Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Sunday, February 7, 2010
Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian New Year, is just a week away and preparations are underway everywhere. Everyone is frantically making mutton dumplings (or buuz) to serve to all the people who will visit them over the 3-day holiday. One friend said his family was making 1500 buuz, another said a 1000. The markets are buzzing, too, and the traffic ridiculously bad (of course, a bad snow storm is part of that equation as well).
In addition to serving food and drink to all ones guests, Mongolians are also expected to give gifts to everyone who comes to their house over the holiday. This puts a big financial strain on everyone, and for many, Tsagaan Sar seems to be a time of great social obligation.
