From ancient times to the present, marriage is a lifelong event. Wedding customs are closely related to everyone, and passing them on is a kind of cultural continuation!

In 2011, with the approval of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Kazakh traditional marriage customs were included in the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. It not only carries the profound history and culture of the Kazakhs, but also reflects the unique folk customs of the nomadic people.

Traditional wedding customs carry the history, culture and unique folk customs of the nomadic people. Kazakh weddings, from getting married to welcoming the bride, are all performed with singing.

With the progress of the times, the traditional marriage customs of the Kazakh people are also constantly evolving. In this issue, we will talk about the characteristics of the Kazakh wedding customs today.

The way of welcoming brides has changed. Modern Kazakh weddings have evolved from the time-honored “horse riding” to the now common “car wedding”. This transformation has made weddings less cumbersome and complicated than in the past, but the basic procedures have been retained. Nowadays, couples are more inclined to choose exquisite small wedding banquets or privately customized banquets. Most weddings are held in banquet halls or hotels. Guests from far away will also be arranged to stay in the hotel, and it will no longer be a wedding in a yurt. The attire of the bride and groom has also changed. They no longer wear traditional ethnic costumes, but choose modern suits and wedding dresses. Some people even choose to wear three sets of costumes, including traditional ethnic costumes for the bride’s wedding, modern wedding dresses for the wedding, and costumes for tea ceremony. This trend reflects the modernization and diversity of Kazakh weddings.

Betrothal gifts are diverse. In the traditional marriage customs of the Kazakh people, betrothal gifts and dowries have gradually been transformed from physical objects to cash. Nowadays, people no longer bring groups of cattle, sheep and horses to propose marriage in person. Instead, they give betrothal gifts to express their affection based on the economic status of their families. Likewise, the bride’s dowry will be determined based on the actual situation, and will no longer be a physical item loaded in a car like in the past. Gifts are also more diverse and personalized. In addition to traditional gifts, you can also choose to send some fashionable gifts or experiential gifts.

Pursue the freedom of marriage. In the past, marriage usually required that the social status and economic strength of both parties’ families should be equal, which was the so-called “well-matched”. However, with the changes of the times and the development of society, freedom of marriage has become the mainstream concept in modern society. Today’s young people pay more attention to the feelings and understanding between each other, rather than paying too much attention to the social status and economic conditions of each other’s family.

Wedding times are not restricted by season. In the past, Kazakh weddings were usually not held in spring or autumn, because these two seasons are the busiest periods for herdsmen and they need to set aside enough time and energy for grazing. However, people’s living standards and time arrangements have changed now, so the wedding time is no longer restricted by seasons, and you can choose the day you like; couples will also choose the wedding format according to their own preferences, paying more attention to romance and warmth.

There are innovations in the inheritance of wedding ceremonies. Kazakh wedding ceremonies in the past were usually very cumbersome and complicated, requiring a series of procedures and ceremonies. However, as people’s ideas about marriage change, modern Kazakh wedding ceremonies have become more concise, fashionable and modern; couples usually choose professional photographers and videographers to record their happy moments.

Generally speaking, modern Kazakh weddings have incorporated multicultural elements and reflected cultural exchange and integration. These changes reflect the development of society and economy, the improvement of living standards, and changes in people’s concepts of marriage.

If you can witness a Kazakh wedding with your own eyes, you will experience different wedding customs and ethnic customs.