🇺🇿 5 unique Uzbek traditions for travelers
Uzbeks are friendly, easy-going and very sociable people. They have authentic traditions that have not become outdated over the centuries. You can feel like you are in Uzbekistan or simply diversify your life if you try five popular traditions. It is not necessary to go to Uzbekistan, but it is recommended!
Drink tea constantly
In any unclear situation, Uzbeks drink tea, like many other eastern peoples. Black, green, with herbs… Locals call “Tashkent” black tea with lemon and sugar, which is added directly to the drink. You won't see the usual sugar bowl. Not a single meal is complete without tea, although you can brew a pot just like that.
The utensil for Uzbek tea is a bowl. It needs to be filled halfway. A bowl full to the brim means disrespect. This way the guest will burn his hands and not immediately ask for more.
Surely you guessed that the word “teahouse” comes from the word “tea”. Only earlier these teahouses were exclusively for men, but now a teahouse is any oriental establishment with an extensive menu.
Wear skullcaps and chapans
Local hats are not a tourist joke, but a real item of clothing. Uzbeks wear skullcaps, plain or with ornaments, velvet, with embroidery. Each pattern has its own meaning. The ornaments of Uzbek skullcaps differ from, for example, Kyrgyz ones – in the latter you will see curls. And chapans here are called long robes (caftans) that can be worn on the street. Chapans can be light summer, warm quilted, luxurious with gold hand embroidery… They are worn by both women and men.
Sitting on a trestle bed and sleeping on a kurpach
In Uzbek homes and restaurants it is easy to find large wooden beds with thick blankets on them. A low table is placed on the bunks. Guests take off their shoes and recline during lunch or tea. It is very comfortable! It is much more pleasant to recline on a trestle bed for hours than to sit at a table in a cafe.
The trestle beds arose when the floors in houses were stone and cold. So people could spend a lot of time in the warmth – sleeping, eating, and relaxing. By the way, for example, in Iran, tables are not placed on trestle beds. It is enough to spread an oilcloth to put food on it. And in Uzbekistan there are always tables.
Thick blankets on trestle beds are kurpachy. Many people in Uzbek houses still sleep on them, spreading them directly on the floor (and there will definitely be a carpet as well). It is very convenient when many guests come to the house. It is also good for the spine.
Flying kites in the mountains
Come to the mountains of Uzbekistan and you will see entire families relaxing in nature. The obligatory program includes a light snack or a substantial barbecue, as well as kite flying. It looks very beautiful! Don't confuse kites with real, live eagles. There are many of them in the mountains of Uzbekistan.
Get together with the whole family
A very simple tradition, which is already unusual for many modern people. Uzbeks often gather in large families of two or three generations, cook pilaf, drink tea and just chat. They don't need a special occasion to invite relatives to visit and spend time together. They support each other and will no doubt spend their time if a loved one needs it.