ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTION OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN THE RITUAL PRACTICES OF THE AINU

The ritual in the traditional Ainu culture was the way of the communication with the deities. The offering of the alcoholic drinks which serves as a means of communication during the ritual was obligatory. This communicative situation supposed a beneficial exchange between people and deities. The people offered the divine drinks to the deities and they were supposed to help people in their everyday life. The sacred object, intended only for communication with deities ikupasui/ikunisi stick served as a channel of communication. The drink was drunk from specially designed dishes. Special songs and dances were performed during the ritual. The joint consumption of alcohol united the world of humans and the world of deities with each other.