WEDDING RITUALS OF THE LETSKY KOMI IN THE 1950s - 1960s

Abstract

Based on field and archival materials, the article examines the Letsky Komi wedding ritual complex in the 1950s-1960s. The purpose of the article is to reveal the main changes of the ritual, to identify the most significant traditional wedding elements, the implementation of which continued to be considered mandatory. The presented material allows us to say that during the indicated period, marriage among the Letsky Komi was sanctioned, first of all, by the parents’ blessing as well as by a wedding ceremony with the participation of relatives and fellow villagers. Marriage continued to be concluded in accordance with the traditional ritual, which included the main stages of the wedding: matchmaking, drinking, bachelorette party, feast in the bride's house and in the groom's house, rites of the second and third days of the wedding. The rituals associated with the transition of the bride to another family, tribal and social age group were preserved. At the same time, some stages of the wedding ritual turned out to be combined, there was a simplification of ritual elements that required economic costs, the significance and meaning of a number of ritual acts were changed and lost.