Elders’ Day
Mongolia is a country bordered by both China and Russia and is known for its nomadic culture and rugged terrain. This country covers an area of approximately 603,000+ square miles and has a population of just over 3.3 million people.
Mongolia (Observance)This makes it one of the most sparsely populated sovereign nations in the world. It’s also a country that encourages strong ties between its younger and older generations. This is evidenced by an October 1st holiday known as Elders’ Day.
Although this isn’t a public holiday, it is widely observed across the country with special events and celebrations.
Interesting Facts About Mongolia
We thought we’d take a few moments to talk about some of the things we learned about this country while researching Elders’ Day.
- In 1961, the first hotel opened in Mongolia. It was called the Ulaanbaatar Hotel.
- Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s capital city.
- The Gobi Desert in Mongolia is the largest desert in Asia.
- One-third of the world’s snow leopard population lives in Mongolia.
- Fermented horse milk is a drink that many Mongolians offer to guests. It’s called “airag.”
Observing Elders’ Day in Mongolia
This holiday is observed by Mongolians by setting aside a portion of the day for special events just for older people. However, this day isn’t a public holiday, meaning that businesses, government offices, and schools remain open.
Even so, a considerable number of people take time to show their elders the respect they deserve. It’s also a good day to enjoy ice cream, throat singing, and special meat pies known as Huushuur.
Mongolia (Observance)
