Sabantui. Tatar Wrestling

Ceremonies and holidays express the emotional and aesthetic life of the people. Celebratory culture of the Tatars traditionally included both religious (Kurban-bairam, Uraza-bairam, Ramadan) and secular holidays celebrated in a certain season.

The calendar cycle of national holidays and ceremonies of the Tatar people begins with Nauruz celebrated on the day of the spring equinox (March 21). Shakirds (madrasah students) visited all houses with songs - wishes of well-being and health and received a treatment from the owners.

Sabantui. The Main Prize

Nauruz was followed by the time of spring sowing - the most beautiful season, when the Sabantui festival was arranged. Its history is as old as our people. The earliest evidences of Sabantui are dated of 921. Preparation to the holiday started two weeks in advance. "Racehorse feels Sabantui approach in good time" - the Tatars said. The holiday's culmination was maidan - competitions in running, jumping, national wrestling - keresh, and certainly, horse races, poetized in verses and songs, arising admiration and delight - glory of the Tatar holiday.

The beginning of the summer was the time of jiyens - special holidays of meeting relatives, who came the day before and stayed for 3-4 days. The evening passed in youth outdoor fetes with songs and dances, round dances and cheerful games, young people got acquainted, future marriages were planned.

	Kurban-bairam. Charitable Dinner

Muslim holidays were especially esteemed. Kurban-bairam is the most significant one. It is a holiday of sacrifice in memory of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness sacrifice his son for the sake of Allah. The sacrificial animal is fattened several weeks before the holiday for an obligatory meat meal.

Uraza-bairam is celebrated at the end of a 30-day fast in Ramadan. Having tried sweets in the morning, Muslims go to the mosque, and in the evening arrange the family feast.

Since 1992 two religious holidays Kurban-bairam and Christmas are included in Tatarstan's calendar of public holidays. Sabantui is traditionally celebrated.

New holidays reflecting social and political changes were added to the national ones. The main of them is the Day of Republic on August 30. On this very day in 1990, Tatarstan adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty. The Day of Republic combine both ancient traditions and the present. It is a memory of the past and aspiration to the future. On this day, cities and villages of the republic flourish, all multinational Tatarstan people get together to see the festival open-air performance with historical customs and traditions, horse races, national wrestling, ensembles of ancient instruments and folklore groups performances.