Chrononyms and Some Features of the Calendar Cycle of Makarevsky District, Kostroma Region

Abstract

The article examines the local holiday tradition recorded in an area of the Upper Volga basin, namely in the Makaryevsky district of the Kostroma region. It particularly focuses on the linguistic representation of this tradition: chrononyms (holiday names), related proverbs, and chrononymic derivatives. The research is based on field materials collected by members of the Toponymic Expedition of the Ural Federal University during several field trips (in 2004 and 2021–2023). The local calendar system is subject to selective rather than complete description that focuses on the factors that shape the originality of the local tradition. Among these are the unique chrononyms exclusively specific to Makaryevsky district, including those naming the annual holidays of Makaryevsky settlements (such as Yarilova Plesh, Ostannoye Voskresenje, Revun (day)). Another feature of the local calendar are the names of holidays referring to locally significant shrines or saints (revered in the vicinities of Unzha and Vetluga rivers or in Kostroma land in general). These are, for example, Makariev (Macarius) Day, Varnaviev (Barnabas) Day. High concentration of settlements celebrating these as patronal holidays in the region displays the significant role of the Rev. Macarius and Barnabas for these places. The paper also touches upon the local character of some all-Russian holidays, particularly the well-known Ilyin’s (Elijah’s) Day and the Day of St. Spyridon-the-Turner as the most notable for the festive tradition of the Makaryevsky district. For chrononyms with an obscure original meaning, the article provides motivational comments.

Keywords

• chrononymy
• ethnography
• festive rite
• folk calendar
• kostroma region
• russian folk dialects
• toponymic expedition of ural university