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For more than 2000 years Mongols have been celebrating New Year according to lunar calendar.
Each year of the 12 years cycle of the Lunar Calendar is named after one of twelve animals:
Mouse, Bull, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake Horse, Ram, Monkey, Cock, Dog and Pig.
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| Nomadic family celebrating Tsagaan sar |
Still now, Mongolian New Year is a nation-wide holiday celebrated as a greeting of the end of
severe winter and beginning of spring time, when nature and people awaken and are inspired for
new life and deeds. After a month of preparation Mongols celebrate Tsagaan Sar with three days
of feasting with their families. Tables literally drown with food. Families traditionally kill
the fattest sheep in the flock and then display the boiled lower back and tail throughout the
holiday. In addition there are a great variety of milk product, and buuz (beef and mutton dumplings).
Mongolians are very hospitable people. Visitors are expected to try every dish and tip a few glasses
with the host. Toasts are usually made with mare's milk wine (airag) or arkhi distilled from fermented
cow's milk. The celebration is followed by sports competitions, traditional song festivals and other
events. At this time monasteries are full of people, usually wearing new dels.
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