Object
Ak-kalpak
Ак калпак
Ak kalpak. The only piece of clothing that a Kyrgyz person wears in the field, at a celebration, and in parliament.
What is it
Ak kalpak is felted from white wool and sewn from four wedges, representing the four cardinal directions. The brim is foldable: it provides shade in the heat and covers the ears in the cold. The black trim along the edge symbolizes the earth, while the white dome represents a snowy peak.
Rules of handling
Ak kalpak is not placed on the ground and is not turned upside down. It is not given to strangers and is not thrown away: a worn-out Ak kalpak is hung in a high place or burned. These rules are still alive, and selling an Ak kalpak as a souvenir hat is a sure way to offend a person who wears it.
Recognition
The craftsmanship of making and wearing Ak kalpak was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019. Since 2016, March 5 is celebrated as Ak kalpak Day in Kyrgyzstan.
Words
- Ак калпак · ak kalpak
- Белая войлочная шляпа
- Тебетей · tebetey
- Зимняя шапка с меховой опушкой
Motifs in this article
Source: UNESCO, Repository of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO · Акматалиев А., Кыргыздын кол өнөрчүлүгү, 1996, ISBN 5-655-00960-9