Calendar and Ritual Culture of the Russian Mining Population of the Komi Republic: The Easter Cycle

Альманах
Key words
calendar traditions, Russian mining settlements, Komi Republic, Easter cycle, folk culture
Author
Svetlana G. Nizovtseva Yuliya A. Krasheninnikova
About the Author
Svetlana G. Nizovtseva
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4197-1850
E-mail: svetlananiz@mail.ru Tel.: +7 (8212) 20-17-02
26, Kommunisticheskaya str., Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, 167982, Russian Federation PhD in Philology, Research Associate, Folklore Sector, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Komi Scientific Center, Uralic Division, Russian Academy of Science

Yuliya A. Krasheninnikova
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2045-4486
E-mail: krasheninnikova@rambler.ru Tel.: +7 (8212) 20-17-02
26, Kommunisticheskaya str., Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, 167982, Russian Federation PhD in Philology, Leading Researcher, chair of the Folklore Sector, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Komi Scientific Center, Uralic Division, Russian Academy of Science
Received
Date of publication
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26158/TK.2023.24.4.002
Acknowledgements

The work was carried out within the framework of the planned research and development topic reg. No. 121051400044–2.

Body

This article is devoted to the calendar traditions of the old-time Russian mining settlements of the Komi Republic, the appearance of which is associated with the opening of mines for iron ore on these territories in the middle of the eighteenth century and the construction of iron smelting factories. It considers the verbal, performative and physical components of the folk holidays that form the Easter cycle. The authors present material recorded in the period 2008–2022, detailed texts that describe ritual patterns of behavior and magical practices. Comparative typological analysis reveals a very developed Easter tradition among Russians factory workers of the Komi Republic. It also shows that its terminology, ritual practices, and perception of the given holidays are closely related to many other local traditions in Russia. In general, the calendar traditions of Russian factory settlements are characterized by a universality of ritual forms at the level of ritual attributes and behavioral patterns. We may consider such persistent elements of Easter traditions “willow-tree walking” (on Palm Sunday); washing and cleaning the house (on Clean Thursday); cooking ritual food; and visiting the cemetery on parents’ anniversaries. At the same time, the ritual and mythological meaning of some practices is rethought or lost altogether (for example, whipping with willow branches and crossing a stable). A distinctive feature of local calendar traditions is decorating living space with fir boughs and shooting guns or canons on the eve of Easter, as well as observing the play of the sun on Easter day in order to predict the future.

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For citation

Nizovtseva S. G., Krasheninnikova Yu. A. Calendar and Ritual Culture of the Russian Mining Population of the Komi Republic: The Easter Cycle. Traditional Culture. 2023. Vol. 24. No. 24. Pp. 22–34. In Russian.