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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2019, № 5 (149), 1305—1330

UDK 398.332(477.51)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2019.05.1305

TRADITIONAL CALENDAR AND MODE OF LIFE CUSTOMS AND RITUALS OF THE EASTERN POLISSIA (ON FIELD MATERIALS FROM RIPKY DISTRICT OF CHERNIHIV REGION)

HALAICHUK Volodymyr

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7780-5876

Candidate of Philology, Docent

The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv,

Department of Ethnology,

1, Universytets’ka str., L’viv, 79000, Ukraine

e-mail: halay_czuk@ukr.net

Serhii TSYPYSHEV

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5924-8930

Deputy Director of Research,

Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life in Lviv

named after Klymentii Sheptytskyi,

1, Chernecha Hora str., L’viv, 79014, Ukraine

e-mail: SerhiyTsypyshev@gmail.com

 Abstract. The publication studies traditional calendar customs and rituals of the Ripky district of Chernihiv region on the basis of modern field ethnographic materials. The register of the folk calendar of Polissian inhabitants of the Ripky district was concluded. Special signs of everyday life and outlook of some holidays have been found out. Emphasized on the manistic, agrarian, cattle, demonological and others motives of various customs and rituals.

The winter period in the Ripky district is rather poor in this context, compared to other Polissia districts. However, there are basic concepts characteristic for Polissian tradition. In the villages of the district cooked kutia, invited the Frost and the souls of the dead to the Dinner and so on.

Among the spring holidays, the custom “Kolodka”, custom dedicated to Pure Thursday “Hovinnia dizhi”, the Yuri’s custom-ritual complex, and others, call attention. Some aspects of Easter rituals, in particular actions with remains of the Easter meal, are well represented. At the same time, the brightest memories of the respondents are the memories of Didy and Radunytsia celebrations: in a slightly modified form, it still remains.

In the summer time, there are some points of interest in connection to Trinity Week for the researcher. In particular, though in a reduced form, information about the ritual of “Provody rusalky” is stored in the Ripky district. Instead, the celebration of Ivan Kupailo and the harvest rituals are very simplified and schematic.

Like everywhere in the Ukrainian folk calendar, autumn is not very expressive in the Ripky district. However, it is worth noting the local tradition of Mykhailove Chudo guy’s roistering and the folk tales accompany this day.

Keywords: Eastern Polissia, Ripky district, spiritual culture, calendar customs and rituals.

Received 9.10.2019

REFERENCES

Tolstaja, S.M. (2005). Polissian folk calendar. Moscow: Indrik. (Traditional spiritual culture of the Slavs. Modern research) [in Russian].
Archive DNCZKSTK. F. Ripky–2017. Op. save V. Halaichuk [in Ukrainian].
Archive DNCZKSTK. F. Ripky–2017. Op. save S. Tsypyshev [in Ukrainian].

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