Udmurt Folk Calendar and Rural Society

Abstract

The present paper aims to analyze rituals and festivals of the Udmurt calendar which convey the idea of interrelationship between the producing energy of the nature and of the human being taking into consideration folk beliefs about time as well as age and gender stratification of a rural community. It is established that men played an important role in the process of praying, while “female” theme was the quintessence of spring rites the main functions of which were fertility and production. Elderly women played a special role - not only did they supervise ritual activities, but also initiated some occasional rites, and, if required, they could also establish a contact with the other world. The youth took an active part in festivals held in the beginning of half-years considered as equivalent periods ( palar ) of a calendar cycle, i.e. in spring and in autumn. Young boys and girls were main participants in spring and summer merrymaking and round dances as well as autumn and winter gatherings. The rituals of this cycle were aimed at making pairs with a view of entering into a marriage. A holiday eve could be associated with puberty. Children participated in games which corresponded to rituals. The research presents main characters of the ritual scenario which symbolize quality changes in the nature’s cycle and human life. The article focuses on the functions of those characters and peculiarities of their behavioural stereotypes.

Keywords

• udmurt calendar
• paired time cycle
• rural society
• behavioural stereotypes
• fertile age
• matrimonial relations
• maidens’ festivals
• women’s rites