Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Kalmyks
Their self-designation is Halmgud (a remainder, a splinter in Turkic; this signifies the Oirats that did not take up Islam); only 80 people call themselves Oirat, several dozen use the name Derbet or Hoyt, some people call themselves Torgut. They are the majority of the population of the Republic of Kalmykia.
Spiritual culture
The folklore is represented by the famous epic Jangar, by the gurvn tercets, chants, proverbs, sayings, fairytales. Out of the holidays, the day of the beginning of spring (Tsagan sar) was especially venerated; it was celebrated in February.
Food
The dishes typical for Kalmyk food are broth with meat flavored with uncooked onion; meat baked in a covered dish; noodles with meat and onion; pelmeni dumplings; finely chopped mutton entrails, cheese, curd, sour cream, butter, kumis from horse milk, milk kvass and a sour drink from cow milk, tea (jomba) with milk, butter, salt and spices, unleavened cakes, bits of dough cooked in mutton fat (bortsogi).
Occupations
The main occupation was nomadic cattle breeding. The Kalmyks grew sheep, goats, cattle, horses. Grain growing, gardening, melon cultivation and kitchen gardening were also developed. They grew millet, oats, rye, buckwheat, wheat, tobacco, linen, peaches, grapes. They did artistic craftwork: embroidery, woodcarving, metalwork.
