Holiday Greetings from MACA and 2013 Activities Overview
Excerpt: "Greetings for the new year 2014. I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays. I hope you had a healthy, successful and joyful 2013. May your new year 2014 be full of good health, joy and successes of every kind. [...] The last thing I might mention is our plans to transition the major responsibility for the planning and implementation of our annual Chinggis Khaan ceremony through a new organization, called the Chinggis Khaan Memorial Foundation. In due course, there will be a call for participation in the new organization, and I urge you to consider joining and contributing to its future success."
[To view the full letter, click here]
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Call for Reader Submissions
We would like to thank our reader Khishigsuren Vaughn, a doctorate candidate in linguistics from Ulaanbaatar University in Mongolia, for sharing the following well-written papers with us introducing a couple special aspects of the Mongol culture: the tea ritual and the ger. We welcome submissions from all of our readers, and hope to receive more contributions to the eTolbo over the coming years. If you have anything you wish to share, please contact MACA through email indicating your interest, and we will respond to you as soon as possible!
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Mongolian Tea Ritual
Written and Submitted by Khishigsuren Vaughn
Excerpt: "Mongolian tea ritual is an essential part of its nomadic culture, that still exists in vast plains of Central Asia in the shadow of modern civilization and fast urbanization. Tea ritual elements express its unique characteristics and invisible connection to the ancient shamanic ideology. [...] While being considered as a part of Mongolian cuisine it plays a vitual role in spirituality, mentality, and ethical norms as well as youth upbringing. And how is it connected to all those? To see that one must observe carefully each and every steps of the tea ritual and people's attitude towards it. It could be subtle because all steps and moves are being done in habitual acts of common daily behavior."
[To view the full essay, click here]
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Role of Mongolian Ger in Social Interaction and Translation of Ger into English
Written and Submitted by Khishigsuren Vaughn
Excerpt: "One of the factors of social interaction is the type of dwelling of members of the society. Mongolian ger is a unique dwelling, which is environmentally friendly, simple and convenient for nomadic lifestyle, and it allows humans to have a direct connection to nature. Also Mongolian ger is an essential part of social interaction and cultural distinction of Mongolians."
[To view the full essay, click here]
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The 26th Annual Chinggis Khan Ceremony Photos
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Media Coverage
Onoodor (Today) article (Mongolian)
eTolbo: January 2014