Remember Mongolia

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year - known as 'Chinese New Year' in the West. In Mongolia, we call it Tsagaan Sar (the White Month). These three or four days are probably the most important days of the year for Mongolians. Tsagaan Sar is a return to Mongolian Culture, even here in the city where most of the old ways are forgotten and overcome by westernization, modernization and the other things that make this a 21st century city (sort of). Today people were strolling the sidewalks of UB in traditional Mongolian dells, visiting friends and family. This day marks the beginning of the new year, as well as symbolizing all things old and traditional in Mongolia. Everyone also advances to their next year age today (dang, that means I am now 40 from the Mongolian persepctive). It also marks the first day of Spring. Winter is over (it's a nice balmy -13F right now).

Last night we had the privilege of celebrating with our friends Irka and Dawgee.

They invited us to their ger and we ate buuz (a meat dumpling)

Eating buuz is an important Tsagaan Sar tradition. The Mongolians believe that on the first days for the new year it is important to eat a lot of food. Being full means that there will be plenty for the coming year. I ate seven. That was plenty for one night. We'll be eating more, as we visit two more homes tomorrow.

We also enjoyed some excellent Mongolian potato salad, fruit salad, salty milk tea (Renee's personal favorite - not) and taking a piece from the traditional "boov" (that's the stacks of cakes and candies and sour milk cheesein the picture below).

We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and were privileged to celebrate with our friends. Dawgee leads worship at our little church. Her husband, Irka works with YWAM. They were married just before our arrival in July and are expecting their first child in May.

So to all we say "Saxuan Shinlerei" - and sometime this week enjoy some Salty Milk Tea with us (Salty Milk Tea will have to do since I am now officially out of Starbucks...)