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Religious community of Crimean Karaites holiday “Tymbyl chydžy” in Trakai
The herald of spring – „Tymbyl chydžy“ – Crimean Karaites Easter in Trakai
To determine annual celebrations, the Crimean Karaites use a separate lunar calendar, according to which a year consists of 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes. It’s divided into a 19-year cycle with 12 normal and 7 leap years with a thirteenth additional month. A month consists of 29 or 30 days. Thus, dates of the holidays in the Gregorian calendar change every year.
Tymbyl chydžy (Tymbyl’s holiday) begins on the 15th day of the first month of spring Artarych-aj (March–April), and lasts a week. The first and the last days of the holiday, as well as Saturday and Sunday of the holiday week are particularly important. Special prayers and songs are offered during the Tymbyl chydžy services in Kenesa. The first festive prayers in Kenesa are offered on the holiday eve. Afterwards, a festive dinner is being eaten at home.
Tymbyl chydžy is one of the most important religious holidays of the year. It’s a bright herald of spring (much like Easter to Christians) and an important tradition of family reunion, not only celebrating religious origins of the holiday but also emphasizing the joy of the whole family staying together, talking, reflecting on belief and important family issues.
Excerpts from the Bible are being read as one sits down at the dinner table. The prayer lasts up to 40 minutes. Then, God's gifts are being consecrated: wine and round tymbyl cakes (the feast is named after them) baked specifically on this occasion according to the relevant requirements. They are usually baked from cream and butter. The main dishes of the festive dinner are fried eggs and šišlik (mutton or veal steak). Pastries, cake, walnuts with honey, and dried fruit compote are also served. All foods used in the preparation of this holiday are subject to special requirements – they can’t contain yeast, acid, fish, meat other than mutton or veal. Products that reflect the experiences described in the Bible are also necessary (bitterness, sweetness, acidity, spiciness). Therefore, there are horseradish, radish, and onion leaves on the table.
Throughout the holiday week, it’s customary to visit friends and relatives as well as taste tymbyl in every home as the taste of each housewife’s cakes is usually different. Tymbyl used to be baked in a furnace, however, now it’s done in an oven. Since families were large and they needed a lot of cakes, a special tool – talky – was used to make the dough. Today, the talky model is exhibited at the Seraya Shapshal Crimean Karaites National Museum in Trakai.
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