TRADITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE STAGES OF A CHILD IN UZBEK FAMILIES: AN ETHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The birth of a child and the subsequent early stages of life represent a profound socio-cultural phenomenon in the traditional lifestyle of the Uzbek people. This article provides a comprehensive ethnological analysis of the customs, rituals, and beliefs associated with expecting a child, childbirth, and the initial milestones of a child’s life within Uzbek families, with a particular focus on the local characteristics of the southern regions, such as the Surkhan oasis.

By examining ancient practices—including dietary taboos during pregnancy, the protective period of The birth of a child and the subsequent early stages of life represent a profound socio-cultural phenomenon in the traditional lifestyle of the Uzbek people. This article provides a comprehensive ethnological analysis of the customs, rituals, and beliefs associated with expecting a child, childbirth, and the initial milestones of a child’s life within Uzbek families, with a particular focus on the local characteristics of the southern regions, such as the Surkhan oasis. By examining ancient practices—including dietary taboos during pregnancy, the protective period of chilla (forty-day protective period after birth), the ritual of tanglay koʻarish (lifting the palate), the celebration of the ilk qadam (first step), and the muchal (twelve-year animal calendar cycle marking a coming-of-age milestone) transition—this study reveals the deep spiritual, educational, and social mechanisms embedded in these traditions.

Furthermore, the research explores how these ancient customs have transformed during the years of independence (1991–2024) under the influence of modern medicine, globalization, and shifting socio-economic paradigms. The findings demonstrate that while certain superstitious elements have faded, the core values of social integration, kinship solidarity, and the moral upbringing of the younger generation remain highly relevant in contemporary Uzbek society.