Tsagaan Sar spread! On the table are several kinds of salads, rice with raisins, cow’s foot jelly, candies, and milk tea (served in metal bowls).

The stacked cakes are in odd layers and are higher or lower depending on the level in the family. Grandparents will have seven layers. There are also locally made sodas to the left.

Buuz! These dumplings are a traditional Tsagaan Sar food. Families usually make thousands leading up to the holiday, freeze them, and steam them to cook them before serving.

Eric in his deel and a borrowed fox fur hat.

Wooden puzzles like this one are very popular past times in Mongolia!

Our school celebrated Tsagaan Sar. We all wore deels to school and had a mini celebration in the library for the teachers and the staff.

Selfie with the other youngins at the end of the greeting line.

We enjoyed both milk tea and airag (fermented mare’s milk) during our time in the library.

Our team leader! She is amazing.

Playing with shagai (sheep anklebones)

Some of our students preparing to play some traditional Tsagaan Sar songs.

A mini presentation by even more of our students. The blue silk scarfs are honorary.

Eric and I are both crouching down in this photo. 🙂