Ігровий репертуар традиційного весілля українців

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze and determine the main typological blocks of the game repertoire of the traditional Ukrainian wedding in its final namely Perezviansk-carnival part, where the leading role belonged to the adult sex and age group. Methodology. The study was conducted based on an interdisciplinary approach, through a systematic analysis of literary, documentary, ethnographic and folklore materials. Scientific novelty. The study fills a significant gap in the study of entertainment and gaming culture of Ukrainians. Conclusions. The predominantly agrarian nature of the traditional culture of Ukrainians is explained by the fact that the main array of the repertoire of the Perezvian (second) part of the folk wedding consists of game practices that mimic the production activities of the farmer. In the context of archaic consciousness, labour processes were closely associated with productive erotic magic, designed to ensure the happiness and well-being of the newly formed family. Games with pronounced erotic symbolism and attributes, accompanied by shameful folklore and expressive vocabulary, belong to the oldest layer of agrarian rituals. In the traditional Perezvian (second) part of Ukrainian wedding, this group is represented by the games “Pestling in Stupa”, “Hammering a Stake” (“Peg”), “Show the Boundary” and others. The category of imitation games includes: “Threshing rye” or “Sowing rye”, “Mower”, “Blacksmith”, “Miller”, “Turner”, “Thresher”, “Combine” and others. The method of game undressing (exposure) observed by us in the wedding custom is the antithesis of carnival dressing and disguise. Both of these game practices are traditional ways of transferring people into a festive atmosphere, where everything is “upside-down”, not as in everyday life. The historical evolution of wedding ceremonies went in different directions: the most barbaric and archaic died out, and others gradually became a folk amateur theatre, characterized by humour, optimism, dramatic improvisation.