The traditions and customs of the Ossetian people are closely intertwined with its culture. The spirit of freedom and noble motives is clearly expressed in holidays, prayers and ceremonies. National values are very dear to the people, among which a sense of duty to the older generation and to the future.
History and Origin
From the Georgian word "Ossetia", which was formed from the stately Georgian people "axis" or "ovs", the name of the region - Ossetia.
Representatives of the people are direct descendants of the Sarmatian tribe Alans.
Georgian chronicles first mention the Ovs people in the 7th century AD. This is due to the Scythian campaigns in Asia Minor. In the Middle Ages, the formation of Ossetians as a separate nation took place. Alanya developed safely until the fourteenth century. She was separated and led politics and economics, independent of the surrounding Caucasian states and peoples.
The Tatar-Mongols who attacked Alanya made their own corrections in the development of the people. Forced retreat into the mountain gorges of the Central Caucasus gave rise to many small and large tribal associations.
In 1774, Ossetia became part of the Russian Empire. In the XVIII - XIX centuries, Ossetians began to move from the mountainous area to the plain. In the early 90s, the North Ossetian Autonomous Region turned into the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the RSFSR. The Republic of North Ossetia in 1992 became a subject of the Russian Federation. Meanwhile? the people retain their Ossetian customs and traditions.
Rules related to children
With the advent of the child, Ossetians adhered to a whole system of views. During pregnancy, a woman was guarded and taken care of. The following were not allowed:
- hard labour;
- all kinds of unrest;
- weight lifting.
The whole family was respectful of the expectant mother, moreover, the pregnant woman was protected by an older woman, and her husband's younger brothers and sisters were in a hurry to help.
With the onset of pregnancy, a woman with gifts and a cradle for a child was returned to her native nest. She gave birth to the first-born in the house of her parents - this continued until the XIX century. The daughter-in-law moved with her child to her husband to a noisy festival.
Both relatives and friends and fellow villagers came to congratulate with the completion of the family. Everyone was treated and welcomed. The birth of a female baby was not so magnificent.
Hopes were pinned on the boy as on the future:
- warrior;
- defender;
- employee
- earner.
But most importantly, he was considered the successor of the clan and family honor.
Ossetian customs and traditions for children are very peculiar. When the baby turned four days old, he was put in the cradle. It turned into a whole ceremony. Before putting him there, the woman who first bathed him right after birth bathes him this time too. On this occasion:
- cakes were baked;
- a lot of beer was brewed;
- slaughtered gobies and rams;
- cooked different goodies.
What is noteworthy, the holiday was considered purely female.
After 10 days, the boy’s parents arranged another holiday. On this day, the name was given to the child. The action was organized in the house of parents. The name of the child was chosen as follows:
- the men present cast lots;
- the eldest was the first to participate in the draw, then the rest on the principle of seniority;
- the one who turned out to be an alcove stood in a certain stance and announced the name of the baby.
In early July, families with boys appeared celebrated in honor of future defenders and breadwinners.
Parenting
According to Ossetian customs, a woman was engaged in children. The role of the main teacher was usually assigned to the oldest woman (grandmother or mother-in-law). At the age of 10-12 for boys everything changed dramatically, they passed into the hands of men and from that moment were under the care of brothers and father.
The task of the Ossetian is to raise a real and brave man. There were a lot of different things with the boys:
- games;
- competitions;
- duels.
All this tempered the body and will of the teenager. He became strong, agile and hardy.
Physical education included without fail:
- target shooting;
- throwing stones;
- freestyle wrestling;
- weight lifting;
- tug of war;
- run;
- fencing on drafts and daggers.
Fathers told their sons about the exploits and noble deeds of their ancestors, instilling in the future men folk and family values.
Girls were raised in a completely different way. The attitude towards them was stricter. As babies, girls were taught:
- embroider;
- to sew;
- tailor;
- Cook;
- weave;
- remove.
Already at the age of 7, the girl could take care of a baby. At 10, she was able to apply water from the river, carried out various orders of older women. At the age of 15-16, the girl was completely ready to farm on her own.
The morality of a gentle creature came first. For an Ossetian woman, the following were necessary:
- strict observance of customs;
- modesty;
- obedience to elders, hereinafter - to her husband;
- patience.
Lowering their beautiful eyes down, Ossetian girls do not lower their shoulders and can boast of proud posture and hard work.
Hospitality
Ossetian traditions and customs are strictly observed from generation to generation. By law, no one under any circumstances dares to offend a guest. If this happened (which was very rare), the whole village was going to trial the guilty party, a verdict was passed, the guilty party was bound with legs, hands and thrown from a cliff into the river.
The host protects the guest and he would rather die than give out the knocking house if necessary. Ossetians are generous and do honor to cross the threshold of their home. They greet the guest with these words: “My house is your house; I and all mine are yours! ”
If the guest stays for the night, then the owner must slaughter the ram, even if he currently has fresh meat.
Deny the person who knocked on the house, no one dares. The law of hospitality for Ossetians is holy. The owner ate received an unknown person in his house, and then found out that he was his blood enemy, who needed revenge, and in this case, the owner cordially treated the visitor and would surely shelter him.
Respect for a woman
Ossetian traditions and customs are distinguished by a deep reverence for a woman.
For example, according to Ossetian etiquette, a rider, seeing a woman, must get up from the horse before leveling up with the traveler, and let her pass him by, and only then continue on his way.
If a woman passes by sitting men, then everyone stands up in greeting.
At the sight of the old man, the whole sitting crowd rises to his feet, and all the more so at the sight of the old woman everyone is obliged to stand up. No matter how drunk the men having fun at the celebration, no matter how brazenly the tipsy youth behave, even with a strong and fierce quarrel, the appearance of a woman will tame the grumblers, rowdy people and stop the fight.
The identity of the woman is considered inviolable:
- for her labor merits in the family;
- due to the weak nature;
- due to the constrained position in society.
If the weaker sex needs any help, then the man will knightly help her in everything.
Honoring the elders and the customs of the ancestors
According to the traditions of the Ossetian people, the oath of the ancestors was sacred. Those who violated the oath were punished with fierce death.
In family life, Ossetians show a deep respect for the elderly. When the old man appears, everyone gets up, even if the elder is of lower origin.
The younger brother will always listen to the older. Colonels, Ossetian officers will certainly stand up and give way if an elderly and simple shepherd entered the house.
Ossetian home
Ossetian houses are called Sakl. They were built close to each other and so that one building was placed on top of another. The roof of the lower buildings serves as a yard for the upper. Two-tier huts were built. The lower floor was used for farming and livestock. The upper floor is for family housing.
The roof of such a dwelling was flat and served:
- for drying grain;
- as a surface for threshing bread;
- for felting wool;
- dance floor during the holidays.
Sakle floors are earthen. She herself was divided into several rooms. The main room was called - hzar. The hearth burned here. And today, most of the family’s life goes here:
- food is being prepared;
- a joint meal is carried out;
- housewives darn and sew;
- make household utensils.
Guests always pay attention to the hearth. According to Ossetian customs and traditions, it is located in the center of hzar. An iron chain hangs above the hearth, which is fixed to the crossbar along with the boiler used for cooking.
Hzar is divided into two parts along the outbreak line. One is female, the second is male. On the male half of the furniture more. Neither women nor men have the right to go on the wrong side. They gathered mainly at the hearth to chat and warm themselves, or at a round table with three legs.
Chain over the hearth
With one touch all the events of the family were consecrated. Blasphemy was considered to touch the chain for no reason. Children were severely punished for this. Only the eldest in the house was allowed to touch this attribute. Usually this happened when circumventing a fire during a wedding or when instructed on the road. According to Ossetian traditions and customs, anyone who came close to the chain and touched it became close to the family, even if it was a sworn enemy.
The newlyweds could not sleep in the house where such a chain hung, and any abuse or quarrel was also prohibited.
This chain is a shrine, the most cruel insult is an insult to this attribute. Throwing her out of the house is considered a mortal resentment for the owner.
Brotherhood and friendship
In Ossetian customs and traditions, twinning is highly esteemed. This rite could be different:
- arms exchange;
- drink from one cup with the addition of blood concluding an alliance;
- vow in sacred places.
Sometimes such bonds were valued above related ones. Siblings always came to help each other both materially and morally.
Ziu
Hardworking Ossetians in the past followed this custom, which included help:
- widows;
- orphans
- sick
- old.
Ignoring the kinship and personal interests, the Ossetians helped anyone who really needed support. During the Ziu, young people helped mow grass for livestock, and women removed bread from the meager fields of those in need.
Help came in different forms:
- pies;
- corn;
- work;
- building materials;
- firewood.
Mutual assistance for these people has always been in the first place. Ossetian folk traditions emphasize a high appreciation of the moral qualities of a person.
