Shynar or “platanus orientalis” is the most revered tree among the peoples of Central Asia – Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz and Kazakhs. Among the Tajiks, the worship of this tree took place on Wednesdays and was called “mushkilkusho” (righteous, “untying knots of troubles”).
This ritual was associated with expectations of strengthening the marriage covenant, acquiring sustainable material wealth for the family, healing the sick, removing adversity and the “rough patch”, giving birth to children (especially boys, where only girls were born in the family), etc. [7, с. 133].
The Uzbeks still believe that you cannot sleep under a plane tree, that you cannot cut it down and use it for heating. Kazakhs believe that this tree is alive and has useful and life-giving potential. Figuratively, “shynar” is used in the sense of support, protection, shelter.
