Everyone is always welcome in a yurt. To knock on the door would even be considered impolite. The custom is to call out “Tie up the dogs!” as you approach.

One enters the yurt with the right foot. It would bring bad luck to hit or walk on the door frame since it is believed that there is a protective spirit living in it.

One walks clockwise in the yurt.

The door usually faces south.

Men are traditionally seated to the west, women to the east and special guests to the north. The north-facing wall of the yurt (opposite the door) is the most sacred area.

For Mongolians, the yurt symbolizes the universe. They believe the axis of the world runs down through the toono (central dome) to the center of the earth. The toono represents the interface between humans and the cosmos, being a passage to the divine world. The bagaans (central posts) also connect human and divine, earth and sky. They represent the woman and the man who equally support this universe.

Although the wooden parts of the yurt’s structure are often painted orange representing the sun shining over the grassland, the outside of the yurt is usually white, representing purity, good luck and nobility.

The yurt is not anchored to the ground, in order not to harm the earth.

In strong winds, the rope that hangs from the centre of the toono (central dome) is tied to a large rock to anchor the yurt. When not in use, this rope is wound in a serpentine fashion and stored behind the roof rafters (huns) to the north of the yurt, as a symbol of fertility above the parents’ bed.

4 and 5-wall yurts are the most common in Mongolia, and house families of 4 to 8 people. The 5-wall yurt has 81 huns (roof rafters). 81 is 9×9, nine being a sacred number for Mongolians.