Department of Culture of Russian Federation
Pilot Animation studio of Alexander Tatarskiy
Present
We live in Russia,
…the biggest country in the world.
There are over 150 folks living in Russia…
…and each of them has its own language and customs.
In steppes, between the rivers Don,
…Volga and the Caspian Sea there live Kalmyks,
…the only Mongolianspeaking folk in Europe.
Kalmyks reared cattle and were always skilled ridersand brave warriors.
Starting from the time of Peter I,
…Kalmyk riders bravely fought in the Russian army.
Kalmyks carefully preserve their traditions and holidays.
In the end of cold December…
…they celebrate the New Year – “Zul”,
…which is translated as “fire”.
They make big fires and believe,
…the higher is a flame,
…the brighter the sun will shine in summer.
And indeed, the summer in Kalmykia is very hot.
In summer they celebrate the holiday…
…of soil and water called “Uryus”.
On this day Kalmyks splash their livestock with some milk,
…so that theanimals stay healthy and deliver a lot of young.
Kalmyks have many other unusual holidays.
Recently they have invented a new one – the holiday of tulips.
It is celebrated in spring, when the steppe…
…gets covered with a colorful carpet of flowers.
Various fairy tales are told in Kalmykia,
…and each of them is like a beautiful gem.
«The Horned Khan»
Once upon a time…
…there lived a woman in a Kalmyk settlement.
She had the only son.
He was merry and kind youth.
How he played the zurna (the flute)!
Everyone around started dancing. Even sheep did.
That country was governed by a cruel Khan.
And every month some people from the settlement disappeared.
There came the Khan's people,
…carried somebody off…
…and no one more ever saw him.
And finally it was turn of the Young man.
The woman cried bitterly, but she had nothing to do…
She gave to her son a bag with three flat cakes.
And the Young man left to the Khan.
Are you scared?
Don't be afraid, you will only shave my head.
The Khan put off his cap…
…and there was a horn on his head!
The Khan nodded and said:
- You'll be awarded for your work. Do you see that box in the corner?
- Take as much gold as you can take away!
The young man - saw, how many people were killed here.
That's why nobody above knows the secret of the cruel Khan.
The Young man gave the first flat cake to the big snake.
It liked the meal.
The snake helped the Young man to get out from the cave.
He turned out in a deep forest.
Suddenly he heard wolf's cry.
Wolf's belly began to rumble.
He probably wants to eat.
There came in handy the second flat cake.
It wasn't usual meal for the wolf,
…but he had eaten it. Even liked it.
And the wolf helped the Young man to get out from the forest.
And in a little izba lived a bad hungry witch.
- Very good, - says the witch, - I'm gonna have a dinner today.
Grandma, Grandma!
- Let me play the zurna.
She let! Why not allow?
In the end!
- I haven't danced like this for hundred years!
- So, it's time to have a snack.
The Young man treated her with the last mother's flat cake.
And told her the story of the horned Khan.
The witch agreed to help the Young man.
- Take my dressing gown. It's old but it's magical!
- Put it on and you'll become younger immediately!
- Oh, no! That's wrong!
- But if it's put on inside out,
…you'll become older!
- Oh! That is!
And if it's put on inside out, you'll become older!
The guard doesn't let in: - Who are you?!
- I am a barber.
- Oh! A barber!
- Well done! I'll award you.
- There is the box in the corner with…
The old man stooped down over the box…
- Oh, how much gold!
The Khan was astonished!
- What? Where is the gold?
The Young man came back home to his beloved mummy.
So they lived a long and happy life.
And the cruel Khan wasn't seen anymore in that part of the world.