Ob Ugrian’s holidays: traditions in the changing world

The article deals with the analyzis of changes in the festive traditions and practices of the Ob Ugrian peoples (Khanty and Mansi) which took place during the XVIII - XXI cc. under the influence of the social changes. The work is based on the field materials of the author which conducted during many years (1984-2017) in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug among the different ethnic groups of Khanty and Mansi. The Ob Ugrian festivals before the Christianization represented ritual activities associated with the worship of various deities and spirits. After the Christianization, the ancient holidays related with the annual household cycle were included in the Russian Orthodox calendar. However, they were still the worship of a particular deity or spirit. Many pagan features are found in the festive ritual actions: visiting a sacred place, making a ritual fire, and offering a sacrifice with a joint meal. The deities were asked to grant good luck in fishing and hunting, abundance, health, etc. During the years of the Soviet power Church calendar holidays were not officially recognized as “prerevolutionary - old-fashion” holidays, and new revolutionary ones were established instead. However the traditional holidays of the Ob Ugrian peoples were preserved in people’s memory and “secretly” celebrated. In the 1950s and 1960s, the professional holidays appeared; they symbolized the professional identity of Soviet citizens. Fisherman’s Day and Reindeer Herder’s Day became relevant for indigenous peoples (including Khanty and Mansi) due to fishing and reindeer husbandry were their main activity. In Soviet times a new tradition originated - racing on reindeer sledges (Reindeer Herder’s Day), boat racing on traditional oblas’es (Fisherman’s Day). Over time these secular holidays included in their structure traditional ceremonial practices of the Ob Ugrian peoples, such as the rituals of treating spirits and sacrifices. During the Perestroika years many religious traditions of the Ob Ugrian peoples were revived, including holidays, which received official status in the 2000s. They are organized and held on the authorities’ initiative, that resembles the Soviet holidays traditions with a mandatory official scenario. A novelty in organizing events is sponsorship from industrial companies. An important function of the holiday in the modern world has become the presentation of ethnic culture and its transfer to the younger generation. The Ob-Ugrian ethnicity shows through singing, dancing and wearing traditional clothing during the festivals. The influence of globalization is very noticeable during the holidays. Along with traditional fish soup and tea, there is a trade in shashliks, pastries and sweets. Festivals have changed their form: from a primarily sacred ritual action into a public entertainment. In fact, there was a construction of new holidays in terms of content and functions based on the combination of Ob-Ugric ethnic traditions and Soviet ones.

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