DISEASE DEMONS IN THE TRADITIONAL HUTSULS OUTLOOK OF ETHNO-HISTORICAL TRANSCARPATHIA (BY THE FIELD MATERIALS)

Abstract

In this article was outlined the wide range of hutsulsfolk demonical characters of ethno-historical Transcarpathia –disease demons (plague, cholera, tetyukha etc.) On the basis of considerable amounts of the filed, archival and literary sources carried through historical-ethnographic reconstruction of traditional demonical world-view in disease demons among hutsuls of ethno-historical Transcarpathia.The genesis of a whole series of demonic images have been seen about and the local features of the names of the demoniacs have been identified and the demonic motives. The traditional concept was revealed and the hutsuls belief about chatracteristic figures tracked, their main features, functions and properties. The protection ways and charms against harmful actions was considered. Was found that the most of such belief date bake to ancient times and the remains of the archaic hutsuls world-view with of different in value and origin a variety of the phenomena of ancient and modern tradition and the significant influence of church canons. The genesis of researched demonic character, their anthropomorphic and zoomorphic hypostasis, various manifestations and supernatural abilities have been considered. The wide range of apotropic rituals directed on the protection against to harmful actions of demonic characters (magic practices using plants like amulet, the process of keeping the ritual bans, rituals related with the cultivation of lands around), calendar customs related with the funeral and protection motives have been investigated. For neutralization of disease demon applied fasting and prayer as a protect, seeking magical help from a priest, the use of sanctified water, poppy seed with the apotropical aim etc. Together with the reconstruction of the ancient demonical hutsuls belief of ethno –historical Transcarphatia a modern state of the traditional demonical concept protection and living and related with them ritual actions have been investigated.