Syncretism is the phenomenon of merging diverse religious beliefs, teachings, and traditions, resulting in the formation of a new religious system or worldview. Derived from the Greek word «synkretismos» (union, combination), this phenomenon frequently describes processes occurring at the intersection of different cultures. An example is how the Kazakh people, upon adopting Islam, harmoniously combined it with ancient customs (such as the «bata» blessing or the distribution of seven flatbreads, «zheti shelpek»), which made the religion closer and more relatable to the national mentality.
