Culture of
UZBEKISTAN
Culture of Uzbekistan
Hospitality is the essential part of Uzbekistan culture. People lived on the crossroads of the ancient
Silk Road and their lives highly depended on the business they conducted with foreigners that traveled from east to west and back,
carrying silk, pottery and other goods. Uzbekistan is well known for its chaikhanas (teahouses), where men get together and spend time chatting and joking over a cup of tea.
It is part of the culture that women take care of the house, including cooking. The applied art of Uzbekistan is a real cultural and historical phenomenon.
It is well known because of Uzbek traditions. The beautiful architectural ensembles of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Tashkent and Ferghana are famous
for their pieces of applied arts. See more ...
Tradition
The main feature of the Uzbek family is traditionally reverential respect for elders.
Uzbeks usually lives in large families consisting of several generations, therefore, preference is given to a large houses on the land.
Significant place in family life as element of the hospitality is tea ceremony. Moreover, tea making and pouring it to the guests is exclusive prerogative of the host.
It is common to receive invitations to a lunch or dinner and be on time. When planning a visit it is advisable to take souvenirs or sweets for children of the owner of the house.
Hand shaking is usually only for the menfolk. Women and people sitting in the background, greeted by putting right hand
to your heart, and accompanying this gesture with slight tilt of the head.
During hand shaking it is common to ask about health, family, and state of affairs at work and at home.
In rural areas in case of the guests, women usually do not sit at same table with the men in order not to interfere their conversation.
It is not polite to admire the beauty of the women and pay close attention to them.
When entering the living quarters shoes are taken off. Must take place indicated by the host.
Moreover, the farther it is form the entrance the more honorable this place is.
Hospitality
Hospitality is one of Uzbekistan features. Hospitality in Uzbek families is appreciated higher than the wealth of a table and prosperity of the family.
Not to receive a guest means to disgrace the family, kin and makhalla.
Hosts welcome esteemed guests at the gate. As a rule, men shake hands to each other and show their interest in each-other's health, business and other things.
It is appropriate to greet women with slight bow, attaching right hand over the heart.
Then guests are invited inside and to the most honorable seats at the table, or dastarkhan in Uzbek.
By the ancient custom men and women should seat at the separate tables, but this custom is preserved in whole only in suburbs.
The head of the family himself seats guests round the table, and the most honored guests are seated away from the entrance.
Holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| May 9 | Memorial Day |
| January 14 | Homeland defenders' Day |
| March 8 | Internacional womens' Day |
| March 21 | Navruz |
| January 1 | New Year |
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Datechanges annually | Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Hayit) |
| Datechanges annually | Eid al-Adha (Kurban Hayit) |
| September 1 | Independence Day |
| October 1 | Teachers' and Mentors' Day |
| December 8 | Constitution Day |