Sabantui

Sabantui

SpringSabantui, or the Festival of the Plow, was originally an agricultural celebration of the planting season. The date is now set each year by the president of the Republic of Tatarstan. The festival is held in Kazan on the Volga River. The events include climbing a greased pole to reach a cock in a cage on top and "smashing the crocks," a variation of Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey in which a blindfolded player who has been spun around several times tries to break open crockery pieces that contain prizes. There are also wrestling matches, foot and horse races, and lots of music and food.
Sabantui is also celebrated by Tatars living in Belarus. People of Tatar ancestry in Turkey observe Tepresh in June, a similar festival marking the end of the planting season.
CONTACTS:
Tatarstan Department of Foreign Affairs
Kazan, Tatarstan 420014 Russia
7-843-232-7552; fax: 7-843-232-7088
www.tatar.ru
SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Jun 25
FestWrld: Russia-1997, p. 24
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 406