In Uzbekistan, late December is often remembered not for bitter cold, but for the pre-holiday mood: streets are decorated with lights, and homes are filled with the aroma of the New Year’s dastarkhan. It is at such a time that Qorbobo appears in many families’ lives — for Uzbeks, he has become a familiar and close symbol of winter. This is reported by podrobno.uzreports.
What’s interesting is that Qorbobo is not a character born of ancient folklore. His image took shape during a process of cultural adaptation that began in the mid-20th century, more precisely in the 1930s. Once the New Year became a secular holiday at the state level, the image of Qorbobo arrived along with the Christmas tree, and the local environment quickly reinterpreted him, enriching the character with the qualities of a wise Eastern elder.
While in Slavic traditions Qorbobo is more often portrayed as a stern ruler of the cold, in popular imagination he appears as a messenger of prosperity and renewal. He does not frighten with frost; on the contrary, he shares hope. There is even a poetic legend: if it suddenly snows on the eve of the holiday, it means Qorbobo is on his way — shaking white snow from the hem of his chapan.
According to legends, Qorbobo lives on the highest peak of the Chimgan range and every year descends to towns and villages to give children gifts. He also stands out because he comes not in a horse-drawn sleigh, but on a donkey — a familiar regional companion.
Beliefs about this “magic donkey” have also become a tradition: there is a saying that if someone manages to ride Qorbobo’s donkey on New Year’s night, luck will not leave them throughout the coming year. Qorbobo’s constant companion is Qorqiz — the local counterpart of Snegurochka. Together they are imagined as a harmonious symbol that brings quiet festive magic into homes.
The tradition of placing gifts under the tree has, over the years, become part of family closeness. That is exactly why children look forward to the morning of January 1 with special excitement.
Today, Qorbobo is not just a fairy-tale character — he is part of our shared holiday spirit. His image reminds us that even a tradition borrowed from another culture can become truly ours if it is filled with sincerity and local flavor. As steam rises from festive pilaf on the dastarkhan and sparse snowflakes swirl outside, Qorbobo remains a wise guardian of New Year cheer and the warmth of home.
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