* Ak kalpak

* a) The form of the Kalpak is the shape of the mount Khan Tengri.
* b) The four lines of the kalpak is the symbol of life.
* c) The tassel means the connection between the man who wears it, his
children and
* the history of his fathers.
* d) The pattern says about the family tree.
* e) Twelve-year-old boys got the kalpaks with a green brim. It meant that
they were
* just in the beginning of their life experience and had a lot of things to
learn.
* Twenty-four-year-old men got the kalpaks with a blue brim. Thirty-six-
year-old men received the kalpaks with a brown brim. Brown colour said
that the men in this age got married and could be useful for their
Motherland.
* When a man was forty years old, he got the hat with a beige brim. It meant
that the man was old enough to teach his children how to live.
* A sixty-year-old man could wear the kalpak with a black brim. The black
line on the white hat told people that the man was wise and could see
what was good or bad.
* f) You can’t:
*  kill a man with a kalpak on;
*  play with your kalpak (for example, throw it
up in the air);
*  put your kalpak on the ground;
*  put your kalpak by your feet when you sleep.
You must put it near your head.
*  Sell your kalpak or give it like a present.
 Discuss how you understand them.
1. If you lose your kalpak, you lose your head.

2. Don’t sell your kalpak or you will sell your mind.

3. Wear a kalpak and you won’t be ill – it is warm in winter and

cool in summer.
* Hats Off To The Kalpak! Traditional Kyrgyz Cap Tipped For Official
National Status
The kalpak, the traditional Kyrgyz hat, is tipped to become a national
cultural symbol.
A bill that would officially raise the kalpak's status is widely expected
 to be approved by lawmakers in the next few days.
The bill makes the felt hat -- also known as the "ak kalpak," or white
kalpak -- an official symbol "alongside the country's national flag, coat
of arms, and national anthem."
If approved, it would become compulsory for the president, the prime
minister, and members of the cabinet and parliament to wear the hat
during foreign visits and official events.
The bill also recommends that athletes and others representing
Kyrgyzstan in sports or cultural affairs at home and abroad sport the
kalpak during official ceremonies.
* The document describes the kalpak as an "important element of the cultural
heritage of the Kyrgyz nation." If it becomes a national symbol, disrespecting the
kalpak would be illegal and offenders could face a fine or up to a year in jail.
* In December 2017 a pet owner caused public anger when her Shiba Inu, a
Japanese dog breed, appeared at a Bishkek dog show wearing a kalpak.
* The incident prompted a small protest and widespread condemnation. Several
months later, the so-called kalpak bill, drafted by lawmakers Ekmat Baybakpaev
and Bakirdin Subanbekov, was made public.
* The bill tasks the government with ensuring the proper use of the kalpak and to
control its production, import, and sale.
* Kalpaks must be made from "only from natural felt using pure wool," the
document states.
* The kalpak has been worn by Kyrgyz men of all ages and social standing for
centuries.
* According to Kyrgyz tradition, the kalpak must be treated with respect. For
example, it should not be placed on the ground or near someone's feet.
* Kyrgyzstan officially marks Kalpak Day on March 5 with public gatherings,
concerts, and cultural events.
* In 2016, when the honorary day was introduced, a group of Kyrgyz students made
a 3-meter-high kalpak to take part in Kalpak Day celebrations in central
Bishkek.
* Kyrgyz National Clothing, Kyrgyzstan
* Kyrgyz clothing reflects the lifestyle and regions of Kyrgyzstan, with
designs and materials drawn from nomadic life. Wool, felt, leather,
skins, and coarse cloth are the main materials used for Kyrgyz
clothing, with ornamentation taken from tribal traditions and
nature. Even though many people wear Western clothing, traditional
elements are still visible everywhere, and people are proud of their
traditional clothing in Kyrgyzstan.
* The kalpak is perhaps the most famous item of clothing in
Kyrgyzstan. A tall hat, made of white felt, it is usually worn by men
after the age of 6. Men also wore a chapan, a coat with a high collar,
and suede or leather trousers. Sometimes honored guests are
presented with an intricately embroidered kalpak and long
embroidered felt coat, called a chepken
* Women often wore a beldemchi, a skirt with a slit in the front, over
a basic dressing gown or dress. For ceremonial occasions, dresses
with ruffles on the sleeves and skirt are the most common, worn
with embroidered vests and conical hats with feathers in the top
(called shokulo). A large headdress made of up to 30 m (100 feet) of
intricately wrapped fabric, called an elechek, was traditionally
worn by women, and is still popular for ceremonies and festivals
today. The elechek was prominently featured in the 2014 film
Kurmanjan Datka, when it was a prominent part of women’s lives.
* While nowadays clothing is much more Western than traditional,
visitors should still be conscious of cultural difference regarding
dress. In Bishkek, anything can be worn without attracting
attention, but in Osh and in villages, visitors should dress more
conservatively to avoid drawing unwanted attention.