The Udmurt Kumyshka: Documentary Evidence of Everyday Life in the Latter Half of the 18th - 19th cc.

Abstract

Kumyshka is traditionally studied by scholars specializing in Udmurt regional ethnography. The article provides an overview of archival documents describing the ritual and everyday use of the product. Being the traditional alcoholic beverage of the Udmurt people, by no means could kumyshka escape the attention of the state. From the mid-18th century corresponding bans were systematically imposed by authorities, and in the periods when it was legalized - significant restrictions were introduced. The ban on its sale was the main one; its alcoholic content was also limited. The existing restrictions were aggravated by corruption. The very term ‘kumyshka’ apparently derives from the Russian ‘kumushka’ (‘godmother’), its occurrence being related to the mass Christianization of Udmurts. In the early 19th century, kumyshka was used not only in the traditional prayers but also during Orthodox holidays which may testify of significant elements of religious syncretism since thus - through the use of kumyshka - traditional Udmurt cults and Orthodox ceremonies were connected. Initially, cauldrons for its preparation could be made of both iron and copper. Some archival documents about kumyshka provide a unique opportunity to study the everyday life of peasants. Those contain information about the peculiarities of contacts between individuals, their economic activities, food, household items, one can learn about their formal and informal names as well as some small tricks of peasants (e.g., men and especially women would pretend to be ignorant of Russian), etc. According to the study results, the idea of small-scale spread of alcoholism in the pre-revolutionary period rooted in present-day public consciousness proves to be biased propaganda. Still, of course, alcoholism of separate individuals does not mean that drunkenness was inherent to the nation in general. Kumyshka-related events are reflected in some archival documents. Those represent a unique opportunity to highlight the ordinary everyday life of Udmurt peasants at a time when no systematic studies were conducted by pre-revolutionary ethnographers. And, moreover, the documents provide significant materials that characterize a number of other elements of material and spiritual culture of the peoples which had inhabited the region, contain ethnographic sketches that can add to the existing scientific ideas (trends) of the ‘bygone nature’.