Mongolia Local Customs

  Working on the fire
by lalikes
 
  • Working on the fire
      Working on the fire
    by lalikes
  • Still working on the fire
      Still working on the fire
    by lalikes
  • Almost done...
      Almost done...
    by lalikes
  •   Local Customs
    by Willettsworld
  •   Local Customs
    by Willettsworld
 
Great Rooms. Great Rates.
Travelocity Hotel rooms at up to 50% off. 
Save Up To 50% On Hotels
ORBITZ.com Find great deals on Orbitz & pay no hotel change or cancel fees

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Naadam Festival

by Willettsworld

The biggest event of the Mongolian year for foreigners and locals alike is the Naadam Festival held in during three days in July. Part family reunion, part fair and part nomad Olympics, Naadam (meaning 'holiday' or 'festival') has its roots in the nomad assemblies and hunting extravaganzas of the Mongol armies. The communists renamed the festival People's Revolution Day and fixed it to July 11th to 13th, on the anniversary of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921 and this festival still takes place between these dates today.Wrestling, archery and horse racing are held during the first and second days. Day one of the Naadam Festival (July 11th) starts at about 9am with a fantastic, colourful ceremony outside the State Parliament House at Sukhbaatar Square. Chinggis Khaan's nine yak tails, representing the nine tribes of the Mongols, are ceremonially transported from Sukhbaatar Square to Naadam...

Tip Photo
Sheep/goat herding

by Willettsworld

This is a common scene in Mongolia. There are various methods used for sheep herding such as on motorbikes, by horse or by foot. Herdsman use a variant of the lasso called an uurga which consists of a rope loop at the end of a long pole.

Tip Photo
Mongolian Food

by Willettsworld

The traditional Mongolian Cuisine primarily consists of dairy products and meat. The nomads of Mongolia sustain their lives directly from the products of their animals (horses, cattle, yaks, camels, sheep, and goats). Cooking in the ger normally happens in a wok on a small stove using wood or dried animal dung (argal) as heating material.Two of the most popular foods that I ate in Mongolia were buuz and khuushuur. Buuz are dumplings filled with meat, usually mutton, which are then steam cooked. Khuushuur is a kind of meat pastry where the meat is placed inside the dough creating a flat half-circular pocket shape. After making the pockets, the cook fries them in oil until the dough turns a golden brown. The khuushuur is then served hot, and can be eaten by hand.Milk products are produced in great quantities. Aaruul is made from mare's milk and is then dried into a hard curd in the...

Tip Photo
Sheep/goat shearing

by Willettsworld

We set off one morning during my 12-day tour around Mongolia and stopped off at this herding family who were sheering there sheep and goats, all by hand, of course. The family consisted of a husband and wife with her mother who was 70. They had 3 daughters - aged 12, 14, and 16. They around 300 of sheep and goats and we were told that they make some 30,000 togrogs per kilo for the goat fleece, otherwise known as cashmere. Each goat provides 5-700g of wool. We were lucky to see them being sheered as it only happens once a year. A couple of days later we were lucky to see more being sheared in an enclosed paddock.

Tip Photo
Mongolian beer

by Willettsworld

I was very impressed with Mongolian beer and, I have to say, I sampled many different types with my favourite being Sengur. Others include Chinggis which is draft and quite strong; Mongol which is another draft but not as strong as Chinggis; Borgio - a bottled beer in three varieties, regular, gold and light and Tiger, which is like the Japanese one.

Tip Photo
Gers

by Willettsworld

We stopped by a few nomadic families living in gers - a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed circular dwelling structure, often called a yurt, during our tour around Mongolia. They have wood lattice-framed walls which are collapsible, light and strong where wood poles rest and hold up the central crown which is also held in place by two or more supporting poles in the middle of the ger. The walls are covered with felt which is made from sheep's wool and acts as insulation during the cold winter months as well as keeping the ger cool during the summer. The ger is then covered with canvas and held in place by ropes. The structure is kept under compression by the weight of the covers, sometimes supplemented by a heavy weight hung from the centre of the roof. All Mongolian ger's have an entrance door that faces south, away from the harsh northerly Siberian winds. Every ger that we...

Tip Photo
Ovoo

by Willettsworld

You'll see these all over the countryside in Mongolia. An ovoo is a type of shamanistic cairn, usually made from rocks or from wood with a wooden pole or tree branch at the top with a blue khadag, a ceremonial silk scarf symbolic of the open sky. Ovoos are often found at the top of mountains and in high places, like mountain passes. They serve mainly as religious sites, used in worship of the mountains and the sky as well as in Buddhist ceremonies, but often are also landmarks. When travelling, it is custom to stop and circle an ovoo three times in clockwise direction - once for the past, once for the present and once for the future, in order to have a safer journey. Usually, rocks are picked up from the ground and added to the pile.

Tip Photo
Mongolian Names

by iwys

Mongolian names are similar in style to those of native American Indians, who are believed to have migrated from Mongolia to America thousands of years ago.Male names tend to emphasise strength and bravery. The twentieth century Mongolian revolutionary leader, after whom the main square in Ulan Baatar is named, was called Sukhe Baatar, which means Axe Hero. Other popular boys' names include Arslan (Lion), and Batbold (Strong Steel).Popular girls' names include Narantuya (Moonbeam), Starlight and Precious Flower.

Libation

by iwys

When drinking alcohol with Mongolians, you should not commence until after someone has performed the traditonal libation. This involves flicking drops of the alcoholic drink - usually vodka - downwards to the earth, upwards to the sky, left to the wind and right to the water. This has its roots in the ancient animistic traditions of the country.

“Snuff bottle and Pipe”

by Tulka

Traditionally in Mongolia the main accessories carried by man are Carved stone snuff-bottle, Flint and Knife set ( Khet Khutga ) that hangs from the sash of the Del. History says the use of tobacco was adopted by Mongolians in the middle of 17th century . Then 20th century the pipe and the snuff had become universal accessories of the man. Actually the snuff container shows valuable possession and source of pride of the owner. Snuff bottle is made of precious stones such as agate, jasper, jade, topaz or chalcedony typically with coral lid and maybe decorated with carved ornamentThe snuff bottle is traditionally carried in beautiful silk pouch tucked into the sash of man’s Del. Use of tobacco became an important component of greeting ritual.Upon meeting men would exchange snuff bottles in the palm of their right hands . Ladies are allowed to receive snuff bottle and sniff the lid and...

Local traditions and culture in Mongolia

Top 3 Hotels in Mongolia

The Continental Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 1 Review and 23 Opinions  during my stay in UB I was completely cought of guard by this hotel. now they have a new fitness... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

Chinggis Khaan Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 1 Review and 46 Opinions  Very good high end hotel. Modern, recently built. Very good service. We went there with very low... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

Bayangol Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 2 Reviews and 69 Opinions  I stayed here for a couple of nights - the first and last night’s of my Mongolian tour. This 4-star... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

34 Hotels in Mongolia
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Mongolia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mongolia sightseeing.

Experience Mongolia
Local Customs: Cities in Mongolia
  1. Ulaanbaatar Local Customs
  2. Gachuurt Local Customs

More Cities in Mongolia

 

Popular Regions in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar Hot Local Customs  Ovorhangay Aymag Local Customs  Omnogovi Aymag Local Customs  Hovsgol Aymag Local Customs  Arhangay Aymag Local Customs  Erdenet Hot Local Customs  Tov Aymag Local Customs 

More Regions in Mongolia

Questions and Answers

ozpaul profile photo

Q:  We have the opportunity of visiting Ulaanbaator for two days in December this year. Could anyone tell me how difficult it is to... 

Fluffy_bunny profile photo

A: That depends, do you know what -20 to -30 C fells like? The locals are used to it. Just because it's cold, doesn't mean the whole city goes into hibernation. Things are... 

Read 8 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for

Great Rooms. Great Rates.
Travelocity Hotel rooms at up to 50% off. 
Great Rooms, Great Prices
Hotels.com Low Rates Guaranteed!  Click or Call an Expert at 1-800-45-HOTEL
Plenty of choices
agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices

Sponsored Links