Symbolic Criteria in the Ritual of “Gift Giving” by the Mongols

Abstract The Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian Lunar New Year) of the Mongols is a complex culture that has evolved over time, enriching various practices like traditional food and drinks, games, clothing, and the sharing and exchanging of gifts from various cultures. In our opinion, the contemporary practice of “exchanging gifts” among Mongols during Tsagaan Sar carries two communicative meanings of a diverging nature: on the one hand, it is originally rooted in ancient hunting culture, while on the other hand, it stems from the practice of “wedding gifts” and “offering gifts,” which derive from the relationship between state and religion. In this article, we aim to compare the similarities in the symbolic relationship between two traditional practices: “giving a share” ( qubi ögkü , in Mongolian tradition, refers to inheritance allocated according to the arrangement made when property is divided, ensuring that each individual receives an equal share); and “exchanging gifts.” We them aim to present a new idea on how people symbolize and classify gifts as a system on the categorical level.