Girls’ Chase

4 min read

The”Girls'”called kez kuwar”in Kazak language is a sport happening on the horse’s back and loved by the young people, and is also a special method for the young people to express their affections. this is a lively sport which is loved by people. It is a necessary activity when Kazak people celebrate festivals or hold happy events and big parties.

Legend says that long times ago, the leaders of two Kazak tribes became relatives by marriage. When the people in the bridegroom’s tribe went to the bride’s home to escort her back, they boasted that: the bridegroom was so good with a lot of skills and the horse’s four hooves could rise to the air whenthe bridegroom rode the horse. People in the bride’s tribe dissatisfied what the bridegroom’s friends said, they also boasted their bride tit-for-tat that: our bride was so beautiful just like the bright moon with a gentle character and the bride could move as fast as the wind or electricity when she rode the horse Both sides were unwilling to undergo a loss and boasted respectively. Someone n the bride’s tribe advised that: let the bride ride horse to run and the bridegroom ride horse to chase. If the bridegroom could come up with the bride, the bride could go with the bridegroom, but if not, the bridegroom had to greet the bride on another day. the people in bridegroom’s tribe worried that if the bridegroom couldn’t come up with the bride, not only the marriagedate will be delayed, but also the bridegroom’s tribe will lose face. So they refused and said that In order to escort the bridegroom back, we have built up 200 new yurts and cooked meat of 100 sheep, and prepared a large amount of wine and kumiss We also paved red silk as long as 50 meters before the bridal chamber, just waiting for the bride. People in the bride’s tribe scoffed and said “If you dare not compete, you will fail and have to choose anotherdate for the marriage then a person in the bridegroom’s tribe said: We have a condition: if our bridegroom comes up with the bride, you must give up the bride-price of 10 horses and 100 sheep Then, people all looked at the bride and bridegroom, waiting for their decision the bride who stood quietly all the time winked to the bridegroom and they rode at the same time and began to ompete. The bride ran on horse ahead, and the bridegroom ran after her tightly. Because the girl had fallen in love with the boy, she slowed down and waited to be overtaken deliberately. They took the opportunity to communicate with each other. When returning, the girl let the boy run ahead while she ran after him, changing the”chasing the girl”to”Girl’s Chase”. From then on, “Girls’ Chase”spread in Kazak In the game of Girls’ Chase, young boys and girls chase each other and communicate with each other. In the GirlsChase, they find their love and life-long partner. Now, this game hasn’t beenonly limited to the young and many married people also can participate in the game. But the men and women should be in the same age group, so that they can play and joke optionally.

The Girls Chase is usually held on the grassland in the summer or autumn when the grass is lush and the water is enough and the livestock are fat. Most people participating in the game are the young people who have made an appointment for riding the horse. Before the activity the young boys and girls select their partners respectively, and regulate where is the termination whichis usually 2-3 km from the starting point. When the activity begins, many pairs of people proceed abreast. the boys can play jokes on the girls and court to the girls optionally; however, the girls can’t be angry, only listening quietlyWhen returning, the boys run fleetingly, and the girls chase and hit rearwards, waving the whip. If the girl can come up with the boy, she can whip the boyoptionally. the girl even makes the boy’s cap fall down, causing a blast of laughter. If the girl likes the boy, she will not hit the boy with whip but to wave the whip above his head or the girl will whip the boy’s horse.

One song can vividly describe the love and affection of Kazak yo people:

You ride a claret red horse to run over the pasture,

I ride a lilac horse to come up with you tightly

Your horse is faster than the bird

I can’t come up with my beloved girl

I fail. Please whip me optionally with your whip,

The warm currents will warm my heart

Oh, why the whip rising high falls down slightly,

I can’t forget the amorous whip

Now, Girls Chase passes on mainly in the way of performance. In the celebrations held annually in the Kazak residential areas, Girls’ Chase has become a performance loved by the Kazak people and tourists from all over the world.