Мех как элемент русской традиционной свадебной обрядности

Abstract

Fur is a significant feature of many ritual actions in traditional Russian culture. Although there is a lot of material on this subject it continues to escape a closer scientific attention. This paper looks at filling this gap and showing the role of fur in Russian wedding rituals. The author gives examples related to the use of fur at a wedding and analyzes wedding songs and additional material. Results obtained led to conclusions that the fur in the wedding ritual was of dual importance. It was used as a magical item endowed with the function of fertility and procreation. It was associated with fertilizing (carpogonia) magic. This magic was intended to provide fertility, wealth and prosperity for a family. The perceptions of the connection between fur and fertility was also manifested in other ritual activities, for example, in spells related to family and household. It is important to note that the inverted fur was considered a sign of another world, and with its help they depicted its inhabitants, late ancestors. In this case, the fur should be considered in the context of imitative magic associated with imitation of desired events. Wanting to receive the help of deceased ancestors, participants of the wedding ceremony wore an inverted fur coat to simulate the spirit and to simulate the participation of the spirit in the wedding ceremony. This dual meaning of fur determined its wide distribution in traditional Russian wedding rituals.