On October 8-9, meetings of the CIS Council of Heads of State were held in Turkmenistan.
On the eve of the CIS summit in Turkmenbashi, the fact that the children greeting the heads of state held bread wrapped in cloth attracted special attention.
Modern.az investigated the reason for this, citing Turkmen media.
According to the information, the greeting with bread (çörek in Turkmen) presented by Turkmen children and the traditional cover made of camel wool - “saçak” - was part of a traditional ceremony: national bread was offered to the guests, and they, according to tradition, broke off a piece from it.
But why was the bread wrapped in cloth?
Turkmen press writes that “saçak” is a traditional cloth used to wrap and store bread. The fabric woven from camel wool helps to preserve the softness and freshness of the bread.
In Turkmen culture, “saçak” is not an ordinary cloth, but is considered a sacred object representing the prosperity and abundance of the house. According to popular belief, leaving it open and untidy is associated with a decrease in the blessings of the house.
In many countries, it is an ancient custom to greet honored guests with bread and salt.
In Turkmenistan, presenting bread wrapped in cloth to a high-ranking guest means showing respect, friendship and hospitality.
The presentation of bread to leaders wrapped in cloth is both a traditional form of presentation and a display of national culture. It is of particular importance that the cloth, in addition to protecting the bread, is a symbol of prosperity and respect for the guest.
A. Gafarli
