The national altai holiday El-Oyin in the light of neotraditionalism

This article considers the national holiday of the Republic of Altai - El-Oyin. The purpose of the article is to characterize it in the aspect of neotraditionalism, highlighting the most indicative features and functions. When writing the article, various sources were used - materials from regional periodicals, field materials from one of the authors and electronic resources. The bibliography includes the works of Russian researchers: A.A. Popkov, E.F. Fursova, C.K. Lamazhaa, E.V. Erokhina, L.V. Anzhiganova. In their works, they define the term neotraditionalism and characterize its inherent individual features. The research methods included a system-structural approach, which made it possible to identify the signs and functions of neotraditionalism, historical and genetic in determining the character of El-Oyin as a construct based on revived traditions, the principle of historicism in recreating the history of the holiday from 1988 to 2024. When collecting field material, the methods of observation and open interviewing were used. The article provides definitions of the term “neotraditionalism” given by domestic researchers, and based on available research developments and field materials. The features of neotraditionalism inherent in El-Oyin were revealed: authorization, theatricality, reconstruction of national games, the inclusion of innovations taken from mass culture. The functions of the holiday are characterized: the actualization of traditions in an innovative form, the strengthening of ethnic identity through the transformation of holiday elements into a symbol of ethnic culture and increasing interest in the native language, the revival of tribal institutions, the awakening of creative search among young people, the presentation of ethnic culture at different levels, the commercialization of ethnic culture. Nowadays, El-Oyin occupies an important place in the structure of the festive rites of the Altai Republic and is a vivid example of neotraditionalism, since initially the holiday was considered as a mechanism for the revival of traditional culture. Based on ancient traditions, the national intelligentsia has developed new approaches to the holiday that take into account the ethnocultural identity of the people in modern conditions and the holiday itself is interesting within the framework of event tourism. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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