inside out, because it is made of soft felt; in bad weather, kalpak does not let rain and snow through and warms, and on hot days it cools.

In the Manas epic, the Kyrgyz people are characterized as “a people wearing a white kalpak, the top of which is white, like the peaks of the Tien Shan mountains, and the base is dark, like the foot of the mountains.”

In 2011, they even established a special national holiday in order to popularize the national headdress. Celebrate it on March 5th.

On this day, schools and lyceums traditionally hold class hours on the topic of kalpak, in museums and theaters - presentations on the topic of the historical roots of the origin of kalpak, all kinds of flash mobs are organized in the capital, activists of youth movements even go to the festive parade, schoolchildren and university students arrange various national games in the central square, perform the dance of the nomads "Kara zhorgo".

A huge, specially made for this occasion, 3-meter kalpak is traditionally carried through the center of Bishkek and past the city hall, and a festive concert has been organized on Ala-Too Square for several years in a row.

According to the press service of the Bishkek City Hall, the world's largest ak kalpak is an exact copy of a traditional headdress made from natural materials in accordance with all traditions.

And ak kalpak goes to everyone. Do you recognize celebrities?

Elechek - women's headdress in the form of a turban. In its full form, it consists of three parts: a cap with a braid was put on the head, over it a small rectangular piece of fabric covering the neck and sewn under the chin; on top of everything - a turban made of white matter. Among various tribal groups of Kyrgyzstan, the female turban had various forms- from a simple cheat to complex structures, slightly reminiscent of a Russian horned kick. In Kyrgyzstan, the turban has become widespread.

She was called a cripple, but among the southern and northern Kirghiz - elechek. The same name was used by some groups of Kazakhs. For the first time, young women put on elechek, sending them to the husband’s house, thereby emphasizing her transition to another age group. The wedding wish for the young woman said: "Let your white elechek not fall off your head." It was a wish for a long family happiness.
Elechek was worn in winter and summer, without it it was not customary to leave the yurt even for water.

In northern Kyrgyzstan, a woman's headdress consisted of a small, tight-fitting cap with a strip down the back, and a turban tied over it. A thin white cloth or kisei was worn over the turban. Depending on the shape of the turban, as well as the ornaments of the cap, four types of women's headdress were distinguished.

The Issyk-Kul, Chui and Tien Shan Kyrgyz women wound the fabric for the turban in a spiral, forming even protrusions going up from the head; the turban itself had a cylindrical shape, its end was wrapped on the left side.

In the Talas valley and in the areas of the northern part of the modern Osh region, which were inhabited by the Saruu, Kytai, Kutchu, Dzhetigen and Bagysh tribal groups, they wore a round or oval turban; it was very wide at the top (without a lapel) and had a relatively small forehead protrusion.

In the eastern regions of the modern Osh region, as well as among the Kyrgyz women from the Munduz and Basyz tribes, the turban was large and had a protrusion strongly hanging over the forehead. The hat, which had a helmet-like shape, was skillfully embroidered with colored silk with a very thin seam; embroidered parts adjacent to the forehead and cheeks, and a strip descending to the back. Very long pendants made of corals, fastened with silver plates, were attached to the cap, descending to the chest.

In the southwestern regions of the Osh region, where the groups called Ichkilik lived, the turban had a more rounded shape and was rather high, while the cap was similar to the previous one. Sometimes an elegant scarf was thrown over the turban, the corner of which, falling down the back, was decorated with embroidery and fringe.

The turban was decorated in different ways: with embroidered stripes crossing in front, silk braid, silver jewelry, corals, coins, pearls.

In the Issyk-Kul region, in the Chui valley, elechek is already very rare to be found on an old woman or an elderly woman, in the Tien Shan it is somewhat more common. In the Talas Valley, the ancient headdress - ileki is much more widespread, it can also be seen on middle-aged women. To the south, this headdress is less common, and in the southern part of the Osh region it has completely fallen into disuse. The Kyrgyz, living in the Jirgatal region of Tajikistan, have preserved the old headdress only as a wedding dress.