Article

Name: Cultural term “kalach” in the east Slavic wedding ritual

Authors: T. E. Grevtsova

Federal Research Center the Southern Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Rostov na Dony, Russian Federation

In the section Study of folklore

Abstract: The paper systematises the names designating ring-shaped pastries in the Russian, Belorussian and Ukrainian wedding, defines the meanings of a lexeme kalach in the East Slavic ritual, and presents the semantics of ritual acts with the baked products designated by the cultural term kalach or its synonyms in wedding lexis. In the Eastern Slavic wedding, the actions with kalaches were carried out at different stages of the ritual. In the initial episodes of the wedding cycle, kalach, like other types of ritual bread, was a means of establishing the relations between the parties of the bride and groom and reaching an agreement on marriage. The analysis of circumstances of performing these actions, word meanings of kalach, his derivatives and phrases including it has led the author to a conclusion that, besides the symbolism inherent in bread in a wedding ceremony in general, in East Slavic ritual, pastries of a ring-shaped form are associated with premarital life of young people and the farewell to it significant first of all for the bride. The analysis of the distribution of ritual activities with kalach at different stages of the wedding shows the connection between the wedding traditions of the Western regions of Ukraine and the weddings of the Don and Kuban Cossacks.

Keywords: ethnolinguistics, cultural term, East Slavic wedding, ritual bread, kalach

Bibliography:

Arandarenko N. I. Zapiski o Poltavskoy gubernii. Ch. 2 [Notes on the Poltava province. Pt 2]. Poltava, Tip. gubernskogo pravleniya, 1849, 385 p.

Arkushin G. L. Slovnyk zahidnopolis’kyh govirok: V 2 t. [Dialectal dictionary of Western Polesye: in 2 vols]. Lutsk, publisher’s house “Vezha” of Volyn. state univ. by L. Ukrainka, 2000.

Artyukh L. F., Balushok V. G., Boltarovich Z. E., et al. (Eds). Podillya. Istoryko-etnografichne doslidzhennya [Podolia. Historical and ethnographic study]. Kiev, Vidavnitstvo NKTs “Dolya”, 1994, 504 p.

Bol’shoy tolkovyy slovar’ donskogo kazachestva [Big explanatory dictionary of the Don Cossacks’ dialect]. Moscow, Rus. slovari, Astrel’, AST, 2003, 608 p.

Brysina E. V. Etnokul’turnaya idiomatika donskogo kazachestva: Monografiya [Ethnocultural idioms of the Don Cossacks, Monograph]. Volgograd, Peremena, 2003, 293 p.

Chubinskiy P. P. Trudy etnografichesko-statisticheskoy ekspeditsii v Zapadno-Russkiy kray, snaryazhennoy Russkim Imperatorskim geograficheskim obshchestvom. Yugo-Zapadnyy otdel. T. 1–7. T. 4: Obryady: rodiny, krestiny, svad’ba, pokhorony [Proceedings of an ethnographic and statistical expedition to the Western Russian Krai, carried out by the Russian Imperial Geographical Society. South-West Department. Vols. 1–7. Vol. 4: Rites, celebration of the birth of a child, christening, wedding, funeral]. St. Petersburg, Tipografiya V. Kirshbauma, 1877, 760 p.

Dianova T. B. Traditsionnoe svadebnoe zastol’e na Donu [Traditional wedding feast in the Don]. In: Traditsionnoe russkoe zastol’e: Sb. st. [Traditional Russian feast: coll. of art.]. Moscow, Gos. resp. tsentr rus. fol’klora, 2008, pp. 96–117.

Dobrovol’skiy V. N. Smolenskiy oblastnoy slovar’ [Dialectal dictionary of the Smolensk region]. Smolensk, Tip. B. A. Silina, 1914, 1022 p.

Etymologichniy slovnyk ukrai’ns’koi’ movy: U 7 t. [Etymological dictionary of the Ukrainian language: in 7 vols]. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1982–2012.

Filin F. P., Sorokoletov F. P., Myznikov S. A. (Eds). Slovar’ russkikh narodnykh govorov Vyp. 1–46 [Dictionary of Russian folk dialects. Iss. 1–46]. Moscow, Leningrad, Nauka, 1965–2013.

Galueva E. S. Pryanik v svadebnom obryade russkikh krest’yan vtoroy poloviny XIX – nachala XX veka [Gingerbread in the Russian peasants’ wedding ritual of the second half of 19th – early 20th century]. Traditional culture. 2003, no. 3, pp. 34–41.

Getsova O. G. (Ed.). Arkhangel’skiy oblastnoy slovar’ [Dialectal dictionary of the Arkhangelsk region]. Iss. 1–14. Moscow, 1980–2012.

Grinchenko B. D. slovnyk ukrai’ns’koi’ movy: U 4 t. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian language: in 4 vols]. Kiev, Vid-vo AN UkrRSR, 1958–1959.

Gura A. V. Brak i svad’ba v slavyanskoy narodnoy kul’ture: Semantika i simvolika [Marriage and wedding in the Slavic folk culture: Semantics and symbolism]. Moscow, Indrik, 2012, 936 p.

Gura A. V., Plotnikova A. A. Kalach [Kalach]. In: N. I. Tolstoy (Ed.). Slavyanskie drevnosti. Etnolingvisticheskiy slovar’: V 5 t. T. 2: D–K (Kroshki) [Slavic antiquities. Ethnolinguistic dictionary: in 5 vols. Vol. 2: D–K (Kroshki)]. Moscow, Mezhdunar. otnosheniya, 1999, pp. 439–442.

Gvozdikova L. S. Melkie izdeliya iz testa v russkom svadebnom obryade kontsa XIX – nachala XX v. (Vidy, terminy, funktsii) [Little pastries in the Russian wedding ritual of late 19th – early 20th cent. (Types, terms, functions)]. In: Pamyatniki kul’tury narodov Evropy i evropeyskoy chasti SSSR [Cultural heritages of peoples of Europe and European part of USSR]. Leningrad, Nauka, Leningr. otd., 1982, pp. 67–74.

Kartiny iz narodnoy zhizni donskikh kazakov [Pictures of the Don Cossacks’ folk life]. Moscow, Tip. Gracheva i Kº, 1871, 72 p.

Klimova Ya. M. Prazdniki i obryady Belgorodchiny: sbornik fol’klornykh materialov po traditsionnym prazdnikam i obryadam, narodnym igram Belgorodskoy oblasti [Festivities and rituals of Belgorod, folklore collection of traditional festivities and rituals, and folk games of Belgorod region]. In: Prazdniki svyatogo Belogor’ya. Vyp. 2. [Festivities of holy Belogorye. Iss. 2]. Belgorod, izd. BGTsNT, 2007, 111 p.

Kudryashova R. I. (Ed.). Slovar’ donskikh govorov Volgogradskoy oblasti. Okolo 17 000 slov [Dictionary of the Don dialects of the Volgograd Region. About 17 000 words]. 2nd ed. Volgograd, Izdatel’, 2011, 703 p.

Leksika gavorak Belaruskaga Prypyatskaga Palessya: Atlas. Slownik [Vocabulary of the Belorussian Pripyat Polesye dialect. Atlas. Dictionary]. Іnst. movy і lіtaratury іm. Ya. Kolasa і Ya. Kupaly NAN Belarusi. Minsk, Law and economy, 2008, 353 p.

Levichkin A. N., Myznikov S. A. (Eds). Novgorodskiy oblastnoy slovar’ [Dialectal dictionary of the Novgorod Region]. St. Petersburg, Nauka, 2010, 1435 p.

Lysenko P. S. Slovnik polis’kyh govoriv [Dictionary of the Polesye dialects]. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1974, 260 p.

Litvinova-Bartosh P. Vesi’l’ni obryadi i zvychai’ u s. Zemlyanci’ Gluhivs’kogo pov. u Chernygivshhyni [Wedding rituals and ceremonies in village Zemlyantsy of the Glukhovsky District in the Chernigov Region]. In: Khv. Vovk (Ed.). Materialy do ukrai’ns’ko-rus’koi’ etnologii’ [Proceedings on the Ukrainian and Russian ethnology]. Lviv, 1900, vol. 3, pp. 70–173.

Magryc’ka I. V. Slovnyk vesil’noi’ leksyky ukrai’ns’kyh shidnoslobozhans’kyh govirok (Luganska oblast’) [Dictionary of wedding vocabulary of the Sloboda Ukraine dialect (Lugansk Region)]. Lugansk, 2003. URL: http://www.ruthenia.info/txt/magrytskai/slovnyk.html (accessed 03.04.2012).

Magryc’ka I. V. Vesil’niy obryad na Shidniy Slobozhanshhyni: navch. posibnyk [Wedding ritual in the Sloboda Ukraine, textbook]. Lugansk, SPD Reznikov V. S., 2011, 44 p.

Mahovs’ka S. Vesil’ni tradycii’ ukrai’ns’ko-rosiyskogo porubizhzhya [Wedding traditions of the Ukrainian and Russian borderzone]. Narodna tvorchist’ ta etnologiya. 2011, no. 1, pp. 99–105.

Neg’rych M. Skarby gucul’s’kogo govoru: Berezovy [Treasures of the Huzul dialect, Berezovi]. Lviv, Іnst. ukraїnoznavstva NAN Ukraїni, 2008, 224 p.

Nesen І. І. Vesіl’niy ritual Tsentral’nogo Polіssya: traditsіyna struktura ta relіktovі formi (seredina XIX–XX st.) [Wedding ritual of Central Polesye, traditional structure and relict forms (the middle of 19–20th)]. Kiev, Tsentr zakhistu kul’turnoї spadshchini vіd nadzvichaynikh situatsіy, 2005, 280 p.

Nesen I. I. Vesil’niy rytual Sredn’ogo Polissya: tradyciyna struktura ta reliktovi formy (seredyna XIX–XX st.) [Wedding ritual of Middle Polesye, traditional structure and relict forms (the middle of 19–20th)]. Visn. L’viv. un-tu. Ser. istor. 2008, no. 43, pp. 261–319.

Oblastnoy slovar’ vyatskikh govorov [Dialectal dictionary of the Vyatka region]. Iss. 1–8. Kirov, 2004–2012.

Onyshkevych M. J. Slovnyk boykivskyh govirok: U 2 t. [Dictionary of the Boyko dialect: in 2 vols]. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1984.

Panikarovskaya T. G. (Ed.). Slovar’ vologodskikh govorov. Uchebnoe posobie po russkoy dialektologii [Dictionary of Vologda dialects. Textbook on Russian dialectology]. Iss. 1–12. Vologda, 1983–2007.

Pipash Yu. O., Galas B. K. Materialy do slovnyka gucul’s’kyh govirok (Kosivs’ka Polyana i Rosishka Rahivs’kogo rajonu Zakarpats’koi’ oblasti) [Data for dictionary of the Huzul dialects (Kosovska Polyana and Rososhka of the Rakhovsky district of the Zakarpattia region)]. Uzhgorod, Uzhgorod nats. univ., 2005, 266 p.

Podyukov I. A., Khorobrykh S. V., Antipov D. A. Etnolingvisticheskiy slovar’ svadebnoy terminologii Severnogo Prikam’ya [Ethnolinguistic dictionary of wedding terminology of the Northern Kama region]. Usolye, Solikamsk, Berezniki, Perm, Perm. kn. izd., 2004, 360 p.

Pyrtey P. S. Slovnyk lemkivs’koi’ govirky: materialy dlya slovnyka [Dictionary of the Lemko dialect, data for dictionary]. Іvano-Frankovsk, 1986, 469 p.

Romanov E. R. Belorusskiy sbornik: Vyp. 8. Byt belorusa [The Belarusian collection: Iss. 8. Everyday life of Belarusian]. Vilna, Tip. A. G. Syrkina, 1912, 600 p.

Ryazanskaya traditsionnaya kul’tura pervoy poloviny XX veka. Shatskiy etnodialektnyy slovar’ [Ryazan traditional culture of the first half of 20th century. Ethnodialectal dictionary of Shatsk]. I. A. Morozov, I. S. Sleptsova, N. N. Gilyarova, L. N. Chizhikova (Comps). Ryazan, izd. RyazTsNT, 2001, 488 p.

Sabadosh I. V. Slovnyk zakarpats’koi’ govirky sela Sokyrnycja Husts’kogo rayonu [Dictionary of the Transcarpathian dialect of village Sokirnitsa, Hust District]. Uzhgorod, Lira, 2008, 480 p.

Serdyukova O. K. Slovar’ govora kazakov-nekrasovtsev [Dictionary of the Nekrasov Cossacks’ dialect]. Rostov-on-Don, Rostov State Univ. Press, 2005, 320 p.

Sheyn P. V. Belorusskie narodnye pesni s otnosyashchimisya k nim obryadami, obychayami i sueveriyami, s prilozheniem ob”yasnitel’nogo slovarya i grammaticheskikh primechaniy [Belarusian folk songs with related rituals, customs and superstitions, with an explanatory dictionary and grammar notes attached]. St. Petersburg, Tip. Maykova, 1874, 566 p.

Shuhevych V. O. Gucul’shhyna. Treta chast’ [Hutsulshchyna. Third part.]. In: Khv. Vovk (Ed.). Materialy do ukrai’ns’ko-rus’koi’ etnolog’ii’ [Materials on the Ukrainian-Russian ethnology]. Lviv, Drukarnya naukovogo tovaristva im. Shevchenka, 1902, vol. 5, 274 p.

Slovar’ sovremennogo russkogo literaturnogo yazyka: V 17 t. [Dictionary of the contemporary Russian literary language: in 17 vols]. Moscow, Leningrad, izd. AN SSSR, 1950–1965.

Slovnyk ukrai’ns’koi’ movy. T. 1–11 [Dictionary of the Ukrainian language. Vols. 1–11]. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1970–1980.

Snegirev I. M. Russkie prostonarodnye prazdniki i suevernye obryady. Vyp. 4 [Russian folk festivities and superstitious rituals. Iss. 4]. Moscow, Universitetskaya tip., 1839, 244 p.

Strakhov A. B. Kul’t khleba u vostochnykh slavyan. Opyt etnolingvisticheskogo issledovaniya [Cult of bread in the eastern Slavs. Experience of ethnolinguistic research]. München: Verl. Otto Sagner, 1991, 244 p.

Sumtsov N. F. O svadebnykh obryadakh, preimushchestvenno russkikh [On wedding rituals, mostly Russian]. In: Sumtsov N. F. Simvolika slavyanskikh obryadov [The symbols of the Slavic rituals]. Moscow, Vost. lit., 1996, pp. 6–157.

Tkhamokova I. Kh. Khleb v svadebnoy obryadnosti terskikh stanits na territorii Kabardino-Balkarskoy Respubliki [Bread in the wedding ritual of the Terek stanitsas in the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic]. In: Itogi fol’klorno-etnograficheskikh issledovaniy etnicheskikh kul’tur Severnogo Kavkaza za 2001 god. Dikarevskie chteniya (8) [Results of folklore and ethnographic research of ethnic cultures of the North Caucasus in 2001. The Dikarev readings (8)]. Krasnodar, Kraybibkollektor, 2002, pp. 35–41.

Tlumachal’ny slownik belaruskay movy: U 5 t. [Explanatory dictionary of the Belarusian language: in 5 vols]. Minsk, Belarus. entsykl., 1977–1984.

Tolstaya S. M. Terminologiya obryadov i verovaniy kak istochnik rekonstruktsii drevney dukhovnoy kul’tury [Terminology of rituals and beliefs as a source of reconstruction of the ancient spiritual culture]. In: Slavyanskiy i balkanskiy fol’klor. Rekonstruktsiya drevney slavyanskoy dukhovnoy kul’tury: istochniki i metody [Slavic and Balkan folklore. Reconstruction of the ancient Slavic spiritual culture, sources and methods]. Moscow, Nauka, 1989, pp. 215–230.

Trubachev O. N. (Ed.). Etimologicheskiy slovar’ slavyanskikh yazykov. Praslavyanskiy leksicheskiy fond. Vyp. 1–38 [Etymological dictionary of the Slavic languages. Proto-Slavic lexical fund. Iss. 1–38]. Moscow, Nauka, 1974–2012.

Tumilevich F. V. Svadebnyy obryad u kazakov-nekrasovtsev [The Nekrasov Cossacks’ wedding ritual]. In: Uchen. zap. Rostovskogo-na-Donu gos. univ. T. 45. Tr. istoriko-filologicheskogo fak. Vyp. 6 [Scientific notes of the Rostov-on-Don State University. Vol. 45. Proceedings of the History and Philology Faculty. Iss. 6]. Rostov-on-Don, Rostizdat, 1958, pp. 129–158.

Turawski slownik: U 5 t. [Dictionary of the Turov dialect: in 5 vols]. Minsk, Navuka i tekhnika, 1982–1987.

Ukraintsy [Ukrainians]. Moscow, Nauka, 2000, 535 p.

Vasil’kova M. Svad’ba v stanitse Ladozhskoy Kubanskoy oblasti [Wedding in stanitsa Ladozhskaya of the Kuban кegion]. In: V. P. Anikin, V. E. Gusev, N. I. Tolstoy (Eds). Mudrost’ narodnaya: Zhizn’ cheloveka v russkom fol’klore. Vyp. 4. Yunost’ i lyubov’. Svad’ba: ot svatovstva do knyazhego stola [Folk wisdom. Human life in the Russian folklore. Iss. 4. Youth and love. Wedding, from marriage proposal to knyazhy feast]. Moscow, Khudozh. lit., 2001, pp. 228–260.

Vavilova M. A., Smol’nikov S. N. Funktsii i nominatsii personazhey krest’yanskoy svad’by nachala XX veka v Kokshen’ge (po materialam M. B. Edemskogo) [Functions and names of the participants of rural wedding in early 20th century, Kokshenga (on the data of M. B. Edemskiy)]. Traditional culture. 2003, no. 1, pp. 3–8.

Vesillya. T. 1, 2. [Wedding. Vols 1, 2]. Kiev, Naukova dumka, 1970.

Vovk H. K. Shlyubnyy ritual ta obryadi na Ukrai’ne [Marriage ritual and ceremonies in the Ukraine]. In: Vovk H. K. Studii’ z ukrai’ns’koi’ etnografii’ ta antropologii’ [Issues of the Ukrainian ethnography and anthropology]. Kiev, Mistetstvo, 1995, pp. 219–323.

Yastrebov V. Svadebnye obryadnye khleby v Malorossii [Wedding ritual bread in the Little Russia]. Kievskaya starina. 1897, no. 11, pp. 281–288. URL: http://library.kr.ua/kray/yastrebov/hlebci.html (accessed 21.04.2014).

Zakrevs’ka Ya. (Ed.). Gucul’s’ki govirky: korotkiy slovnyk [The Huzul dialects, short dictionary]. Lviv, Іnst. ukraїnoznavstva NAN Ukraїni, 1997, 232 p.