The Tatars are a Turkic-speaking people living across the territory of Eurasia.
From the X century until 1927, the Tatars used a writing system based on Arabic script.
Between 1928 and 1936, a Latin-based alphabet was in use, and from 1936 to the present day Cyrillic has served as the primary writing system.
In Tatar families, a patriarchal way of life traditionally prevailed.
The elder of the clan played a significant role, and his word was an unquestioned authority for all relatives.
From early childhood, both boys and girls were raised with a strong sense of responsibility toward the family.
Children helped with household tasks, learned various crafts, acquired skills in using tools, caring for livestock and land, as well as cooking and sewing.
Men’s clothing consisted of wide-crotched trousers (shalwars) and a shirt, over which a sleeveless kamzol (a garment similar to a waistcoat) was worn.
In cold weather, the outfit was supplemented with a quilted beshmet or a fur coat.
The traditional male headwear was the tubeteika (a pice of hedgear akin to a skullcap), often worn under a hemispherical felt hat.
Women wore a külmek—a long dress belted with a woven sash and decorated with embroidery or ornamental patterns.
The traditional women’s headwear was the kalfak, a velvet cap richly embroidered with beads.