Ivan Tserenov, Kalmyk Customs

Description

Ivan says that his mother always wore a headscarf in front of older relatives. She never walked barefoot in front of them. His father always sat at the centre of the family table. It was he who ate meat with bones, and gave marrow to the youngest child. According to customs, Kalmyks cannot marry relatives within 7 generations. Traditionally, 6 months after birth babies were shown to their relatives. At holidays, young people did not sit with older people at the same table. Men could drink only after 30.