A mythoepic basis of the Adyghe New Year

Abstract

The article considers the traditional spring holiday “Alternation of heads of years” (Ilesyshye zablek1ygu) on March 21–23 among the Adygs (Circassians) people, dedicated to Shyuzeresh the patron saint of abundance and horsemen. The aim of the work is to study the mythoepic basis of the traditional holidays associated with the spring and winter solstices. Based on this goal, the tasks of identifying representations of sacred processes designed to create favorable conditions for the preparation and start of spring field work and seasonal agricultural completion of the year are solved. The relevance of the research topic is due to the insufficient knowledge of the calendar holidays of the Adyghes, in this case, associated with the vernal equinox and winter solstice. The theoretical basis of the mythological rituals requires in-depth study, since the process of reanimation of folk festivals is one of the important components of the self-identification of the Adyghe. Travel essays by missionaries, the research activities of the Adyghe enlighteners of the 19th century Sultan Khan Giray, Shora Nogmov, Adil Giray Keshev, folklorists Askarbiy Shortanov, Mukhtar Meretukov, Adam Gutov, Aslan Tsipinov and other scholars served as the methodological basis of this work and determined the basic principles of research: the comparative-historical, historical-typological, and comparative analyses. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that it describes for the first time the rituals of the spring festival, symbolizing the onset of the Adyghe New Year, and the time of spring plowing, which began on the third day after the onset of the holiday “Alternating heads of Years”, as well as the winter solstice holiday. The result of the study was the conclusion that the worldview and worldview of the ancient Adyghe was at a high level for its time and evolved along with the process of progressive development of the Adyghe society. It is established that a historical and cultural excursion into the past about the existence of the New Year among the Adyghe (Circassians) and the winter solstice holiday makes it possible to know the depth of the processes of the mythoepic consciousness of the people. The theoretical and practical value of the work is seen in the possibility of using the results of the research in theoretical disciplines and practical research on folklore, epic studies, the study of the mythoepical basis of the Adyghe worldview, as well as in the educational process of educational institutions.

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