The Ambassadors of the United States, Czech Republic, Republic of India, Republic of Cuba, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan to Mongolia shared their impressions about Lunar New Year and send the greetings to the Mongolians.
"MAY THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WELCOME IN JOY AND GOOD HEALTH IN THE YEAR OF THE OX"
Ambassador of the United States to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Michael S. Klecheski:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Last year, celebrations of the Lunar New Year were cancelled due to the pandemic, and the previous year my wife and I were in Washington, DC, preparing to travel to Ulaanbaatar. But in Washington, we actually did celebrate the holiday, because the Mongolian embassy organized a wonderful reception at the U.S. Congress. Many leading American experts on and fans of Mongolia attended what was a festive occasion in the beautiful setting of our Congress – a wonderful melding of my country and yours. For Eloisa and me, it was a meaningful introduction to Tsagaan Sar and, you might say, to Mongolia as well.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- One of the things Eloisa and I find most wonderful about Mongolia is the strength of its traditions and the importance of family. These are things that the Lunar New Year celebrates beautifully. As it happens, a friend who is a teacher in my native New York City just wrote me to say he is teaching his students about the holiday and wanted my input. I described those two qualities – tradition and family – as well as sending some photos so that his students get to see the beauty of Mongolia.
- Please send a Lunar New Year greeting to our readers.
- May the Lunar New Year welcome in joy and good health in the year of the ox. And though we must adjust our celebration to fight the pandemic, my wife Eloisa and I hope all Mongolians will get deep satisfaction from the traditions and family that are such important parts of this holiday.
The Ambassadors of the United States, Czech Republic, Republic of India, Republic of Cuba, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan to Mongolia shared their impressions about Lunar New Year and send the greetings to the Mongolians.
"MAY THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WELCOME IN JOY AND GOOD HEALTH IN THE YEAR OF THE OX"
Ambassador of the United States to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Michael S. Klecheski:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Last year, celebrations of the Lunar New Year were cancelled due to the pandemic, and the previous year my wife and I were in Washington, DC, preparing to travel to Ulaanbaatar. But in Washington, we actually did celebrate the holiday, because the Mongolian embassy organized a wonderful reception at the U.S. Congress. Many leading American experts on and fans of Mongolia attended what was a festive occasion in the beautiful setting of our Congress – a wonderful melding of my country and yours. For Eloisa and me, it was a meaningful introduction to Tsagaan Sar and, you might say, to Mongolia as well.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- One of the things Eloisa and I find most wonderful about Mongolia is the strength of its traditions and the importance of family. These are things that the Lunar New Year celebrates beautifully. As it happens, a friend who is a teacher in my native New York City just wrote me to say he is teaching his students about the holiday and wanted my input. I described those two qualities – tradition and family – as well as sending some photos so that his students get to see the beauty of Mongolia.
- Please send a Lunar New Year greeting to our readers.
- May the Lunar New Year welcome in joy and good health in the year of the ox. And though we must adjust our celebration to fight the pandemic, my wife Eloisa and I hope all Mongolians will get deep satisfaction from the traditions and family that are such important parts of this holiday.
"I WAS IMPRESSED TO SEE HOW MUCH EVERYONE INVESTS INTO THIS GREAT TRADITION"
Ambassador of the Australia to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Dave Vosen:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- This will be my third Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia. The first year (2019) was a highlight of my time here. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I was fortunate enough to experience what Tsagaan Sar celebrations in Mongolia mean.
What stood out most was the centrality of family. The celebration really exemplifies the strong sense of family in Mongolian culture, celebration of being together and importantly great respect for elders.
It is a shame that for the second year now, our Mongolian friends cannot be with their families to celebrate this great event.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- I visited friends’ parents and got to personally experience the celebrations. The fact that they were so welcoming and so hospitable made it a great celebration.
Since everything was new to me, I was happy to observe the customs, enjoy food, and the experience. The feast table was particularly impressive, just the way that it is prepared and what it signifies was good to learn.
I enjoyed learning some of the traditions, including greeting members of the household and especially the symbolism of hand placement and khadags. I hope I got them correct. I really liked the customary greeting of asking someone if they are well or peaceful, “amar baina uu?”
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- I was also drawn to the pageantry and the beautiful Mongolian traditional deels and clothing that everyone donned. The continuation of our ancestral traditions and customs is such an important thing and I was impressed to see how much everyone invests into this great tradition.
I enjoyed the connection between traditional dress and our agricultural roots. I think the deel has successfully shown that it can be as applicable on horseback as at a formal ceremony.
- Please, send a Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- To all our Mongolian friends, Happy Tsagaan Sar. I hope that the new year brings you prosperity and health. I look forward to the time when we as a world overcome this pandemic collectively and we can all gather with our friends and family to celebrate our traditions, our cultures and customs.
"I WAS IMPRESSED TO SEE HOW MUCH EVERYONE INVESTS INTO THIS GREAT TRADITION"
Ambassador of the Australia to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Dave Vosen:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- This will be my third Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia. The first year (2019) was a highlight of my time here. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I was fortunate enough to experience what Tsagaan Sar celebrations in Mongolia mean.
What stood out most was the centrality of family. The celebration really exemplifies the strong sense of family in Mongolian culture, celebration of being together and importantly great respect for elders.
It is a shame that for the second year now, our Mongolian friends cannot be with their families to celebrate this great event.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- I visited friends’ parents and got to personally experience the celebrations. The fact that they were so welcoming and so hospitable made it a great celebration.
Since everything was new to me, I was happy to observe the customs, enjoy food, and the experience. The feast table was particularly impressive, just the way that it is prepared and what it signifies was good to learn.
I enjoyed learning some of the traditions, including greeting members of the household and especially the symbolism of hand placement and khadags. I hope I got them correct. I really liked the customary greeting of asking someone if they are well or peaceful, “amar baina uu?”
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- I was also drawn to the pageantry and the beautiful Mongolian traditional deels and clothing that everyone donned. The continuation of our ancestral traditions and customs is such an important thing and I was impressed to see how much everyone invests into this great tradition.
I enjoyed the connection between traditional dress and our agricultural roots. I think the deel has successfully shown that it can be as applicable on horseback as at a formal ceremony.
- Please, send a Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- To all our Mongolian friends, Happy Tsagaan Sar. I hope that the new year brings you prosperity and health. I look forward to the time when we as a world overcome this pandemic collectively and we can all gather with our friends and family to celebrate our traditions, our cultures and customs.
"WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE CELEBRATIONS WITH OUR MONGOLIAN FRIENDS SO FAR"
Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Jiri Brodsky:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- My wife Hana and I arrived in Mongolia in September 2017, hence have been fortunate to have experienced three celebrations with our Mongolian friends so far.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- The most memorable and solemn occasion for me as Ambassador was the opportunity to be received by the President of Mongolia in a ceremonial ger of the State palace, together with members of diplomatic corps on this occasion in 2019.
The first celebration of Lunar New Year in a Mongolian family for us was in the family of Mr Sosorbaram. It was very unique, because throughout the evening a whole plethora of exceptionally talented Mongolian artists were coming to his flat and performed: throat singers, Morin khuur players, guitarists, actors, comedians. We had a great fun, feeling like we were with our own family, really.
In 2019 we were invited to the family of our friend Mr. Otgonkhuu, Director of Vocational training center in Erdene, Tuv aimag. We were celebrating with Otgonkhuu, his wife Shinee and their children, who are wonderful. We were playing guitar, singing, enjoying excellent food (Mongolian buuz) and we also visited a local herder´s family to celebrate with them too.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- It is the fact that you can meet with your family and friends, of course, people who matter most in your life and who are close to you. I admire the tradition of this holiday, the respect to elderly people, the specific holiday greeting, the national Mongolian costumes, its relation to nature and arrival of Spring.
- Please, send a Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- I would like to wish all your readers sound health and happy and prosperous Year of the ox. While the atmosphere of this year´s celebrations is influenced by Covid restrictions, the good news is that you can enjoy the occasion with delicious Czech beer.
"WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE CELEBRATIONS WITH OUR MONGOLIAN FRIENDS SO FAR"
Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Jiri Brodsky:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- My wife Hana and I arrived in Mongolia in September 2017, hence have been fortunate to have experienced three celebrations with our Mongolian friends so far.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- The most memorable and solemn occasion for me as Ambassador was the opportunity to be received by the President of Mongolia in a ceremonial ger of the State palace, together with members of diplomatic corps on this occasion in 2019.
The first celebration of Lunar New Year in a Mongolian family for us was in the family of Mr Sosorbaram. It was very unique, because throughout the evening a whole plethora of exceptionally talented Mongolian artists were coming to his flat and performed: throat singers, Morin khuur players, guitarists, actors, comedians. We had a great fun, feeling like we were with our own family, really.
In 2019 we were invited to the family of our friend Mr. Otgonkhuu, Director of Vocational training center in Erdene, Tuv aimag. We were celebrating with Otgonkhuu, his wife Shinee and their children, who are wonderful. We were playing guitar, singing, enjoying excellent food (Mongolian buuz) and we also visited a local herder´s family to celebrate with them too.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- It is the fact that you can meet with your family and friends, of course, people who matter most in your life and who are close to you. I admire the tradition of this holiday, the respect to elderly people, the specific holiday greeting, the national Mongolian costumes, its relation to nature and arrival of Spring.
- Please, send a Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- I would like to wish all your readers sound health and happy and prosperous Year of the ox. While the atmosphere of this year´s celebrations is influenced by Covid restrictions, the good news is that you can enjoy the occasion with delicious Czech beer.
"30 YEARS AGO, MY FIRST TSAGAAN SAR WAS CELEBRATED IN THE GER OF A FAMOUS RACE HORSE TRAINER IN TUV AIMAG"
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Ambassador of the Japan to Mongolia H.E. Mr. Kobayashi Hiroyuki:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- My first assignment was in Mongolia in 1985-1989, the second in 2005-2008, and in this time the third assignment is from December 2019 to now. I have fond memories of celebrating Tsagaan Sar during these years. I like to visit the homes of my friends and acquaintances and taste handmade buuz.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- More than 30 years ago, my first Tsagaan Sar was celebrated in the ger of a famous race horse trainer in Sergelen soum, Tuv aimag, with my chairman of the Embassy.
During my second assignment in Mongolia I’ve travelled with my friend, a poet and writer Ganbat to his native Selenge province to celebrate Tsagaan Sar in Sant and Javkhlant soums. At that time, the soum governor, who invited me to dinner, gave me some useful advice that “You should not drink mix of white vodka and Mongolian traditional vodka” but I faced a difficult situation because I forgot his advice.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Like the Mongolian Lunar New Year, the Japanese Lunar New Year brings us together as a family to celebrate the New Year.
Mongolian Tsagaan Sar is a wonderful holiday for those of us who live far away from our families in Japan, to feel the importance of a warm family atmosphere and relationships.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- We are sincerely glad that the friendly relations between Japan and Mongolia are steadily deepening even at this difficult time when we are facing the coronavirus pandemic. Mongolian Tsagaan Sar is a holiday that symbolizes the coming of spring after overcoming harsh winter. I want the coronavirus pandemic to subside so soon. I wish you Mongolians a healthy, happy and peaceful life, and I wish the relations between our two countries to become even closer and prosperous. Have a nice White month!
"30 YEARS AGO, MY FIRST TSAGAAN SAR WAS CELEBRATED IN THE GER OF A FAMOUS RACE HORSE TRAINER IN TUV AIMAG"
Ambassador of the Japan to Mongolia H.E. Mr. Kobayashi Hiroyuki:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- My first assignment was in Mongolia in 1985-1989, the second in 2005-2008, and in this time the third assignment is from December 2019 to now. I have fond memories of celebrating Tsagaan Sar during these years. I like to visit the homes of my friends and acquaintances and taste handmade buuz.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- More than 30 years ago, my first Tsagaan Sar was celebrated in the ger of a famous race horse trainer in Sergelen soum, Tuv aimag, with my chairman of the Embassy.
During my second assignment in Mongolia I’ve travelled with my friend, a poet and writer Ganbat to his native Selenge province to celebrate Tsagaan Sar in Sant and Javkhlant soums. At that time, the soum governor, who invited me to dinner, gave me some useful advice that “You should not drink mix of white vodka and Mongolian traditional vodka” but I faced a difficult situation because I forgot his advice.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Like the Mongolian Lunar New Year, the Japanese Lunar New Year brings us together as a family to celebrate the New Year.
Mongolian Tsagaan Sar is a wonderful holiday for those of us who live far away from our families in Japan, to feel the importance of a warm family atmosphere and relationships.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- We are sincerely glad that the friendly relations between Japan and Mongolia are steadily deepening even at this difficult time when we are facing the coronavirus pandemic. Mongolian Tsagaan Sar is a holiday that symbolizes the coming of spring after overcoming harsh winter. I want the coronavirus pandemic to subside so soon. I wish you Mongolians a healthy, happy and peaceful life, and I wish the relations between our two countries to become even closer and prosperous. Have a nice White month!
"IT IS A TIME TO HONOUR THE MEMORIES OF ANCESTORS, PAY RESPECT TO ELDERS, PRACTICE CULTURAL TRADITIONS"
Ambassador of the Canada to Mongolia, H.E. Ms. Catherine Ivkof:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year in Mongolia?
- I arrived in Mongolia in mid-December 2019 to take up my duties as Ambassador of Canada to Mongolia. I am very honoured to represent Canada in Mongolia and to work to further strengthen Canada’s relations with Mongolia. The coronavirus pandemic began early in 2020 and, as we know, unfortunately it was not possible to celebrate Tsagaan Sar in the usual way last year. Friends and colleagues told me about Mongolian Tsagaan Sar traditions and how they like to celebrate this holiday.
- Which family did you visit to celebrate Lunar New Year?
- Last year I did not visit any family for the Tsagaan Sar celebration, because of the restrictions in place due to the pandemic. I would be greatly honoured to experience family celebrations of Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia and I hope very much that I will have such a special opportunity one day.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- I like Tsagaan Sar because it is a special time to visit with family and friends and extend greetings for the new year to those who are important in people’s lives. It is a time to honour the memories of ancestors, pay respect to elders, practice cultural traditions, and enjoy delicious home-made buuz or maybe even a whole fat-tailed sheep. Someone might be lucky enough to discover a coin in their buuz, which signals prosperity for the coming year. I like Tsagaan Sar because it is a happy celebration and a time to look optimistically to the future.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- People around the world have faced particular challenges in the past year. Tsagaan Sar is a new beginning and I wish all people in Mongolia a “nice first of the month” and good health, happiness and prosperity for the new year.
"IT IS A TIME TO HONOUR THE MEMORIES OF ANCESTORS, PAY RESPECT TO ELDERS, PRACTICE CULTURAL TRADITIONS"
Ambassador of the Canada to Mongolia, H.E. Ms. Catherine Ivkof:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year in Mongolia?
- I arrived in Mongolia in mid-December 2019 to take up my duties as Ambassador of Canada to Mongolia. I am very honoured to represent Canada in Mongolia and to work to further strengthen Canada’s relations with Mongolia. The coronavirus pandemic began early in 2020 and, as we know, unfortunately it was not possible to celebrate Tsagaan Sar in the usual way last year. Friends and colleagues told me about Mongolian Tsagaan Sar traditions and how they like to celebrate this holiday.
- Which family did you visit to celebrate Lunar New Year?
- Last year I did not visit any family for the Tsagaan Sar celebration, because of the restrictions in place due to the pandemic. I would be greatly honoured to experience family celebrations of Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia and I hope very much that I will have such a special opportunity one day.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- I like Tsagaan Sar because it is a special time to visit with family and friends and extend greetings for the new year to those who are important in people’s lives. It is a time to honour the memories of ancestors, pay respect to elders, practice cultural traditions, and enjoy delicious home-made buuz or maybe even a whole fat-tailed sheep. Someone might be lucky enough to discover a coin in their buuz, which signals prosperity for the coming year. I like Tsagaan Sar because it is a happy celebration and a time to look optimistically to the future.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- People around the world have faced particular challenges in the past year. Tsagaan Sar is a new beginning and I wish all people in Mongolia a “nice first of the month” and good health, happiness and prosperity for the new year.
"I AM HAPPY THAT CULTURE, COSTUMES AND NATIONAL MEALS WHICH ARE BELONGED TO THIS HOLIDAY ARE STILL KEPT WITH CELEBRATED IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY"
Ambassador of Republic of Cuba to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Raúl Delgado Concepcion:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- We have been celebrating Tsagaan Sar every year for while staying 4 years in Mongolia. In our opinion, Tsagaan Sar is the most important holiday for the people of Mongolia and it is a holiday with an ancient history, symbolizing the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. Therefore, the lunar calendar symbolizes the beginning of a new year.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- We celebrate this holiday together by visiting the families of our friends who are always close to our embassy. In previous years, before pandemic we had visited some companies associated with Cuba to see how Lunar New Year was celebrated in there. As families visit each other and celebrate this holiday together, it is not only a family holiday, it is a symbol of family bond and unity of the Mongolian people.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- One of the favorite things about this holiday is not only contained family things in it, they also respect the elder people a lot. Secondly, also one thing that amazes me is that Tsagaan Sar is a traditional Mongolian way of life and culture, has been preserved to nowadays. I am very happy that the traditions, culture, costumes and national meals which are belonged to this holiday are still kept with celebrated in the traditional way.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- On behalf of the Cuban people, I would like to wish all Mongolian families and people a Happy Lunar New Year and wish them prosperity, success and well-being. I urge all Mongolians to follow the instructions of the State Special Commission to protect their health and prevent the spread of the pandemic, especially during the Lunar New Year, by taking care of the elderly ones. We would also like to wish the Government of Mongolia, government agencies and all the people of Mongolia a Happy Lunar New Year. Wish this year will be all Mongolians are healthy and economically prosperous. Thank you so much.
"I AM HAPPY THAT CULTURE, COSTUMES AND NATIONAL MEALS WHICH ARE BELONGED TO THIS HOLIDAY ARE STILL KEPT WITH CELEBRATED IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY"
Ambassador of Republic of Cuba to Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Raúl Delgado Concepcion:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- We have been celebrating Tsagaan Sar every year for while staying 4 years in Mongolia. In our opinion, Tsagaan Sar is the most important holiday for the people of Mongolia and it is a holiday with an ancient history, symbolizing the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. Therefore, the lunar calendar symbolizes the beginning of a new year.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- We celebrate this holiday together by visiting the families of our friends who are always close to our embassy. In previous years, before pandemic we had visited some companies associated with Cuba to see how Lunar New Year was celebrated in there. As families visit each other and celebrate this holiday together, it is not only a family holiday, it is a symbol of family bond and unity of the Mongolian people.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- One of the favorite things about this holiday is not only contained family things in it, they also respect the elder people a lot. Secondly, also one thing that amazes me is that Tsagaan Sar is a traditional Mongolian way of life and culture, has been preserved to nowadays. I am very happy that the traditions, culture, costumes and national meals which are belonged to this holiday are still kept with celebrated in the traditional way.
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- On behalf of the Cuban people, I would like to wish all Mongolian families and people a Happy Lunar New Year and wish them prosperity, success and well-being. I urge all Mongolians to follow the instructions of the State Special Commission to protect their health and prevent the spread of the pandemic, especially during the Lunar New Year, by taking care of the elderly ones. We would also like to wish the Government of Mongolia, government agencies and all the people of Mongolia a Happy Lunar New Year. Wish this year will be all Mongolians are healthy and economically prosperous. Thank you so much.
"I WISH THAT TSAGAAN SAR THIS YEAR WILL USHER NEW VIBRANCY IN US ALL LEAVING BEHIND THE FORGETTABLE MEMORIES OF COVID IMPACTED YEAR"
Ambassador of the Republic of India to Mongolia H.E. Mr. M.P. Singh:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, this is our second Tsagaan Sar (White Moon Year) in Mongolia though we will miss the buzz, bonhomie and fun of the normal times in 2021, I wish, hope and pray for the early return of the normal times especially now that we are hoping to receive the Indian Manufacture Covid vaccine in Mongolia in the near future.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- During our first Tsagaan Sar first we took the blessings from Khamba Lama of Gandan Monastery and then offered “Khatag’ & thanks giving prayers at the monastery. Then after wearing our specially made ‘Deel’ we went to the home of a Mongolian friend in UB to celebrate with their extended family and friends. I personally enjoyed the elaborate Mongolian delicacies especially freshly made Buuz & Uruum with bread. During our visit we learnt about the unique and loveable mode of the special greeting “Zolgolt” with each member of the family starting from senior to younger most and the custom of exchange of the snuff bottles while greeting each other.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Well, the best thing about Mongolian Lunar year is that it is a family-oriented function allowing all members – young and old – to get together, renew their bonding and practice age old cultural customs and traditions which get reinforced in young minds to carry the legacy forward. The other wonderful aspect is that all things white and beautiful are associated with the Tsagaan Sar. I noticed that almost all Mongolians were dressed in white robes, ride white horse, eat white foods made by dairy products and exchange white gifts. This is something unique to Mongolia. During my posting to Vietnam, we also celebrated Lunar Year called ‘Tet’ but they do not have these customs there
- Send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- In these difficult and challenging times, I wish that Tsagaan Sar this year will usher new vibrancy in us all leaving behind the forgettable memories of Covid impacted year. I pray to the almighty God that this Tsagaan Sar brings in new dynamism, fresh hope and renewed spirits for the entire humanity. May we all have a merrier, happier and healthier Lunar New Year.
"I WISH THAT TSAGAAN SAR THIS YEAR WILL USHER NEW VIBRANCY IN US ALL LEAVING BEHIND THE FORGETTABLE MEMORIES OF COVID IMPACTED YEAR"
Ambassador of the Republic of India to Mongolia H.E. Mr. M.P. Singh:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, this is our second Tsagaan Sar (White Moon Year) in Mongolia though we will miss the buzz, bonhomie and fun of the normal times in 2021, I wish, hope and pray for the early return of the normal times especially now that we are hoping to receive the Indian Manufacture Covid vaccine in Mongolia in the near future.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- During our first Tsagaan Sar first we took the blessings from Khamba Lama of Gandan Monastery and then offered “Khatag’ & thanks giving prayers at the monastery. Then after wearing our specially made ‘Deel’ we went to the home of a Mongolian friend in UB to celebrate with their extended family and friends. I personally enjoyed the elaborate Mongolian delicacies especially freshly made Buuz & Uruum with bread. During our visit we learnt about the unique and loveable mode of the special greeting “Zolgolt” with each member of the family starting from senior to younger most and the custom of exchange of the snuff bottles while greeting each other.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Well, the best thing about Mongolian Lunar year is that it is a family-oriented function allowing all members – young and old – to get together, renew their bonding and practice age old cultural customs and traditions which get reinforced in young minds to carry the legacy forward. The other wonderful aspect is that all things white and beautiful are associated with the Tsagaan Sar. I noticed that almost all Mongolians were dressed in white robes, ride white horse, eat white foods made by dairy products and exchange white gifts. This is something unique to Mongolia. During my posting to Vietnam, we also celebrated Lunar Year called ‘Tet’ but they do not have these customs there
- Send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- In these difficult and challenging times, I wish that Tsagaan Sar this year will usher new vibrancy in us all leaving behind the forgettable memories of Covid impacted year. I pray to the almighty God that this Tsagaan Sar brings in new dynamism, fresh hope and renewed spirits for the entire humanity. May we all have a merrier, happier and healthier Lunar New Year.
"I WISH ALL MONGOLIANS ARE SAFE AND HAPPY TSAGAAN SAR AND A PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF THE OX"
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Mongolia H.E. Mr. Philip Malone:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, I have had that privilege. This will be my third Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia, though only my first one in 2019 was celebrated in the usual way given the impact coronavirus has had on celebrations in 2020 and 2021.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- I have visited families with whom I have both personal and professional connections and have enjoyed very much the opportunity to celebrate with them.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Most of all, I like the fact that Tsagaan Sar revolves around family and is a time for families to come together to celebrate. As I have celebrated Lunar New Year in other parts of Asia, it is also great to see how the Lunar New Year is celebrated here in Mongolia. This year, I am particularly excited as I was born in the Year of the Ox, so 2021 is my year!
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- I wish all of your readers are safe and happy Tsagaan Sar and a prosperous and successful year of the Ox.
"I WISH ALL MONGOLIANS ARE SAFE AND HAPPY TSAGAAN SAR AND A PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF THE OX"
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Mongolia H.E. Mr. Philip Malone:
- Have you ever celebrated Lunar New Year during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, I have had that privilege. This will be my third Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia, though only my first one in 2019 was celebrated in the usual way given the impact coronavirus has had on celebrations in 2020 and 2021.
- Which family did you visit for celebrate Lunar New Year?
- I have visited families with whom I have both personal and professional connections and have enjoyed very much the opportunity to celebrate with them.
- What do you like most about this holiday?
- Most of all, I like the fact that Tsagaan Sar revolves around family and is a time for families to come together to celebrate. As I have celebrated Lunar New Year in other parts of Asia, it is also great to see how the Lunar New Year is celebrated here in Mongolia. This year, I am particularly excited as I was born in the Year of the Ox, so 2021 is my year!
- Please, send Lunar New Year greetings to our readers?
- I wish all of your readers are safe and happy Tsagaan Sar and a prosperous and successful year of the Ox.
