Birth Rites Research Articles

THE RITUAL CULINARY LEXIS RELATED TO THE BIRTH OF A CHILD IN THE BULGARIAN DIALECTS (SEMANTICS AND MOTIVATION)

The paper presents ritual culinary lexis related to the ritual of childbirth from the Bulgarian dialects. In the ethnocultural aspect, the motivational sign of the names that underlie the nomination are studied, and according to which they are classified into separate groups. Ethnographic material is of particular importance in determining the motivational sign of the names, although there are terms in which it would be very difficult to determine the motivating word even in the context of the whole ritual. In each group the culinary terms are presented with their meanings and distribution in the Bulgarian language territory. The material is excerpted from the "Archive for Bulgarian Dialect Dictionary" at the Institute for Bulgarian Language "Prof. Lyubomir Andreychin" - BAS, "Bulgarian etymological dictionary", from field work and other written dialect sources. The semantics of the names is analyzed in the context of the birth rite with which it is directly related. Some changes in the semantic structure of the names, unfolded in diachrony, are pointed out. They have changed their meaning and have gradually changed from specialized names to commonly used words. The aim is to show the close connection between rituals and ritual lexis and the need to study this lexis from both linguistic and cultural point of view, as a significant part of the terms are motivated by the names of rituals and ritual realities.

PRACTICING CHILD BIRTH RITUALS: REPRODUCING MOTHERHOOD AND PATRIARCHY

This paper seeks to investigate the birth rituals described in Hindu scriptures and the indigenous birth rituals performed by the Bengali community in order to comprehend the implicit value system they embody. The rituals’ ingrained value system is viewed primarily in two categories- first, the conditioning of women for motherhood through birth rituals and, second, the extent to which these rituals sustain patriarchy. This socialisation through birth rites contributes to a woman’s social and self-identification as a mother. To analyse these processes, attempts are undertaken to examine birth rites in the social life of Bengali folk culture and in Hindu scripture sources. This study will concentrate solely on Hindu birth rites found in scriptural texts and folk birth rituals performed by Hindus. A field study was also conducted in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of traditional ceremonies.

Фраземи західноподільських говірок із мотивом знаходження дитини

The article, based on the analysis of field ethnographic, folklore, dialectological data from Podillya, considers the nominations of traditional Ukrainian rites associated with the birth of a child, compares the phraseological units with the motive of finding a child. The material of the research was the author's records of phraseology according to a special program-questionnaire on the territory of Western Podillya (southern districts of Khmelnytsky region and eastern districts of Ternopil region). Emphasis is placed on the constant expressions of the traditional birth rite with attention to semantics, elements of spiritual and material culture. There are four groups of FD with the motive of finding a child: in different natural and landscape formations; in the aquatic environment, or nearby structures; in the building, its parts, adjacent buildings, household items, clothing (shoes); to denote a gift (tossing, sending, bringing, buying). Each group of FDs is divided into subgroups, which allow a clearer division of phrases on a figurative basis. Ethnographic dictionaries clarify the symbolism of the components of phraseological units: peas, cabbage, burdock, water, stork, angel, egg, well, river. It is determined that among the studied phraseological units the components with the highest variability of the child are distinguished by birds. A significant number of verbs to denote ways to find a child (found, bought, caught, brought, caught, got out, etc.) was found.

Ethnolinguistic nature of folk etymology and taboos

The purpose of the article is to analyze the Ukrainian nominations due to the internal form of the word. The names of literary language and vernacular on the basis of ethnolinguistic phenomena – folk etymology and taboos are involved in the analysis. The relevence of the study is due to the need to clarify ethnolinguistic phenomena associated with ambivalent tendencies – the vivid imagery of the word and its concealment and reproduction in linguistic concepts. Research methods. In the article as the main general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis are used, as well as linguistic – descriptive, structural and comparative and historical methods. Conclusions. For ethnolinguistics the phenomenon of folk etymology is important, which testifies the desire of speakers to explain the name, illustrates the subconscious attempt of native speakers to poetize the word, to inspire the word with poetry. In folk speech etymology motivates primarily toponyms and nicknames of people. Under the influence of folk etymology the literary language and folk words change their sound composition. Ethnolinguistic character has such a phenomenon as taboo: the word "hides" the internal form. During the Christmas holidays the speakers of the Bukovinian dialects had a taboo on the pronunciation of the word poppy. Taboo was widely used in folk birth rites. Euphemisms are associated with the phenomenon of taboos. In vernacular the word “devil” has many “substitutes”. Periphrases are close to euphemisms. In literary language there are established periphrases which emphasize the feature of the concept.

Child Birth Rites of Kankanaey in Northen Luzon

The study dealt with the child birth rites of the Kankanaeys in Northern Luzon. The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines and the newly born Episcopal Diocese of Davao were established because of their presence since the Kankanaeys migrated to the Southern Philippines. Kankanaey, as one of the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines, embraced, blessed, possessed, practiced rites, rituals, traditions from their ancestors mostly in an oral form. It was the purpose of this study to enumerate, elaborate, and document Kankanaey Child Birth Rites. Descriptive narrative type of research was used in this study, along with photo-documentation, interview, personal observation, and paper recording. Findings reveal that different rites on child birth were performed, rites on this side was not so expensive compared to other ethno-linguistic groups who performed the same. It is therefore recommended that this practices become tools in transmitting such indigenous knowledge to others and further research on this topic is openly welcomed.

Табу и эвфемизмы, связанные с рождением ребенка, в башкирском языке

Introduction. This article examines the use of taboos and euphemisms in birth-related vocabulary of the Bashkir language. Goals. The paper reveals both linguistic facts and those of traditional ritual culture, ethnic worldviews. The Bashkir birth-related taboo vocabulary has not been a subject of special research yet. Materials and Methods. Actual meanings of lexemes were identified through the use of author’s field materials collected during comprehensive expeditions (2004 to 2008), lexical and phraseological data from dictionaries of the Bashkir and other Turkic languages, dialectal materials stored by the Institute of History, Language and Literature (Ufa Federal Research Centre of the RAS). The work employs a number of linguistic research methods, such as the ethnolinguistic and comparative-descriptive ones, component analysis method, and that of lexicographic selection. Results. As is known, this group of words is mainly tabooed in the Bashkir language. The vocabulary associated with birth rites is sacred and reflects a complex set of ideas about a pregnant woman. Ritual actions, magical prohibitions are aimed at protecting the health of women and at the birth of a healthy offspring. In this case, the vocabulary denoting a childless woman, a pregnant woman and the concepts of ‘childbirth’ and ‘obstetric aid’ were tabooed. The paper clarifies that the concepts associated with birth rites in the Bashkir language are expressed by euphemisms to protect the mother and child from evil spirits and the evil eye. The author has recorded a large number of euphemisms denoting a pregnant woman (auyrly, auyrғakalyu, auyrayҡly, auyry bar, auyrkүtүreә, auyrlau, yөklө, etc), a childless woman (balakүrmәgәn, biҙәү, tүlһeҙ, ҡyҫır, irғoraҡ and others), and those denoting the concept of ‘childbirth’ (bala tabyu, kureneү, bәpeslәү, bәpәilәү, ҡotolou, bushanyu, donyaғa keileү, etc.). Taboos and euphemisms of birth rites play an important role in the development of the vocabulary of the Bashkir language. The available materials on this topic require further systematization with the involvement of linguistic analysis. Over time, many archaisms disappeared from the modern vocabulary, while others have been used only in certain dialects of the Bashkirs. Almost all euphemistic vocabulary is represented by word combinations from common Turkic lexemes used in figurative meanings. The latter reflect the ethnic ritual traditions, good manners, politeness, observance of the rules of decency ― rules of ethics. They represent the speech etiquette and identity of the Bashkir people, being a valuable linguistic and cultural source for the study of the traditional folk beliefs of the Bashkirs.

The Meche of Nepal and their Life Cycle

The Meche community is one of the indigenous tribal communities of Nepal. They have been living on the bank of Mechi River in the eastern border of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.The majority of the Meche people are concentrated in the Jhapa District from time immemorial. They are considered as the subgroup of the Bodo community. It is considered as one of the endangered ethnic tribes numbering 10 out of 59 indigenous communities of Nepal. They worship a commonly grown cactus plant called ‘Siju or Sijou’ (Euphorbia roylena; Euphorbiaceae) in the name of BathouBwrai (God). They are agrarian and living with a simple life. The economic condition of Mechecommunity is not sound but they manage their daily meals well by various means. TheMeche follows age-old cultural traditions over the years. They have a rich cultural heritage with their own identity and a way of life. They have a religion, language, literature, customs and traditions etc. The majority of the Mechepeople concentrated in the Jhapa District of Nepal. The Meche follows an age-old cultural tradition over the years. They have a well organized religion, culture, customs and traditions. Hence, the present study would focus on their ethnic background; society and their life cycle i.e. birth rites, marriage and death rites.

Growing Up in Ancient Israel: Children in Material Culture and Biblical Texts

Growing Up in Ancient Israel: Children in Material Culture and Biblical Texts

The Birth of Batak Toba Community in Kotapinang

Toba Batak people believe that there is a rite that will be passed by all humans, namely: Birth, Marriage and death. When the process of birth, marriage and death take place then there is a belief that every time they pass through these rites, humans must hold a tradition that aims as gratitude for the achievement and to avoid disaster. The author takes the focus in the birth rite, because in this birth rite there is a belief in the Toba Batak community of supernatural powers that can interfere at any time than mothers and newborns. The Toba Batak people believe that every new mother and baby undergo surgery, both normally and through surgery in vulnerable and weak conditions so that efforts are needed to keep mothers and newborns away from the evil spirit's power. The Toba Batak community had long ago made various efforts aimed at keeping mothers and babies away from these evil forces, namely by making strings of leaves that had magical powers placed near the mother and newborn, installing fireplaces under the mattress in order to keep the evil forces unable to approach, because according to their beliefs, the evil forces did not dare to heat. From all these efforts, it turns out that the medical benefits of all these efforts can be explained, one of which is by placing a string of cereals, cereals can ward off mosquitoes, while the embers installed under the bed to keep mothers and newborns warm at night days and can recover immediately from the former operation of the birth process. All of these efforts have the aim of avoiding accidents, and this tradition has a path from the beginning of birth until seven days after birth, when arriving on the seventh day a thanksgiving event is known as Esek-esek. The author sees that there are many advantages to this tradition. Aside from keeping mothers and babies away from magical power, it can also be a place for community to gather, so that they can become a place of friendship between the far and near.

Лексика родильного обряда в тувинском языке

The vocabulary of the Tuvan language associated with the birth rite, as in other Turkic languages, is a relatively closed and separate lexical and semantic group that has developed over the centuries. But over time, many lexemes began to leave or disappear from the active vocabulary of the modern Tuvan language, and others limited the territory of distribution or began to be replaced by descriptive new formations. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of works in Tuvinian studies that contain a frontal examination of the vocabulary of the birth rite within the framework of Tuvinians ‘ ideas about the world. Analysis of this group of words and phrases can provide valuable not only linguistic, but also historical and ethnographic information. Available materials and individual works on this issue require systematization and adjustment with the involvement of significant language material for analysis. The source base of the research was made up of the author’s field materials collected during complex expeditions from 1999 to 2019, as well as lexical and phraseological materials extracted from the dictionaries of the Tuvan language, from the works of ethnographers and linguists. Results. Based on the research, the author comes to the conclusion that the vocabulary of the birth rite consists of several actions: bozhuduushkun ‘receiving birth’, urug hini Kezer ‘circumcision of the umbilical cord of the child’, aryglaashkyn ‘purification’, urug chuur ‘bathing the child’, urug syrtyy shygzhaar ‘burial of the child’s afterbirth’. A significant part of the vocabulary of birth rites in the Tuvan language is actually Tuvan words with a common Turkic basis or phraseological units. Concepts related to the birth ceremony are passed euphemisms to protect the mother and protect the child from evil spirits or “evil eye”. The meanings of some words associated with birth rites have been narrowed or expanded.

The ritual and festive cuisine of the Czechs of the South of Ukraine as a marker of ethnic identification (based on ethnographic research materials of the Zaporozhye region)

The article analyzes features of the ceremonial and festive cuisine of modern descendants of Czech immigrants living in р. Novgorodkovka of Melitopol District of Zaporozhia Region. Ethnographic materials of the author, recorded from Czech respondents in 2000, 2011-2013, became a source for scientific work. For the Czechs, as for most Slavic peoples, cooking was typical: boiled, stewed, fried and baked. Of particular importance in this case acquires the design of the furnace. The main body of the furnace was in the living room. In the summer they also used ovens in the open air. Until the end of the twentieth century, electric ovens entered the peasant life. Folk ritual food (festive, ritual, ceremonial) was not only a wayto meet the vital needs of a person, but became an important form of social intercourse. By comparing results of the author’s field studies and published data on the immigrants’ cuisine in the motherland, it was established that, on the one hand, the folk ritual and festive food has saved its basic elements and methods of preparation. On the other hand, because of close interethnic Czech-Russian-Ukrainian contacts, it has gained new characteristics. In particular, in the memorial kitchen, the rye wheat porridge with raisins was replaced with boiled rice with cherries; baked apples with sugar were replaced with dried butter and ghee. Wedding dishes complemented the new version of baking − the cow, which served as the ceremonial attribute. The food of the calendar cycle of holidays was characterized by the preservation of Czech ethnic traditions. However, there were: Easter ceremonial bread (Pasca), dumplings, sea fish. In after the birth rite, nutritional elements were most important in the visiting the mother and child.

Женские демонические персонажи в мифах и фольклоре народов Западной Сибири : генезис, функции, атрибутика

The results of a comparative analysis of female demonic characters that exist in the myths and folklore of the peoples of Western Siberia are presented. It is noted that the total assimilation and leveling of the peculiarities of distinctive cultures did not occur, despite the fact that the rituals and myths of the West Siberian peoples were subjected to processes of mutual influence, flow and adaptation for centuries. The relevance of the study is due to the need to study the existing picture both in its integrity and in individual fragments. It is reported that the image of a female witch, a malicious old woman, is found in the myths and tales of most of the peoples living in Western Siberia. The article analyzes the etymology of the names and attributes of female demonic characters: Porne in Khanty mythology, Parne in Nenets mythology, Forest old woman and Albasty among Siberian Tatars, Baba Yaga among Slavs. The authors pay special attention to the commonality of mythological motifs, the similar structure of fairy tales, arising on the basis of demonic images of the feminine type. The possible relationship of these images with totemic representations, common in ancient cultures, is indicated. The question of the correlation of the folklore plot “the boy and the witch” with the ritualism of the West Siberian peoples, in particular, with the rites of birth, initiation, and fire worship, is examined. By comparing the traditions of neighboring cultures, the archetypal nature of the initiation scenario while maintaining its ethnospatial specificity is proved.

편백나무 잎과 꼭두서니 추출물을 이용한 홀치기 천연염색 전통 출생의류 패션제품 디자인 개발

Chamaecyparis obtusa, has an effect of treatment for allergic skin disease in addition to sedative action, deodorizing effect, stress relief, and antibacterial effect. If it has a compound dyeing of Rubia tinctorumand cypress in advanced study, we cannot find the clear improvement of functionality compared to dyeing only with Chamaecyparis obtusa, but dyeing property is enhanced. In this research, it has produced two baenaet-jeogori, pungcha-baji, one Dureong-chima, and one covered stomach of clothes with variegated dyeing using extract of Chamaecyparis obtusa, and madder. Swaddle coat should be put on new baby, and it has made each one piece of clothes utilizing pattern contents of sun and moon, with symbolistic clothes in lucky property for good health and longevity and success in life. Pungcha-baji is the clothes with back open so that boy and girl baby can go to the toilet easily, and it has manufactured one form of waist attachment, by expressing crow pattern which utilizes contents of sun pattern and expressing rabbit pattern which utilizes one form of vest attachment and contents of moon contents. Ridge skirt is to be made belly of baby warm, and it is produced by hanging trapezoidal-shaped Moo on both sides of two widths in skirt and expressing three-legged crow and sun pattern with variegated pattern. Belly wrapper is also to be used to protect belly of baby as warm, and it has expressed pattern of rabbit and moon in rectangular form, realistically with dapple pattern. It is expected that this fashion product is to be put on as commemoration of birth rite to important baby and to be cherished for lifetime.

Funeral Rites among the Akans of Ghana: A Biblical Response

Each society has its own culture which is usually dearly cherished. A typical example of a people who genuinely admire their unique cultural practices is the Akans of Ghana. There are many unique rites within Akan culture. Among them are birth rites, puberty rites, marriage rites, death and funeral rites. This paper considers funeral rites among the Akans and its impact on the Adventist Church. The article, therefore, seeks to answer these questions: How are funeral rites performed among the Akan? What effect does Akan funeral rites have on the Adventist Church? It also provides a biblical response to the Akan worldview of the immortality of the soul. The paper identifies that the Akan worldview of Saturday God is a favorable factor in the spread and growth of Adventism among the Akans. However, modernization of some aspects of Akan culture particularly funeral rites have changed the story. The celebration of Akan funeral rite services on Saturdays instead of the traditional Thursday is posing a threat to Akan Adventism. It, also, came out that the Akan worldview of the immortality of the soul has no sound biblical foundation.

Females’ Voice through Oral Poetry among Limmuu Oromo, Ethiopia

This article discusses about the role of Oromo oral poetry in helping girls[1] and women[2]to express their idea in their social life. It also aims to illustrate the talent of girls and women in creating and poeticizing oral poetry to display their opinion on social occurrences such as marriage ceremony, birth rite and at work place. During data collection, ethnographic methods such as observation, focus group discussions and semi-structured interview were employed. I interpreted data collected from the field through these methods. The analyzed data shows that oral poetry has a crucial role to help girls and women to express their idea in pre and post marriage respectively. Before marriage, it helps girls to display their feeling, thought and emotion concerning their future life and their friend’s social life. By using oral poetry, they advise their friends and show their devotion for each other. In post marriage, through oral poetry, women pray Waaqaa (Oromo God) for a woman who unable to bear child. The paper concludes that, oral poetry helps girls and women to express their opinion in every aspect of their life such as marriage, spiritual, and reproduction issues. Therefore, it helps them to make their voice heard in the community and enhances their creativity.[1] Is durba in Oromo and are unmarried virgin girl.[2] Is dubartii in Oromo and are married women.

Полевые записи в экспедициях ГНЦЗКНТК как источник историко-этнографического изучения традиционной семейной обрядности Правобережного Полесья Украины

In the article based on field notation about traditional family rituals, made by Ukrainian ethnologist Nataliya Havryliuk (Наталія Костянтинівна Гаврилюк) within perennial expeditions under the auspices of SSCCHPTC specific rites and beliefs of the maternity cycle are analyzed, and investigated the possibility of historical and ethnographic studies in different aspects. Key words: Right Bank Polissia, expedition materials, traditional customs, faiths, rites of birth, ritual components, aspects of research.

Eras u belaruskaj tradycyjnaj kul’tury<br>Eros v beloruski ljudski kulturi</br>

The article is dedicated to sexual symbolism and relations in the Belarusian traditional culture of the 19th - early 20th centuries. Analyzing a great number of ethnographical and folkloristic sources, the author investigates peculiarities of the sexual culture and symbolism in the Belarusian ethnic community of the 19th - early 20th centuries. Special attention is paid to erotic components in the youth subculture of the Belarusians; sexual motivations in wedding and birth rites as well as everyday life stereotypes of sexual relations are characterized.

The art of midwifery: Can creative images of birth enhance holistic care?

Art related to birth stimulates debate, particularly if it is perceived to be taboo and challenging popular images of mother and child. Birth traditionally has been in a woman's sphere of experience, thus it has been left unexplored on a wider level. The Birth Rites Collection was originally developed to enable partnerships with artists and childbirth professionals. The other important reason for the Birth Rites project was to begin to make contemporary cutting edge art around childbirth because there has been a real lack of work which explores this subject. Student midwives have been able to engage with these and other artworks related to childbirth and now produce their own original art which is attracting acclaim. The Art of Midwifery student midwife project aims to promote more aesthetic and creative ways of learning to enhance midwifery students' self-awareness and thus promote holistic, woman-centred and sensitive care. Students have visited art exhibitions to interact with artworks related to curriculum themes and explore models and philosophies of birth. This paper reports some of their activities, summarises their responses and evaluates the collaboration.

Book Review: Birthing Fathers: The Transformation of Men in American Rites of Birth

Book Review: Birthing Fathers: The Transformation of Men in American Rites of Birth

Birthing fathers: the transformation of men in American rites of birth

Richard K. Reed draws on the feminist critique of professionalized medical birthing to argue that the clinical nature of medical intervention distances fathers from child delivery. He explores men's roles in natural childbirth and the ways in which birth transforms a man's identity and his relations with his partner, his new baby, and society.