Archive
«Narodoznavchi Zoshyty» 2018 year, issue 3 read »
2013 year, issue 5 read »
«Narodoznavchi Zoshyty» 2017 year, issue 4 read »
2011 year, issue 3 read »

« 2022. # 6 (168)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2022. № 6 (168), 1291—1299

UDK 930.2:[398.3/.4:631.55](477.82) 

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2022.06.1291

THE PHENOMENON OF ZAKRUTKA IN THE HARVESTING BELIEFS OF THE RIGHT-BANK OF POLISSIA (ON OWN FIELD MATERIALS)

TSYPYSHEV Serhii

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5924-8930
  • Ph. D., Deputy Director of Research,
  • Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life in Lviv
  • named after Klymentii Sheptytskyi,
  • 1, Chernecha Hora str., 79014, Lviv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: SerhiyTsypyshev@gmail.com

Abstract. The actuality of the issues of this publication is due to the lack of work generalizing for the Right Bank of Polissia, tangential to the declared topic, as well as the interest of the scientific society and the general public in the disappearing phenomena of the spiritual culture of the Polissia people. The purpose of the article is to comprehensively investigate the phenomenon of harvest magic of the Right Bank of Polissia. The object of the study is beliefs related to magical actions aimed at causing harm, the obligatory attribute of which are the so-called twists, and the subject is general Polish features, as well as regional and local features of such beliefs. The methodological basis was the methods of field ethnological research and the works of ethnologists available in the literature, which directly or indirectly relate to the announced topic.

The study, based on its own field materials, explores the phenomenon of the modern malevolent agrarian magic. Thus, the presence of relict archival elements in beliefs related to harvest magic in the territories of the Right Bank of Polissia is considered.

The basis of the study consists of the research and analysis of the use of so-called zakrutka as magical act, which is intended to harm certain persons, their families or property. The tangled ear itself acts as the central element of the rites, the main attribute that creates and is used by the witches to fix evil on those on whom their charms are directed. At the same time, the zakrutka is considered as one of the possible variants of the ritual sheaf, that was made at the beginning or end of the harvest, which twist, however, is used in such a way as to dishonor the deceased ancestors.

Both the figure of the bearer of magical knowledge and the numerous ways of forming and producing the zakrutka are analyzed. Popular ideas that are common to this day, related both to the magician himself and to the magical attribute that he uses, are given.

The mechanism of action of the zakrutka is also described and analyzed, as well as a complex of protective and neutralizing actions. Emphasis is placed on the frequent use of the powerful cleansing effect of fire and running water in acts of malicious enchantment level. The text of the protective verbal formula is represented, which allegedly neutralized the negative effect caused by the actions of the witches. In addition, examples of other malicious agricultural magic are given, which are created without the use of the zakrutka.

Keywords: zakrutka, harvest, witch, witcher, belief, malicious magic, whisper, sorcerer.

Received 4.11.2022

REFERENCES

  • Dovzhenok, V.Y. (1961). Agriculture of ancient Rus. Kyiv: Pu blications of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SRU [in Ukrainian].
  • Kuzyshin, E.E., Mandybura, M.D., & Molchanova, L.A. (1988). Polesie Material culture. Kiev: Naukova dumka [in Russian].
  • Moisiienko, V. (1996). Polish orders. Drevlyany: A collection of articles and materials on the history and culture of the Polissky region. Lviv: Institute of Folklore of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Issue  1, pp. 121—166).
  • Rybakov, B.A. (1986). The paganism of the ancient Slavs. Moscow: Nauka [in Russian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K8/17 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K7/16 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K8/28 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K6/9 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K2/24 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K6/24 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K10/34 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K2/5 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K3/19 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K4/3 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K3/30 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNTsZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF-K5/3 [in Ukrainian].
  • Serzhputouskі, A.K. (2009). Mermaid Sunday. Caprices and superstitions of Belarusians-Paleshukov. Minsk: Higher School, 2009. 478 p. [in Belarussian].
  • Shkarban, A. Materials on traditional medicine of Zhytomyr Polissia. Polissia of Ukraine: materials of historical and ethnographic research. Lviv: Institute of Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 1999. Issue  2 (Ovruchchyna. 1995). P. 211—224 [in Ukrainian].
  • Vynogradova, L.I., & Tolstaya, S.M. The hall Slavic antiquities: an ethnolinguistic dictionary. Moscow: International Relations, 1999 (Vol. 2, pp. 262—263) [in Russian].
  • Vinogradova, L.N., & Levkievskaya, E.E. Folk demonology of Polesia. Moscow: Languages of Slavic Cultures, 2010. (Vol. 1). 648 p. [in Russian].
  • Vovk, Hv. Studies in Ukrainian ethnography and anthropology. Kyiv: ART, 1995. 336 p. [in Ukrainian].
  • Federowski, M. Belarusian people in Lithuanian Ruthenia. Krakow: Published by the Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1897 (Vol. 1). 465 p. [in Polish].
  • Baranowski, B. In the circle of ghouls and werewolves. Lodz: Edition of Lodz, 1981. 328 p. [in Polish].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K12/21 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K12/8 [in Ukrainian].
  • Zelenin, D.K. Eastern Slavic ethnography. Moscow: Nauka, 1991. 507 p. [in Russian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K5/26 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shein, P.V. Materials for studying the life and language of the Ruthenian population of the North-West Region. St. Petersburg: Typography of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, 1893 (Vol. 2). 715 p. [in Russian].
  • Pietkiewicz, Th. The spiritual culture of Polesie Rzeczyckie. Warsaw: Warsaw Scientific Society, 1938. 459 p. [in Polish].
  • Kutelmah, K. (2006). Polish-Carpathian parallels in the all-Ukrainian calendar-ritual sphere. Ethnological notebooks, 3—4, 328—337 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Lyubeshiv-(VII-VIII)-2015. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D6 10 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodarka-(VI)-2012. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D5 11 [in Ukrainian].
  • MNAiP archive in Lviv. Zv 105, 2010 (Tsypyshev S.I. Report on a business trip to Volovetskyi and Mizhhirskyi districts of Zakarpattia region). 12  sheet [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K3/7 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K9/13 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K3/1 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K9/36 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K4/20 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Unit collection S. Tsypyshev, AF K4/8 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K6/12 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. March-(VII-VIII)-2013. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D10 14 [in Ukrainian].
  • Parkhomenko, T. Calendar customs and rites of the Rivne region: Materials of field research. Rivne: Ed. Oleg Zen, 2008. 200 p. [in Ukrainian].
  • Zaivoronok, V.V. Signs of Ukrainian ethnoculture: dictionary-reference. Kyiv: Dovira, 2006. 703 p. [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K12/1 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Annual-(VII-VIII)-2010. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K4/3 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K8/8 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Volodymyrets-(VII-VIII)-2009. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K4/19 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Kamin-Kashirskyi-(VII-VIII)-2012. Unit collection C. Tsypyshev, AF D9 11 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Annual-(VII-VIII)-2010. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K3/23 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Kamin-Kashirskyi-(VII-VIII)-2012. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D8 9 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Lyubeshiv-(VII-VIII)-2015. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D5 11 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Sarny-(VII-VIII)-2008. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K10/13 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. Annual-(VII-VIII)-2010. Od. zb. S. Tsypyshev, AF K6/26 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F.   Volodarka-(VI)-2012. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D2 9 [in Ukrainian].
  • AA DNCZKSTK. F. March-(VII-VIII)-2013. Od. zb. C. Tsypyshev, AF D13 11 [in Ukrainian].

Read»

Our authors
Roman Radovych. Researcher, Ph.D. in History. read »
Boliuk Oleh - kandidate of sciences in arts, Doctoral... read »
Oksana Sapeliak. Senior Research Fellow, Ph.D. in... read »
Kuzmenko Oksana Senior Researcher, Candidate of... read »
Boikos’ pandemonium: categories of evil deceased
In the article have been presented some research-work on peculiarities of Boikos’ traditional demonological notions as for so-called evil deceased; on the basis of field records and ethnological literary sources quite a number of scum categories have been defined as well as essential habits, modes of behavior and functions of these personages of people’s demonology.
Read »

Daily bread baking of ukrainians in the south-western ethnographical region at the late XIX to early XXI cc.
The paper has dealt with analytic study in prescriptions, signs, customs, methods, ways of selection, procurement and some peculiarities in usage of subsidiary means — water, firewood and leaves in bread baking. The final aim of the mentioned actions had been (and still is) selection of the means and ingredients fit, by their characteristics, for the backing of bread. The paper has demonstrated dependence of bread backing subsi­diary means criteria from the folk nutritional standards and world outlook stereotypes as well as from regional social and economic, natural and geographical factors and peculiarities of material culture.
Read »

On field exploration of russian and belarusian ethnologists and etnolinguists in Ukrainian Polisia 1945—1980s
In the study based on a wide range of literary materials have been comprehensively characterised field research in Polisia of Ukraine, performed by Russian and Belarusian ethnologists during 1945—1980s as well as Moscow ethnolinguists and other researchers from ethnologic centres of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in the course of realization of Ethnolinguistic Atlas of Polisia program. Particular attention has been paid to geography, methods, themes and research results of scientific projects.
Read »

Maternity ritualism by volhynians in publications of the second half XIX to the early XXI cc.
In the article have been considered some basic landmarks for fixing and publication of ethnographic materials on the maternity rites of Volhynia with analytical study in ritual elements, their kinds and territories of origin. The article has also raised a problem of gaps in studies of maternity rites of Ukrainian historio-ethnographic Volhynia.
Read »