The ritual "kyrkynan shygaru", which is carried out when the baby reaches 40 days of age, is considered sacred and one of the most important in Kazakh culture.

This is the first significant transitional stage in a person's life. Therefore, it is very important that during this period parents carefully protect the baby from obvious and hidden dangers.

It is interesting that physiologically after 40 days the child really changes. His gaze becomes meaningful, the baby actively reacts to voices and sounds, and his fine motor skills gradually develop.

Although the ritual "kyrkynan shygaru" is associated with a specific date - 40 days from the baby's birthday, it is not carried out exactly on the fortieth day, but a little earlier or a little later. Everything depends on the sex of the baby.

For boys, the ritual is carried out on the 37-39th day. It is believed that only in this case the child will grow up to be a real man: strong, brave, healthy, and will be able to become a worthy head of the family and its protector. If the "kyrkynan shygaru" is performed later, the boy will become lazy, wimpy, and cowardly.

On the contrary, the date of the ceremony for a girl is moved to the 41st-43rd day after birth to endow her with softness, tenderness, and kindness. According to national traditions, these are the qualities that befit a true woman - a daughter, wife, or mother. According to popular belief, a ceremony performed earlier than the forty-first day will make a girl obstinate, frivolous, and impulsive.

Before the "kyrkynan shygaru" is performed, the child is not shown to strangers. There is a belief that evil spirits can notice him and replace him. Also, the baby's nails and hair are not cut. Before the ceremony, a lamp or light should be lit by the cradle. The light will not allow evil spirits to approach the child. The baby should wear a special shirt - it koylek - during this period. During the "kyrkynan shygaru" she will have a special role.

During these 40 days, the child is bathed alternately in salt water and water with soap, and silver is placed on the bottom of the bath, which evil spirits fear as much as light and fire. As you understand, it is also undesirable to violate these traditions.

The day of the ceremony is a responsible and solemn day for the family. Previously, all the women of the village were invited to it. In small villages, this tradition has been preserved to this day, but, in general, the circle of participants in modern realities has narrowed to the closest relatives. Of these, the child's mother chooses three of the most worthy and respected women. They will have to carry out the most important part of the ceremony - ritual ablution.

Bathing the baby is entrusted to the main of the three women - kindik sheshe - the named mother. Her role is comparable to the role of the godmother in the Orthodox tradition, but for the Kazakhs it would be more correct to call her the named or second mother. The water for bathing is prepared in a special way. Forty beans, silver coins and jewelry are placed in a ritual bowl. In some regions, beads are placed in the water for girls, and dice for boys. Then the women take turns pouring exactly forty spoons of water into the bowl, saying a good wish for the child for each spoon. It is no coincidence that the ritual ablution is called "bathing in a spoon of water." When everything is ready, the kindik sheshe begins to wash the baby. The water from the bowl is poured into a bathtub, in which the baby is then bathed, or it is poured directly onto his head. After bathing, the second of the three main participants in the ritual cuts the baby's nails, and the third cuts his hair. Previously, it was customary to bury the cut nails in a place where no human foot would step. But in a metropolis, this is almost impossible to do, so today they are usually simply burned. The hair was sewn into a white bag and hung near the baby's crib as a talisman. With an adjustment for modern times, they are simply left as a keepsake. After the ablution, the mullah reads a prayer and says the child's name in his ear three times. The ceremony is complete. It is time for gifts and treats.

In the ritual of gifting, a special role is given to the baby's shirt - it koilek. Previously, sweets were tied into it and hung on the dog's neck. Children invited to the holiday ran after it to get a treat. Today, it is difficult to imagine such a picture, so it koilek is either given to the children immediately along with sweets, or given to a childless woman who dreams of pregnancy.

All participants in the ceremony receive symbolic gifts. Women who bathed the baby are given coins and jewelry from the ritual bowl. Kindik sheshe receives a special gift. The other guests are given sweets, souvenirs, and useful little things.

The holiday ends with a ritual treat – kalzha. The mother of the baby is the first to receive the traditional broth to gain strength and improve health. Then the guests begin to eat.

Of course, in modern life, some of the rituals have undergone changes, adapted to new conditions. Nevertheless, the tradition is alive. It strengthens family and friendly ties, unites generations. The named mother remains a welcome guest in the house, an assistant for the parents in raising the baby, and the guests of the holiday are close people and good friends.