Animism is the belief that everything possesses its own particular spirit. Mongols today still venerate the spirits of the sky, mountains, water and earth, making offerings of dairy products, vodka, small cakes, or tea, in the hope that the spirit of the mountain will come to their aid.

The principal sacrifice ceremony centred on the Ovoo, a truly sacred object for Mongols, while more routine rituals of milk or airag offerings are performed with the tsatsal, a wooden spoon used for making offerings with which Mongols cast to the spirits of nature the finest part of their fresh milk. These two traditions continue to be observed today: many Mongols still believe in the existence of nature spirits, and particularly in the spirit of the mountain.