Festive culture of an urban family of Eastern Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries

The purpose of this article is to consider the characteristics of holidays in urban families in Eastern Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. The festive culture of towns of East Siberia had similarities with villages and cities of other regions of Russia. Meanwhile, the urban population of the territory under study had their own customs and entertainments in celebrating holidays. Family ties between residents were stronger in East Siberian towns distant from the center of the country. In the post-reform period, Siberian urban families were gradually deviating from patriarchal traditions. In towns, people were more engaged in urban activities than in agricultural ones. Hence, old agricultural rites were losing their meaning. Along with gradual deviation from patriarchal traditions in provincial towns, the tendency for autonomation and individualization of private life was weak yet. During the considered period, the Russian Orthodox Church played an important role in the formation of family traditions in the Russian society. Orthodoxy was one of the fundamental regulators of relationships between family members. It should be taken into account that a big part of the urban population of East Siberia were Orthodox. Therefore, Orthodox traditions were fundamental in family upbringing. The Siberian region preserved some traditions of celebrating holidays, borrowed from residents of the center of the country and already forgotten by them, for a longer period. The most revered and especially solemn holidays for urban families were Christmas and Easter. By the beginning of the 20th century novations started to penetrate into the urban festive culture. People started to celebrate New Year. At Christmas fancy dress parties and masquerades were held, a custom to make and present Christmas gifts appeared. First of all, novations in celebrating holidays concerned the privileged strata, while common people went on observing rituals and preserving traditional elements. Urban residents attached great importance to celebrating family holidays. They actively took part in the organization of festive entertainment. Birthdays, christenings, name-days, weddings belonged to family or home holidays. Home holidays contributed to the strengthening of the institute of family and kinship. This type of holidays helped pass on the folk tradition, the religious faith, the idea of statehood from generation to generation. Thus, the festive culture of urban families of Eastern Siberia supported the continuity of traditions and established conditions for stronger connection and preservation of a family. Novations in celebrating holidays did not develop actively and concerned an inconspicuous part of the urban population.

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