Tebetey

One of the traditional headwear of the Kyrgyz men from ancient time. It is an indispensable part of the Kyrgyz winter headwear. It is a round headwear, usually made of marmots, lynxes, foxes, and beavers. Unlike other head wears, it is large in size.

The making of Tebetey.

The four fields of Tebetey are divided into four parts. The top is sewn with wool from not, velvet, sukno and other thick fabrics. The lower part of the steppe faces outwards and is covered with broad fur, mostly by foxes, and by the richest Kyrgyz, by thirsty, beaver fur.

According to fur, headwear’s are called fox tebetey, beaver tebetey, and gopher tebetey. The exterior of the Tebetey is decorated with different fabrics depending on the age and social status. For example, black and brown outerwear was suitable for the elderly, while light-colored outerwear such as green and blue was suitable for young people.

Let us briefly consider the Tebetey, who define wealth and power. A tebetey made of sheepskin was said to be worn, but it was worn by ordinary people in the cold of winter. But the respect of the common people, who were limited by their own economy, was like a blanket.

If the person has about 300 domestic animals, which had little prestige in the village, were worn by the virgins as foxes. And in every village it was possible to wear a thirsty tebetey to the experts and dignitaries. People who ruled in one region and had other prestige and power in other tribes wore beaver tebetey, but all of them were covered with black.

Among the Kyrgyz, the history of the people confirms that only a person who had reached the level of a khanate was allowed to wear a red cap, and Tebetey was called "Kyzyl Chok".

The Tebetey was worn not only by men but also by unmarried girls.

The outside of the girls' tebetey is lined with red manats and velvet fabrics, and an owl's wing is attached to the top of the tebetey to protect the girls from eye contact. Some simply sewed long hair. Sometimes it is decorated with jewelry such as beads and pearls. The girls' tebetey field was also cut higher. Men's tebeteys are decorated with a ball of charcoal. It is now widespread throughout Kyrgyzstan.