Culture

Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. In 2006, the population of Kyrgyzstan was estimated as being 65% ethnic Kyrgyz, 12% Russians, 14% Uzbek, 1% Dungan, 1% Ukrainian, and small community of Germans.

Flag

The 40-rayed yellow sun in the centre of the flag represents 40 warriors of the mythical hero Manas. The lines inside the sun represents the crown or tunduk of a yurt, a symbol replicated in many facets of Kyrgyz architecture. The red portion of the flag represents peace and openness of Kyrgyzstan.

Textiles

Kyrgyz women produce a wide range of textiles, mostly from the felt of their sheep. Ancient patterns are nowadays adapted to the tourist and export market, but it is still a living tradition, in that all yurts and most houses contain hand-made carpets or rugs called shirdaks.

Tush kyiz are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan by elder women to commemorate the marriage of a son or daughter. Colours and designs are chosen to symbolise Kyrgyz traditions and rural life. Flowers, plants, animals, stylized horns, national designs and emblems of Kyrgyz life are often found in these ornate and colourful embroideries. Designs are sometimes dated and signed by the artist upon completion of the work, which may take years to finish. The Tush kyiz is hung in the yurt over the marriage bed of the couple, and symbolise their pride in their Kyrgyz tradition.

Religion

Kyrgyzstan is a secular state, and during Soviet times, atheism was encouraged. About 75% of the population are Muslim, mostly Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school. Islam in Kyrgyzstan is more of a cultural background than a devout daily practice for most.

The main Christian churches are Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Orthodox. A small minority of Germans are Protestant Christians, mostly Lutherans or Baptists. A small number of Bukharian Jews had also lived in Kyrgyzstan, but during the collapse of the Soviet Union most fled to other countries, mainly the United States and Israel.

Animistic traditions survive, as do influences from Buddhism such as the tying of prayer flags onto sacred trees.

Sports

The traditional national sports reflect the importance of horse riding in Kyrgyz culture. Very popular, as in all of Central Asia, is Kok Boru (meaning 'blue wolf'), a team game something between polo and rugby on horseback, in which the two teams attempt to deliver the headless carcass of a goat across the opposition's goal line or, in today's somewhat more regulated version, into the opposition's goal, a big tub or a circle marked on the ground. During a match the players seek to wrestle the goat from their opponents.

Other popular games on horseback are Tyiyn or Tenghe Enish (picking up a coin from the ground at full gallop), Kyz Kuumai (chasing a girl in order to win a kiss from her, while she gallops away and may lash the pursuer with her horse whip), Oodarysh (wrestling on horseback) and long-distance horse races over 15, 20 or even 50 and 100 kilometres.