This is the "Tsaagan Tsar feast" at the ger of one family we stayed with. The back and tail of a sheep is laid out, along with all sorts of goodies & sweets. At the back on the right is a layered tower of this special flat bread that they make at this time of year, with other goodies in between. It is important that you have an odd number of layers, so you can start counting from the bottom: "Happiness, sadness, happiness, sadness ...." and end up with "happiness" at the top.
On the eve of Tsaagan Tsar (which was 7th Feb this year), the head of the family cuts some pieces of meat from the feast and gives them to all the things that protect and help the family; thus a piece was placed on a rafter over the door, a piece was placed on his gun, the guard dog was brought in beside the family & guests and given some. I think this is probably the only time the dog ever comes in - it was REALLY reluctant to come inside, and had to be dragged in by the collar. Finally, the father put the meat on the floor beside the fire, and it ran in, bolted it down and ran out again. At night it sleeps, curled in a ball, at the door of the ger - even when it's minus 30 or below ....
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