Article

Name: Modern calendar rituals of the Altaians on the example of the ritual Dyazhyl Bur (on material of expeditions of 2017)

Authors: A. A. Konunov, K. A. Sagalaev

In the section Современное состояние фольклора

Abstract: The article is devoted to the current state of calendar and ritual folklore of the Altaians representing various local ethnic groups. The authors point to the obvious shortage of folklore works devoted to this topic. The paper demonstrates the main semantics of calendar rituals, their relation to a change of seasons and archaic national traditions and also the influence of ethnocultural contacts of Altaians on the ritual sphere of their culture. The contemporary calendar rituals of Altaians include Chaga Bayram ("A white holiday"), Јylgayak (New year), Dyazhyl Bur (The holiday green foliage) and Sary Bur (The holiday of yellow foliage). The field materials collected by the authors in seven expeditions to various regions of Republic of Altai in 2017 became material for writing of article. The main attention is paid to three variants of the ritual Dyazhyl Bur which has been fixed in May and June in Onguday, Kosh-Agach and Ulagan districts of the Republic of Altai. The authors describe in detail the course of events at performing each variant of the ritual, giving the Altai ritual terminology along with the Russian. Differences in terms of carrying out a ceremony (in the first case – May, in the second and third – June) are noted, in each case informants explain the choice of the time. The rules of conduct of participants during a ceremony are shown, as well as the possible bans on participation in it. The color symbolics of ritual ribbons of a dyalama is revealed, given is the list of sacred Altai Mountains to which altars are devoted. The most essential differences in the course of carrying out a ceremony, different degree of complexity of action are noted. However, having compared components of three variants of one ritual at different Altai ethnic groups, the authors come to the conclusion that the observed distinctions are shown generally at the level of the text of the prayers and some (however, important as well) external elements of a ritual that is connected with distinction of local traditions. But the deep semantics, orientation of the ritual and its main stages are identical which makes it possible to refer three recorded rituals to one general Altai tradition. The article can be interesting and useful for specialists in folklore, ethnographers, culturologists.

Keywords: The Altaians, calendar rituals, current state, local tradition

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