This tradition today also has lots of special prizes for the winners in each category, including new cars, houses, and fancy medals. People enjoy watching these sports the same way we do. Do you enjoy watching sports?
Tsagaan Sar is deeply connected to the Mongolian environment because it represents the end of winter and beginning of spring. After a long and harsh winter, Mongolians initially created this tradition as a way to meet friends and family after surviving the intense cold of as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit average on the coldest days. Have you ever felt weather this cold before?
Naadam, like Tsagaan Sar, is also very connected to the environment. Naadam represents a celebration of summer and all the happy times and festivities it brings. One special part of the holiday is the opening ceremony of Naadam, which is a huge celebration of Mongolian traditions, heritage, art, and more. Usually we see lots of Mongolian traditional outfits, instruments, songs, and dances as part of this opening. Additionally, the foods that are available during the festival are also “summer” foods, including different dairy products: aaruul (dried milk curd), airag (fermented horse milk), and suutei tsai (Mongolian milk tea).
