The main customs of the Mongolian people are:

1. Offering hada

Hata is an indispensable item in the daily rituals of the Mongolian people. Offering hada is a etiquette used by Mongolian herdsmen to greet guests and in daily interactions. When offering a hada, the host holds the hada with open hands, chants auspicious wishes or praises, exaggerates the atmosphere of respect, and at the same time points the folded opening of the hada towards the guests receiving the hada. Guests should stand up and face the hada presenter, and concentrate on listening to the toast and accepting the toast. When receiving the hada, the guest should bow slightly forward, and the person presenting the hada should hang the hada around the guest's neck. Guests should put their hands together in front of their chests to express their gratitude to the person who presented the hada.

2. Serve tea

When visiting a herdsman’s home or at a tourist spot, the host or the waitress will first serve the guest a bowl of milk tea. Guests should stand up slightly and use both hands or right hands to pick up the dishes. Never use your left hand to pick up the dishes, otherwise they will be considered as not understanding etiquette. When the host or waitress is pouring tea, if the guest does not want tea, please gently touch the spoon or spout with the edge of the bowl, and the host will immediately understand the guest's intention.

3. Toast

Pouring wine and toasting guests is the traditional way of Mongolian hospitality. They believe that fine wine is the essence of food and the crystallization of grains. They offer the most precious food to express the respect and love of the grassland shepherds to their guests. Usually the host pours the wine into a silver bowl, gold cup or horn cup, puts it on a long hada, and sings a touching Mongolian traditional toast song. If the guest refuses to drink, he will be considered to be disrespectful to the host. Look down on him and don't want to treat him sincerely. Guests should immediately catch the wine, dip their ring fingers in the wine and tap it in the direction of heaven, earth and the stove to show their respect to the gods of heaven, earth and fire. Don't force yourself if you don't know how to drink, but you can touch your lips as a sign of acceptance of the host's pure friendship.

4. Worshiping gods

The Mongolian people have the custom of worshiping gods at their banquets. According to the "Mongolian Customs", the chef cuts the sheep into nine equal pieces of meat, "The first piece is offered to heaven, the second piece is offered to earth, the third piece is offered to Buddha, the fourth piece is offered to ghosts, and the fifth piece is offered to humans. The sixth piece is dedicated to the mountain, the seventh piece is dedicated to the tomb, the eighth piece is dedicated to the land and water gods, and the ninth piece is dedicated to the emperor." To offer sacrifices to the sky, throw the meat on top of the yurt; to offer sacrifices to the ground, throw the meat into the fire; to offer sacrifices to Buddha, place it in front of the shrine; to offer sacrifices to ghosts, place it outside the bag; to offer sacrifices to mountains, hang it on the sacred tree branch, and to offer sacrifices to the tomb. Ancestors of this nation. Place it outside the bag, sacrifice it to the water god and throw it into the river. Finally, sacrifice it to Genghis Khan and place it in front of the shrine. This custom can be traced back to ancient shamanism, which worshiped a variety of gods. Later, Lamaism, believed by the Mongolian people, absorbed their ancient folk beliefs and incorporated many gods into the trajectory of Lamaism.

5. Hospitality

The Mongolian people have been known for their straightforward temperament and hospitality since ancient times. He is full of enthusiasm for those who come to his home, whether he is a regular or a stranger. First, the fragrant milk tea was presented, and plates of white milk rind and cheese were brought out. After drinking milk tea, the host will serve mellow milk wine, and in midsummer, guests will also be treated to kumiss. In some areas, there are certain rules for serving guests with hand-grilled meat. For example, a pipa bone is served with four long ribs; for beef, one spine is served with half a rib and a section of sausage. Before a girl gets married or when she returns to her parents' home after getting married, she is treated with lamb breast meat. The lamb's calf bones, chin, and neck meat are all given to the younger generations and children. When receiving distinguished guests or on festive days, a whole sheep feast is served.

6. Respect the old and love the young

Mongolians have an orderly approach, respecting the old and loving the young. When visiting a herdsman's house in a ger, greet the elderly when you see them. Do not pass in front of the elderly, do not sit on top of them, and do not sit side by side with the elderly without permission. When addressing the elderly, you should address them as "you". Do not address them with "you" or call them by their first names. When you see herdsmen's children, don't scold them loudly, let alone hit them. Do not talk about your child's physical defects in front of family members. Being kind and affectionate to children is considered a sign of respect for parents.

7. Singing

The Mongolian people’s persuasion to drink is often expressed through sincere singing. Singing and persuasion to drink are performed at the same time. Often one person sings the lead, everyone raises their glasses and sings, and then Let's all drink together, and do this several times, and the wine will be in full swing.

Mongolian boots are divided into two types: leather boots and cloth boots. Mongolian boots are made with fine workmanship and have exquisite patterns on the uppers and other parts. Wearing jewelry and hats is a Mongolian custom. Hats in each region also have local characteristics. The Mongolian hats of Inner Mongolia and Qinghai are high on top and flat on the sides. The lining is made of white felt, and the outside is decorated with leather or the felt is dyed purple-green for decoration. It is thicker in winter and thinner in summer. The top of the hat is decorated with tassels and the hatband is made of silk. It can be worn by both men and women. The Barhu and Buryat Mongolians of Hulunbuir wear shawl hats for men and pointed hats for women. Precious raw materials such as agate, jade, coral, pearls, and silver make Mongolian jewelry rich and luxurious. The color of men is mostly blue or dark brown, and some have their heads wrapped in silk. Women usually wrap their heads with red or blue bandanas, and wear conical hats like men in winter.

Mongolian men wear robes and aprons, and women have lace patterns embroidered on their sleeves and high collars on their tops, which seems to be similar to the ethnic group. Women like to wear three pieces of clothing of different lengths. The first one is an undershirt with sleeves as long as the wrist, the second is an outer coat with sleeves as long as the elbow, and the third is a collarless waistcoat with straight rows of flashing buttons, which is particularly eye-catching. .

Mongolian costumes have a strong prairie style. Because the Mongolian people have lived in the Saibei grassland for a long time, both men and women of the Mongolian people like to wear robes. Winter clothes in pastoral areas are mostly made of bare leather, but there are also clothes made of satin or cotton. Summer clothes are mostly made of cloth. The robe has a fat body and long sleeves, and is mostly red, yellow or dark blue. There are no slits at the hem of men's or women's robes. Belt made of red and green satin.

Men often wear knives, fire sickles, snuff boxes and other accessories on their belts. Like to wear soft leather boots, knee-length. Farmers mostly wear common clothes, including slit robes, cotton coats, etc. In winter, they often wear felt boots, while high boots are rare, and the custom of tying the waist is retained. Men mostly wear blue or black-brown hats, and some wrap their heads with silk. Women usually wrap their heads with red or blue bandanas, and in winter they wear conical hats like men. Unmarried women part their hair from the front in the middle and tie it into two roots with two large round beads on them. The hair hangs slightly downward and is decorated with agate, coral, jasper, etc. Another distinctive feature is the Mongolian wrestling uniform.

Mongolian wrestling uniform is a Mongolian clothing craft. Wrestling clothing includes waistcoats, trousers, chaps and colored silk belts. The waistcoat exposes the chest. Trousers are roomy. There are many patterns on the trousers, usually cloud patterns, plant patterns, longevity patterns, etc. The pattern is bold and powerful, and the color contrast is strong. The underwear is large and made of 10 meters of cloth. It is conducive to heat dissipation and prevents sweat from sticking to the body surface; it also adapts to the characteristics of wrestling and makes it difficult for opponents to use leg wrapping movements. The trousers are sewn from tough cloth or flannel. The knees are stitched together with patterns of various colored cloths. The patterns are generous and solemn, indicating good luck and good luck. The various parts of the costume are properly matched and integrated, showing the brave national characteristics.

10. Dance

Savulden is the most important folk dance of the Mongolian people in Xinjiang. It is widely spread in Mongolian areas all over the country and is deeply loved by the people. Almost all Mongolians in Xinjiang, regardless of age or sex, can dance Savulden. Savulden is not only the name of the Xinjiang Mongolian folk dance music and song and dance music, but also the general name of folk dance. Savulden is often danced during festive festivals, marriages between men and women, family banquets for welcoming guests and seeing off guests, and other entertainment activities. There is no limit to the activity venue or number of people. It is usually held in the yurt and on the grass near the yurt. Savulden can be divided into several forms: bare-handed dancing, dancing with equipment, dancing with singing and dancing, and dancing with singing and dancing.

Andy Mongolian traditional folk songs and dances. It is the evolution and development of ancient collective dance forms such as "singing and stamping", "dancing with arms" and "dancing around trees". The performance form of Andai involves dozens to hundreds of people in the courtyard, forming a large circle. In the circle, two singing and dancing masters sing and dance to each other. Everyone responds by stepping on their feet and swinging their clothes to dance and sing, creating a warm and jubilant scene. . After liberation, through collection, arrangement, adaptation and innovation, the vast number of dance workers developed the ancient Andai into a new art form that reflects life and expresses the times. There are basically two forms: one is a self-entertaining group dance in the square, and the other is a performance on the stage.

The Bowl Dance is a traditional folk dance inherited by the Ordos Mongolian people from the Yuan Dynasty. The form is novel, the movements are graceful, the temperament is elegant, the style is unique, and it has strong national characteristics. It occupies an important position in the entire development history of Mongolian folk dance.

At wedding banquets and festive festivals, the Ordos Mongolians, who are good at singing and dancing, hold one or two people on their heads with a small oil lamp or bowl in the shape of a teacup or bowl. The bowl is filled with water or milk wine; each hand holds two wine cups or a bunch of bamboo chopsticks. Dance to the sounds of song and music. There is no fixed number of movements for dancing with lights and bowls. After mastering the basic movements and the rules of beating cups and chopsticks, the dancers improvise on the spot. The more excited the emotions, the more colorful the changes in movements and dance postures, which fully demonstrate the dancers' The skills, wisdom and rich, flexible and changeable characteristics of folk dance.

Chopstick dance is one of the representative traditional folk dance forms. The performer holds a pair of chopsticks in each hand, holding the thin end of the chopstick and hitting the thick end of the chopstick. The movements include crossing the hands in front of the chest to hit the chopsticks, or hitting the shoulders; crossing the hands in front of the abdomen to hit the chopsticks; hitting the chopsticks in front of the hands, then hitting the shoulders with one hand and hitting the legs with the other; hitting the shoulders with one hand and hitting the ground in a circle with one hand; squatting and turning; Use chopsticks with both hands in front of the chest, then use the other hand to hit the legs, then use chopsticks with both hands in front of the chest, then cross the hands to hit the shoulders, etc. The dance steps include parallel steps forward and backward, some ground steps forward and backward, or various turns and jumps made improvisationally by the dancers. Slow dance is steady and deep, while fast dance is lively and vigorous. When the mood is high, the chopsticks fly around and can hit various parts of the body in various movements, creating a relaxed and lively scene. Chopstick dance embodies the Mongolian people's love for life and their wisdom in beautifying life. It is an integral part of the spiritual life of the Mongolian people.

Cup dance is a dance popular in Ordos. During festivals and festive banquets, when people are full of wine and food, they pick up the wine cups on the table and dance to express their joy. Each hand holds two cups and hits various sounds such as fast, slow, breaking, shaking, etc. The hands dancing with the music use the cups to hit various rhythms. The movements include circling the eight figures with both hands, and the upper body swinging left and right according to the left and right eight figures (Arabic characters); the hands hit the cup in a cross shape up, down, left, and right, and the body rises and falls with the hands; the hands draw circles from the inside out or from the outside in; Shake the cup toward two o'clock or eight o'clock on the stage. The body rises and falls with your hands, and your face and eyes are in the opposite direction to your hands. Whichever side the cup is extended to, the ears on that side will stick out to listen to the sound of the cup; the rhythm of the circular movement is the same. One hand is above the head and the other hand is in front of the body in a circle from the inside to the outside; the hands are slowly moved from behind to the side, the range of movement is small next to the crotch, and in the middle directly beside the body, with one hand to the head and one hand It is bigger at the back of the waist. Doing it left and right in sequence is called the lateral twisting law. At the end of some movements or when two movements are connected, there are often beautiful cadenza movements, which can be described as wonderful. The lower body movements include kneeling with both legs, as well as various dance steps such as roundabout steps. The head can hold a bowl or a lamp. The dance is dignified and simple, the charm is stable and majestic, and the strength and softness are balanced.

Glare fighting is a simulated dance spread in the Xilin Gol grassland in the autonomous region, which is known as the hometown of wrestling. One person performs the lively fighting dynamics of two people wrestling, and the performance is more vivid, dexterous, humorous and funny than wrestling in life, so it is deeply loved by the masses. The performer needs to wear special clothing. Two small dummies wearing Mongolian robes are sewn together in a falling posture (waist-hugging shape), so that the two robes are put on the body in a tube shape. The belt is tied and the upper body is bent forward. 180 degrees, the two prosthetic heads stuck together are just on the waist. Use the hands with riding boots as the feet of one of them, and perform various hugs, kicks, kicks, and hooks in the singing or drum beats. and other techniques.

Pushur music and dance is also called Topshur music and dance. The folk dance performed by Bharat Mongolian in Mongolian is called Bei. Beyler means the rhythm of the body in Chinese. The four major Balat Mongolian tribes living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Alxa League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Jungar, Taoerhut, Durbet, and Heshuote. Each tribe has extremely rich folk dances. There is an ancient two-stringed plucked instrument called Topshur. According to the custom of Balat Mongolia, when Topshur is sounded, Beile must be followed, and Beile must be played by Topshur. It is performed amidst the music of Shuur, so the Bharat Mongolian folk dance is also called Topshur music and dance.

There are 12-17 pieces of Topshur's music that have been preserved relatively completely. Each piece has its own name and different movements and dancing methods based on its content, such as Black Jima, Yu Lao Lao, Slow Down Bourdon, etc. The life contents reflected in Batra Mongolian folk dance include those that express labor, such as shearing sheep, driving felt, milking, etc.; some express daily life, such as combing hair, looking in the mirror, wearing headdress, etc.; some imitate birds and animals, such as eagles. Spreading wings, goat running and jumping, walking horse, camel walking, etc.; some simulate natural scenery, such as water waves, water waves, grass waves, etc. The form is divided into two types: bare-handed and with props. The props are a covered bowl and a pair of chopsticks in each hand. He is bouncing and dancing while holding Topshur in his hand. In addition to shoulder stiffening, shrugging, and turning, his movements include dancing postures and movements that reflect Topshur. Jumping methods include Dalle Nbeyler (waving style, referring to the movement of lifting and pressing the wrist), Odle Nbeyler (winding jump, referring to the movement of wrapping the arms), and Acha Beyle (jumping while holding a weight, Nai uses his legs to hold B's waist, B holds A, and the two dance face to face). The whole dance runs through the circumferential rhythm, with the legs trembling slightly. Typical movements: stiff shoulders, shrugging, pressing and lifting wrists, shaking hands, Arm-circling, the movements can be varied and improvised in duet dances of 2, 3 or more people.

Circle dance is a folk dance popular among Mongolian people. It consists of several movements, such as alternating feet with a leisurely step, rough and unrestrained jumping steps, and lively and unrestrained lower body or sideways running and jumping steps. The upper body movements include shaking hands and holding hands behind people's backs. People hold hands and dance in a circle, so people usually call Buryat folk dance circle dance. The Adagio dance is lyrical and soft, while the Allegro dance is cheerful, agile and jumpy. The folk customs are simple, with ancient tones, and the emotions are warm and unrestrained.

11. Festivals

Traditional festivals include "White Festival", sacrifices to Aobao, Naadam, and the game of the brave on the grassland: Mane-beating Festival, etc.

The biggest festival of the year among Mongolian people is the New Year's Day, which is equivalent to the Spring Festival of the Han people. It is also called "White Moon". Legend has it that it is related to the whiteness of milk and contains the meaning of blessings and good luck. The time of the festival roughly coincides with the Spring Festival. On New Year's Eve, every family eats hand-made meat, and also makes dumplings and pancakes. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the younger generation toasts their elders with "New Year's Eve wine."

In addition to celebrating the New Year, people in Xilingol League also celebrate the "Mare Milk Festival" every summer. Before the festival, every family will slaughter sheep to make hand-made mutton or whole sheep feast, and also milk mare's milk to make wine. On the day of the festival, every herdsman family will take out the best dairy products such as dried milk, cheese, milk tofu and put them on the plate to entertain guests. Kumis is considered a holy drink and is offered to distinguished guests.

The Naadam Conference: held every summer and autumn during the pastoral leisure time. "Naadam" means entertainment or game in Mongolian. The contents include wrestling, horse racing, archery, dance, and material exchange. In addition, after liberation, many new contents were added, such as track and field, ball games, artistic performances, photo exhibitions, film screenings, exchange of production experience, etc., making it a favorite event for the Mongolian people.

The Luban Festival is a traditional festival of the Mongolian people in Xicheng, Tonghai County, Yunnan Province. It is held every year on the second day of the fourth lunar month and lasts for one day. The Mongolian people living here learned construction techniques from other fraternal ethnic groups. The houses they built were not only unique and beautiful in shape, but also durable and highly praised by people of all ethnic groups nearby. In order to commemorate and celebrate their achievements in civil architecture, they designated the second day of the fourth lunar month as the Luban Festival. On the festival day, the builders, carpenters, and masons who went out to build the house had to rush home to celebrate the festival no matter how far they traveled. In every village, pigs and sheep are killed and a stage is set up for singing. People also picked up the statue of Lu Ban carved from sandalwood, beat gongs and drums, and traveled to various villages. Then everyone gathered on the field to sing and dance. Their favorite dance is called "Tiao Le". When dancing, young men take the lead. They hold dragon-headed ukuleles and dance while playing. The crowd behind them is divided into two lines, sometimes forming a circle and sometimes intersecting each other. The formations are changeable, and they sing and dance. The scene is very special. active.

The Lantern Festival falls on the 25th day of the tenth lunar month every year. When night falls, every family lights butter lamps to celebrate. Nowadays, most Mongolians in Buxer Mongolian Autonomous County and Emin County no longer celebrate the Lantern Festival; the Mongolians in Wusu County do not light lanterns for many days during the Lantern Festival, and instead use various forms of entertainment.

After the festival, villages are busy harvesting wheat and rapeseed, plowing fields and planting rice seedlings. After completing these farm work, the craftsmen went out in groups to contract construction.