The Russian Folk Songs in Dagestan: the Wedding Ritual Lamentations

Abstract

The article is devoted to the wedding poetry of the Russian-speaking population of Dagestan. This folk art which had existed for centuries as well as other folklore genres used to be impacted by various domestic phenomena. The traditional Russian wedding ceremony in Dagestan began to change noticeably at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century and was characterized by extinction of many rituals. With the loss of some ritual scenes, their simplification and reduction, the songs connected with wedding events began to change. Thus, under the influence of new social and living conditions the oral folk poetry including wedding lamentations started to disappear and remained only in the memory of the elderly. In the last decades in connection with changing attitude to ancient superstitions, the songs associated with the magical rituals have vanished. The Russian wedding ritual items connected with belief in witches, amulets, etc. have disappeared along with the associated folklore. Such traditional rituals as hiding bride’s comb, blessing at the hearth and the middle pillar, a number of sayings and songs of erotic character connected with spells stimulating fertility turned into playful games during the wedding party. They used to be an integral part of Russian traditional weddings, but can no longer be seen. With loss of the wedding ritual items the songs related to this event have also disappeared.