Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Balkars
They are a people of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic who live mostly in its mountain and submontane regions in the upper reaches of the rivers Khaznidon, Cherek, Chegem, Baksan and Malka. Currently almost all of them use the self-designation Balkars, only the very few call themselves Malkar or Malqarlyla, Taulu (highland people).
Language
The Balkars speak the Karachay-Balkar language of the Northwestern (Kypchak) group of the Turkic branch of the Altai language family.
Dwellings
The main buillding material for erecting dwellings was stone. The predominant type was a single-chamber dwelling with a central hearth. The settlements of the Khulam-Bezenghi and Chegem ravines had houses where residential rooms were located on the second floor, and the first floor was for farm purposes – cattle was kept there.
Clothes
The traditional clothes of the Balkars were similar to the clothes of the other peoples of the Northern Caucasus. Clothes were made from homespun woolen cloth, leather, morocco leather, furs, etc.
Food
The traditional food of the Balkars consisted of dairy dishes; meat was mostly eaten on feast days. Mutton was especially valued. Preserving meat for future use was widespread. Popular dishes included jerked meat (qaq et), sausage (sokhta), garlic sause (tuzluq), broth (shorpa), shashlyk, zhalbaur from mutton liver, various khychin scones, soups and gruels. Strong alcoholic drinks were made from barley (arpa boza); ayran, gumul, syra, starched drink begene were also in use.
