Dzhidzha’s story: My mother told me about how Kalmyks chose brides in the past. A matchmaker would insert a thimble filled with sheep’s excrement in the wall of the yurt of the potential bride to see whether the girl did sewing. The next day, the matchmaker would come to check the thimble. For a matchmaking ritual, the groom’s relatives would bring vodka when they discussed the date for a wedding. My mother’s wedding lasted for seven days during which the guests from both her and neighboring settlements ate meat. Kalmyk subethnic groups display a difference with regard to gifts that the groom’s side brings to the bride’s side on a wedding day. Buzavas and Derbets bring an entire sheep that is cooked, while Torghuts bring raw sheep meat with its skull missing the lower jaw and tongue, which they leave at home for themselves.