Сүндет той

The first “male” initiation

Sundet toi is a celebration on the occasion of a boy’s circumcision. The word “sundet” is of Arabic origin and goes back to “sunna” — the custom of the Prophet: in Islam circumcision belongs to the “fitra”, the natural norms of a person. The rite is called “sundetke otyrgyzu” (“seating for the sundet”). For a Kazakh family this is not merely a medical procedure but a boy’s first initiation — a step on the road to a “real man” and a sign of entering the Muslim community.

Age and day

The age chosen was odd — 3, 5, 7 or 9: among Kazakhs odd numbers are considered lucky. It was not customary to postpone beyond 13. Wednesday was considered a lucky day. Today the operation is more often done by a doctor in a clinic, frequently at an earlier age, and the celebration is held at a time convenient for the family.

Who takes part

The boy; the father and men of the clan who prepare him for the rite; the sundetshi — the one who performs the circumcision; the nagashy — the mother’s relatives, to whom tradition assigns a special role. The sundetshi used to be a village mullah or a specially trained person; today he is, as a rule, a doctor, and takes a place of honour at the festive table.

Preparation and the “messenger”

Before the rite the boy is prepared psychologically: he is told that afterwards he will become a young man, praised, distracted with jokes and stories. In descriptions, on the eve of the celebration the boy with a friend himself “announces” it to the village: he rides round the houses on a decorated horse (or goes on foot), hands out treats, and the hosts throw a scarf over him “for luck”. So the boy for the first time acts as an adult — a representative of the family.

The rite itself and the celebration

The rite itself is short; it used to be performed at home, today in a clinic. Then the boy is laid down and a celebration is held in his honour. Guests congratulate (“Sundeting kabyl bolsyn!” — “May your sundet be accepted”), put gifts — fruit, sweets, money — “under the pillow”, shower him with shashu, sing for him. Historically the celebration was accompanied by equestrian contests: baiga (races, including children’s), kokpar (riders’ struggle over a goat carcass), audaryspak (wrestling on horseback), kures.

The ashamai — the saddle of coming of age

The boy was set on a horse in the parade saddle “ashamai” — a high, decorated one. It was a symbol of passage: yesterday a child, today a rider. A saying has survived: “Ashamaily atka mindin, musylmandyk takka mindin. Sundetke otyrgan — imandy bolgan” (“You mounted the ashamai horse, you ascended the throne of Islam; you sat for sundet — you became a believer”).

Gifts and the role of the nagashy

The nagashy — the mother’s relatives — traditionally give the boy livestock; by one description, in the old days “forty billy goats” or “forty piebald foals” were given so that the herd would grow. Distant relatives often gave a horse, parents gifts to grow into, guests money, sweets and fruit. The table is laid with beshbarmak, baursaks and sweets. Today an envelope of money more often replaces the horse.

What not to confuse

Sundet toi is not an original pre-Islamic Kazakh rite: it is Islamic, arrived with the religion, though over time it acquired Kazakh features — the horse, the contests, the role of the nagashy. It is also untrue that circumcision is “obligatory” at 13: that is an upper limit, not a norm. And it is untrue that the custom vanished in Soviet years: it was continued covertly, in the family and with the help of doctors.

Interesting facts

Glossary

Сүндет

Circumcision; from Arabic “sunna”, the custom of the Prophet.

Сүндетке отырғызу

The rite of a boy’s circumcision.

Сүндет той

The celebration on the occasion of circumcision.

Сүндетші

The one who performs circumcision: once a mullah, now a doctor.

Ашамай

A high parade saddle; being seated on it symbolises coming of age.

Бәйге

Horse races, including children’s.

Көкпар

A horseback struggle over a goat carcass.

Аударыспақ

A wrestling of riders trying to unseat each other.

Нағашы

The mother’s relatives.

Шашу

Scattering sweets and coins.

Жігіт

A young man, a dzhigit; a man in his prime.