Kyrgyzstan

A landlocked republic in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan was a part of the Russian Federation and then the Soviet Union until it gained its independence in 1991. Sharing borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China, some 65 percent of the population are ethnic Kyrgyz, with about 14 percent being ethnic Uzbeks and 12.5 percent being ethnic Russians.

The country has a large population of sheep, and from an early age, children are involved in rounding up sheep and training dogs. Boys also practice with a slingshot, and young men test their skills and prowess in wrestling in a version of the Afghan game Pahl-wani. Keen horsemen, many Kyrgyz men are involved in hunting, using falcons and hawks that are trained over long periods of time. Many boys and young men are also involved in the rearing of the hawks. Men are also involved in playing horseback competitions such as Buzkashiy when teams fight over the carcass of a goat or sheep. Marco Polo went through the region [Page 351]in 1271–72, and he described some of the customs but did not mention the pastimes and games played in modern-day Kyrgyzstan. One game that probably dates from that period is known as Kiss-Ku or Kesh-kumai (“kiss-chase”) played on horseback by Kyrgyz and Uighur people.

While Kyrgyzstan was a part of the Soviet Union, compulsory schooling led to a great emphasis on European games, such as soccer, which was introduced into schools and youth clubs around the country and remains popular. Younger children have been involved in playing with building blocks and LEGOS, as well as playing with jigsaw puzzles and playing games outdoors like Hide and Seek. Dolls are also popular with girls, many made from cloth with knitted or stitched faces, although increased access to Russian goods from the 1960s led to the introduction of many plastic dolls. The Young Pioneer Movement encouraged children to take part in hiking and camping. Teenage boys enjoyed board games and Wargames, with Soviet battles during the Great Patriotic War (World War II) being the most popular. Since the nation's independence, there has been a greater emphasis on medieval history and Kyrgyz nationalism in schools, which, in turn, has led to a change in Wargaming habits, although the ethnic Ukrainian and Russian communities still follow much the same lifestyle as they did when it was part of the Soviet Union.