Commemoration of the Dead: Beliefs and Superstitions of the Mordvins

Beliefs and rituals related to the commemoration of the dead are widespread enough among the Mordvinian people and have been studied by a number of ethnographers and ethnologists. However, the memorial cult has been no subject of any special research from this perspective. The bulk of data accumulated by scientists along with some new field materials make it possible to characterize the essence and reasons for the emergence of such beliefs and superstitions. The fundamental belief of the Mordva which serves the basis for the whole of the memorial ceremony is that souls of the dead can come from the other world to visit their relatives. So, the Erzya Mordvins believed that the soul of the deceased visited his/her relatives before the fortieth day after the burial, and to help it find the way home candles were to be kept burning. On the eve of the commemoration day people went to the cemetery and invited the soul of the deceased into the house. Before sitting down to the meal, relatives and the soul were supposed to visit a heated sauna. On the fortieth day (the ‘commemoration date’) and in some Mordovian settlements also on the third anniversary of death, relatives and friends prepared clothes for the deceased. E.g., for men such clothes included a new shirt, bast shoes, and a belt. On the eve of a funeral feast for the deceased those were laid out on a bench in the ‘red corner’ with a burning candle above for purification. After the memorial meal, close relatives took the clothes to the cemetery and spread them over the grave. In winter, when it was impossible to reach the churchyard with such clothes, those were spread on the porch of the house. And during storms those were laid in the anteroom. After the commemoration ceremony the clothes were given to a person who resembled the deceased person in appearances and character. According to popular beliefs, being subtly material, the soul of the deceased also needed food. Therefore, it was treated not only by family members but also by invited relatives. No one came to the house of the deceased with empty hands. The food they brought would be placed on a table in the front log house which was a means to please the deceased. Treating the newly-departed one relatives also regaled their ancestors. Each of them was invited to the table by name. On the days of Orthodox memorial services performed for the deceased right in the cemetery, the Mordvins arrange memorial feasts on the grave, and relatives to commemorate the deceased pretend that the deceased takes part in the meal. The deceased is treated to food and drinks, takes part in the conversation, and the grave is sprinkled with drops of drinks and dishes, with flat cakes put thereby. The reason for the emergence of such superstitions consists in the logical chain of belief in afterlife.

1. Акимова Марфа Ивановна, 1936 года рождения, жительница с. Новая Пырма Кочкуровского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2016 г. [Marfa I. Akimova, b. 1936, Novaya Pyrma, Kochkurovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2016].

2. Занкина Ангелина Харитоновна, 1936 года рождения, жительница с. Кендя Ичалковского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2008 г. [Angelina Kh. Zankina, b. 1936, Kendya, Ichalkovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2008].

3. Зорькина Елена Семеновна, 1942 года рождения, жительница с. Новая Пырма Кочкуровского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2016 г. [Elena S. Zorkina, b. 1942, Novaya Pyrma, Kochkurovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2016].

4. Крамойкина Прасковья Кузьминична, 1930 г. р., жительница с. Новая Пырма Кочкуровского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2007 г. [Praskovya K. Kramoykina, b. 1930, Novaya Pyrma, Kochkurovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2007].

5. Мокшанкина Татьяна Павловна, 1922 года рождения, жительница с. Кочкурово Кочкуровского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2002 г. [Tatyana P. Mokshankina, b. 1922, Kochkurovo, Kochkurovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2002].

6. Наумкина Надежда Васильевна, 1937 года рождения, жительница с. Семилей Кочкуровского района Республики Мордовия. Запись 2015 г. [Nadezhda V. Naumkina, b. 1937, Semiley, Kochkurovsky District, Republic of Mordovia. A recording of 2015].

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