СТАТУСИ ГОЛОВНИХ ДІЙОВИХ ОСІБ УКРАЇНСЬКИХ ВЕСІЛЬНИХ ОБРЯДІВ

Abstract

The use of Gennep’s theory of the rites of passage is an important component of structural and functional studies of the cycle of wedding ceremonies. From the point of view of transitions of the main characters from one social status to another (young man, girl – groom, bride – newlywed – man, woman), the ritual structure is divided into four stages. It is established that the transitions take place in the culminating episodes of the rites of engagement, wedding and komora (wedding night), which are the points of the highest level of sacralization of reality due to the energy of the afterlife. The main condition for achieving this level is the conscientious performance of the functional duties of all participants in the rites. As the main characters receive new statuses, their functions change and expand, and other participants are given certain responsibilities to perform. The culmination of the whole great cycle of cycles is the rite of the komora and the final transition to the status of a man and a woman. At the same time, the initial and final statuses are profane, because they constantly exist in real life. The statuses «groom – bride» and «newlywed» are temporary, sacred, because they exist within the rite. But without them, without the rite, without the influence of sacralization from the afterlife, it is impossible to make the transition from the initial status of a young man and a young woman to the final – a man and a woman. The rite of the komora, which is the main, culminating rite of the whole wedding cycle, during which anti-behavioral actions are widely used, when personal and even intimate relationships become the property of community, carries out not only the transition of the main characters, but all participants of wedding ceremonies. There is an exit from the rite, and hence the return of profane statuses that existed before entering the rite. In the Ukrainian language, the terms that mean ritual or sacred social statuses are monosyllabic (groom – bride; newlywed; bridesmen), while profane statuses differ from each other (man - woman; boys – girls).