Article

Name: Mordovian calendar-ritual folklore-ethnographic complex of Siberian existence (autumn-winter period)

Authors: P. S. Shakhov

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Study of folklore

Abstract: The paper deals with the autumn-winter period of the Siberian Mordvin calendar-ritual folklore- ethnographic complex, namely the aspect of ethnic terminology and various ritual code systems (temporal, spatial, personal, actional, attributive, and verbal-musical). The classification of Modrvin Koliada songs recorded in Siberia is given. It involves Koliada songs with the rhythmically emphasised refrain “Kaliada!” / “Kaliada, kaliada!” repeated after each verse, recorded in Mordovians-Erzya and Koliada songs with exclamations “Oh, kaliada, kaliada!”, or “Tausi-tausi” / “Usi-tavusi” without refrain, recorded from Mordovians-Moksha. The research also distinguishes the key poetic motives related to the subject-actional aspect of the Koliada rites (gift-claiming, wishing fertility and fortunate childbirth, as well as negative wishes and threats). Subject-actional and verbal-poetic aspects of several calendar festivals celebrated by Siberian Mordvins include the archaic traits that may be viewed as permanent elements of traditional culture due to a certain degree of unity between autochthonous and migratory Mordvin traditions.

Keywords: Siberian Mordva, folk calendar, field studies, ethnic terminology, code system, folklore-ethnographic complex

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