Superstitious Signs as a Micro-Genre of Bashkir Folklore

Superstitious signs are a stable and very common micro-genre in the structure of Bashkir folklore, significantly represented both quantitatively and semantically. Goals. The paper seeks to characterize superstitious signs as a separate micro-genre in the system of Bashkir folk art genres, identify their main classification features, and show the thematic diversity of superstitions. Materials and Methods. The work provides a genre-structural analysis of about 800 Bashkir superstitious signs traced in various sources, including multivolume books on Bashkir folklore, published expeditionary folklore materials, and the authors’ field data. Results. The study of existing definitions of superstitious omens results in a most appropriate definition for the genre, clarifies the reasons for the emergence of superstitions, delineates some key features of the folklore micro-genre that distinguish it from other minor folklore genres. Superstitious signs are classified thematically, with due regard of their reflection in the spiritual culture of the Bashkir people. Conclusions. The study of genre characteristics results in the conclusion that superstitious signs constitute a separate micro-genre in the structure of Bashkir folklore. The emergence of some superstitious signs is caused by the mythological thinking of man, a desire to connect the unknown with mysterious forces of nature. Others are based on observations of the people, on the determination of generalized cause-and-effect links between phenomena of surrounding reality. The main functions of superstitions are didactic, educational ones, since they ensure the observance of moral principles of society. The prognostic functions of household superstitions are reduced to warnings, meteorological ones – to informative warnings about changes in weather conditions. The superstitious signs are dominated by anthropological ones that regulate human behavior in everyday life.

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