Folk songs

Folk songs are the sung kind of oral folk art; their author is unknown and they passed from generation to generation orally. By content they fall into several types. Labour songs are sung during work (farming, crafts) and give spirit to work. Ritual songs are tied to weddings and mourning: “yor-yor”, “kelinsalom”, “kuyovsalom” and “aza” songs are among them. Seasonal songs are linked to the seasons: the “Boychechak” song announces the arrival of spring, and “Chittigul” is a girls’ game sung with clapping. Children’s songs include lullabies (alla) and game songs. There are also hunting songs and songs in question-and-answer form. In the songs the mulberry tree is regarded as sacred and the flower is interpreted as a symbol of the hard-working person.