Finno-Ugric World

A Mordovian settlement as a site and community of historical memory: collective narratives and representations

Olga A. Bogatova
National Research Mordovia State University,
Saransk, Russia

Anastasia V. Mitrofanova
Institute of Sociology, Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation,
Moscow, Russia

Svetlana V. Riazanova
Perm Federal Research Center, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences,
Perm, Russia

DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.392-401

Development of a geographic information system for toponyms of Karelia: historical and cultural aspect

Domestic animals and birds in traditional rites of the Mordovians: Finno-Ugric context

Tatiana P. Devyatkina
Mordovian State Pedagogical University

Serafima S. Panfilova
National Research Mordovia State University,
Saransk, Russia

Introduction. The article presents a study of the functions of domestic animals and birds in the traditional rites of the Mordovians and a number of Finno-Ugric ethnic groups of Russia. Common and unique functions are revealed as well as the level of transformation of animalistic and ornithomorphic rituals of the Mordovians in comparison with the Mari, Udmurts, Komi, Karelians, Vepsians, Khanty.
Materials and Methods. The material of the study includes the published folklore and ethnographic sources, field materials collected by the authors. The analysis of the material was carried out using the descriptive and contrastive methods. The synchronic and diachronic approaches were also applied in the course of study.
Results and Discussion. The study has revealed a variety of functions of domestic animals and birds in traditional rites of the Mordovians and a number of Finno-Ugric ethnic groups of Russia. In addition to the function of ritual sacrifice in various rites, they perform the apotropaic function in folk signs and fortunetelling, thanksgiving and propitiatory functions in the rituals associated with the patron deities of the elements. In the modern culture of the Mordovians, the traditional ritual functions of domestic animals and birds are being transformed into the utilitarian function.
Conclusion. The contrastive analysis of the Mordovians materials with the data obtained from the Mari, Karelians, Komi, Udmurts, Vepsians, Khanty has showed that the ritual tradition of each ethnic group is characterized by a common and a specific use of animals and birds. In the modern ritual practice of these ethnic groups, chickens, roosters, sheep, pigs are used in the utilitarian function.

Keywords: Mordovians, domestic animals, domestic birds, rites, fortunetelling, folk signs, dream interpretations

For citation: Devyatkina TP, Panfilova SS. Domestic animals and birds in traditional rites of the Mordovians: Finno-Ugric context. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:453–462. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.453-462.

Information about the authors
T. P. Devyatkina – Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of Native Language and Literature, Mordovian State Pedagogical University, tatyana_devyatki@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5334-688X

S. S. Panfilova – Candidate Sc. {Philology}, Associate Professor, Department of English Philology, National Research Mordovia State University, scully_ss@rambler.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0445-1007

Land and economic function of the peasants’ community of the Komi region
in the XVIII century

Anna K. Gagieva
Komi Republican Academy of Public Administration and Management,
Syktyvkar, Russia

Introduction. The article studies of the history of the community and its functions, with land-economic being one of the main ones. For a number of centuries, it determined the life and world order of every peasant family, village and parish, and ultimately created a solid foundation for the development of the state, where the peasantry was the main producer of agricultural products, and agriculture was the basis of the economy. The relevance of the topic is also enhanced by the lack of research on the history of the peasant community of the Komi Region in the XVIII century. The purpose of the article is to consider the land-economic function of the peasant community of the Komi region in the era of late feudalism. To achieve it, the following items were considered: the role and place of the peasant “world” in solving land disputes and conflicts both inside the parish and outside it were studied.
Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on a systematic approach, with other relevant methods such as system-structural, historical, formal-legal and others to be employed. They formed the basis for the analysis of published and unpublished documents.
Results and Discussion. The study of published and unpublished documents shown that on the territory of the Komi Territory (Yarensky and Ust-Sysolsky counties), there were the black-collar and later state peasantry. At the time under study the role of the community as a land-economic organization became more complicated, which was due to a number of government measures. They led to an increase in peasant land shortage and poverty. Land redistribution, which the authorities considered as a solution, did not become widespread.
Conclusion. In the XVIII century, during the settlement of land-economic relations, the community of peasants of the Komi region acquired a number of specific features. Firstly, along with the mundane land use, the individual actively developed. Secondly, by the end of the study period, the peasants’ community itself became an active participant in land operations. It rented out, entered into contracts with individuals, breeders, merchants, for the use of certain sections of the “mundane” land fund.

Keywords: community, voivodeship office, Yarensky district, Ust-Sysolsky district, allotment, arable land, haymaking

For citation: Gagieva AK. Land and economic function of the peasants’ community of the Komi region in the XVIII century. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:445–452. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.445-452.

A written monument of Siberian writing “A brief description of the Ostyak people”
by Grigory Novitsky: historical and cultural analysis

Margarita S. Vykhrystyuk
Tyumen State University,
Tyumen, Russia

Introduction. The written monument of Siberian writing “A brief description of the Ostyak people” contains a unique description of the life of the indigenous population of Siberia, the Ostyaks, made by a historiographer Grigory Novitsky on the basis of personal observations. The article analyses the structure and content of the monument, presents a historical information about the time of creation and its authorship, notes the historical and cultural significance of the source. The objective of the article is to carry out its historical and cultural analysis, including the analysis of its structure and content.

Materials and Methods. The study was based on the material of the Siberian written monument of the early XVIII century “A brief description of the Ostyak people” by G. Novitsky. To obtain objective conclusionsthe author employed descriptive and comparative methods. When analyzing the structure, content and information value of the text, the methods of component analysis and structural-semantic were used.

Results and Discussion. The article presents the historical and cultural analysis of the first ethnographic work on Siberia. It contains an analysis of the description of the life and culture of the Ostyaks who historically lives in Siberia, the location of their lands and contacts with other peoples. The book is noted to contain reliable information about the history of Siberia, its borders and natural wealth, the indigenous peoples living in this region, the Tatar tribes, their rulers, the initial reign of Khan Kuchum, the foundation of the first towns of Siberia, as well as the conquest of Siberia by Ermak. In detailed way the text shows the area that at that time was inhabited by the Khanty. Historically, the representatives of various language groups lived here. The text of the written monument provides the information about the diversity of cultures and languages on the territory of Siberia. The rich and varied ethno-cultural linguistic material of the written monument witnesses the state of the Russian literary national language in the period of the formation of its norms.
Conclusion. The text of the written monument, containing an extensive description of the Siberian lands and the peoples living there, is a valuable historical and ethno-cultural material for researchers, the evidence of the processes that took place in the Russian language during the formation of its norms.

Keywords: a written monument of Siberian writing, the Ostyaks, information content, historical, cultural and ethnocultural significance

For citation: Vykhrystyuk MS. A written monument of Siberian writing “A brief description of the Ostyak people” by Grigory Novitsky: historical and cultural analysis. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:437–444. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.437-444.

Information about the author
M. S. Vykhrystyuk – Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of Philological Education, Tyumen State University, margaritavv@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7955-7351

Prevention of child neglect and juvenile delinquency in Karelia in the 1920–1960s

Ljudmila I. Vavulinskaja
Aleksandra V. Chebakovskaja
Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Petrozavodsk, Russia

Introduction. Based on archival documents introduced into research for the first time, the article shows the changes in the content and forms of state policy on the prevention of juvenile delinquency in Karelia during the 1920s – the first half of the 1960s. The focus is on the reconstruction of the conformity of the program for the protection of children and adolescents proclaimed by the Soviet state to the realities of that time.
Materials and Methods. It used the materials of the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia, which sufficiently reflect various aspects of the problem. The research was conducted on the basis of interdisciplinary approach, using not only historical, but also pedagogical science, social and political history, psychology, jurisprudence, etc. Systemic, comparative-historical, and problem-chronological methods were used in the preparation of the work.
Results and Discussion. Various aspects of the preventive work of the governing bodies and administrative institutions of Karelia on the prevention of child and juvenile delinquency have been representatively studied. The experience of formation and transformation of the system of children’s institutions for juvenile delinquents is summarized, public initiatives in the issue of improving the lives of children in need are noted. The main stages of the activities of state and administrative bodies for the prevention of crime in children and adolescents are identified. In the first half of the 1920s there was a partial mitigation of the criminal liability of minors and use of “medical and pedagogical” measures, however, from the mid-1930s the development of state policy changed in the direction of tightening and expanding the authorities of NKVD. In the post-war period, significant emphasis was placed on the re-education of difficult adolescents, and the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
Conclusion. The article identifies the causes and describes the measures to prevent child and juvenile delinquency in Karelia during the that period. The experience of solving the problems of its prevention, accumulated in the 1920–1960s, was widely used later, which confirms the effectiveness of the developed system.

Keywords: prevention, juvenile crime, child neglect, Karelia

Acknowledgments: The research was funded from the federal budget as part of the state project of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (No. 121070700117-1).

For citation: Vavulinskaja LI, Chebakovskaja AV. Prevention of child neglect and juvenile delinquency in Karelia in the 1920–1960s. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:418–436. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.418-436.

Information about the authors
L. I. Vavulinskaja – Candidate Sc. {History}, Senior Research Fellow, Department of History, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ludvav@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6404-7551
A. V. Chebakovskaja – Candidate Sc. {History}, Junior Research Fellow, Department of History, Institute of Language, Literature and History, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, chebakovskaja@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5750-956X

The image of Life in the epic “Mastorava” by A. M. Sharonov

Elena A. Sharonova
National Research Mordovia State University,
Saransk, Russia

Oksana P. Ingle
Foreign Language Institute,
Monterey, U.S.A.

Introduction. Folklore often expresses images of Life and Death in a specific historical context as well as in the context of “big time”. The heroic epic depicts Life and Death over the course of the life of a nation which is part of the “big” Life that incorporates past, present and future. The national epic, however, with its collective consciousness is able to organize the themes of Life and Death and give them philosophical and social meaning. The academic novelty of this article is its analysis of the image of Life in the epic “Mastorava” by A. M. Sharonov. The object of study is the epic “Mastorava”. The subject of the research is the image of Life in the epic “Mastorava”. The purpose of the study is to consider the uniqueness of the image of Life presented in “Mastorava” as an endless creative process: life as creativity. This article uses scholarly literature and the epic “Mastorava” to show the poetic, figurative and expressive means which are used to create the image of Life.
Materials and Methods. The material of study is the epic “Mastorava” by A. M. Sharonov. The goals and objectives of the study are to explain the choice of research methods: historical-literary, descriptive, and genetic, which are used to analyze the image of Life in the epic “Mastorava”. In the methodology, special attention is paid to the detailed analysis of “Mastorava”, along with observations and conclusions. Close attention is paid to the text as “illustrative” material and to analyzing it on different levels in accordance with the stated research model.
Results and Discussion. The category of Life in “Mastorava” is cosmological, philosophical, and sociological in addition to being biological. It is associated with Light which comprises the realms of the earth, sky, and man where Life is embedded in the idea of divine creation. However, the main character of Life is a human collective for whom the entire earth is created. In the epic the human collective is personified by Heroes (Damai, Kudaday, Tekshon, Tyushtyan, Arsai, Kanyava, etc.) who represent ordinary people in the epic and in history. These people think, perform heroic deeds, organize their families and social lives, and introduce order, harmony and beauty.
Conclusion. The image of Life in “Mastorava” includes everyday and eternal life, the ordinary and existential, and the beautiful and tragic. The image of Life also shows the fundamental forms of relations between man and the world, between people and nations, and how each of them has a unique character, mentality, and psychology. The image of Life is presented as a universal phenomenon. In “Mastorava’ the Erzyans and Mokshans call their land the “Land of the Living” in which Life almost always defeats Death. A man realizing himself as one of the people is proud of belonging and gains his strength from their strength. And a woman just because she is born a woman possesses heroic and creative qualities and can choose her own destiny.

Keywords: epic, Mastorava, Life, hero, plot, time, space

For citation: Sharonova EA, Ingle OP. The image of Life in the epic “Mastorava” by A. M. Sharonov. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:486–494. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.486-494.

Healing properties of berry plants in Karelian folk medicine (based on field research)

Tatyana V. Pashkova
Petrozavodsk State University

Aleksandra P. Rodionova
Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Petrozavodsk, Russia

Introduction. The research analyzes and systematizes the field materials of folk medicine of the Karelians collected by the authors among the Karelians living in Karelia in the 2000-ies.
Materials and Methods. Field materials were collected in the places of residence of the Karelians. The research was carried out using comparative and comparative-historical methods.
Results and Discussion. In the presented study, the authors turn to one of the most widespread and ancient methods of ethno-medicine which is a treatment by berries, namely the use of berries, berry plants and their components by the Karelians. This topic is relevant both from the point of view of the application of traditional medical knowledge to the treatment, and because the range of medicinal herbs reflects the ethnic identity of the people and local characteristics. The collected and reviewed materials showed that berries and parts of berry plants have a fairly wide range of applications in the medical practice of all groups of the Karelians. Such types of berries as lingonberry, cranberry, blueberry, bird cherry, viburnum, raspberry, cloudberry, strawberry, irga, wolf bast, black currant were used for medical purposes. Herbal medicine was very popular in the treatment of colds, gastrointestinal diseases, general malaise and some skin diseases in all groups of the Karelians (Livvic and Ludic). The most common methods of berry treatment, which are common throughout the territory of Karelia, were fresh cranberries and lingonberries; raspberry jam; tea with dried raspberries or cloudberry sepals; decoction of raspberry leaves and berries; lingonberry or cranberry juice. The same plant could be used to treat different diseases, but the parts of the plant and the way it was consumed could vary.
Conclusion. The collected material and the research have shown that berries and parts of berry plants have a fairly wide range of applications in the medical practice of all groups of the Karelians. In general, treatment with berry plants was very popular in the treatment of colds, gastric diseases, general malaise and some skin diseases in all groups of the Karelians.

Keywords: folk medicine, herbal medicine, Karelians, Karelian traditional culture, healing rituals, beliefs

Acknowledgments: The study by A. P. Rodionova was carried out within the framework of the state financing of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (subject no. 121070700122-5 “Basic and applied aspects of research on Baltic Finnic languages of Karelia and neighbor regions”).

For citation: Pashkova TV, Rodionova AP. Healing properties of berry plants in Karelian folk medicine (based on field research). Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2022;14;4:474–485. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.014.2022.04.474-485.