Chechens have been famous for their customs since ancient times. Adats (“custom” - Arabic) of the Chechens are an integral part of their daily life. Every Chechen family honors and observes the traditions passed on by the older generation.
There are quite a lot of them, we will only tell you about a few.
One of the main traditions of Chechen society is the preservation of family etiquette and honorable respect for guests. (Figure 1)
As in ancient times, in modern families, guests are still always offered special guest food - boiled meat with dumplings - zhizhig galnysh. (Figure 2)
And in
In poor families, the owners always keep flatbreads with butter and cheese for a guest who may suddenly come to their house. It is noteworthy that the Chechen people are characterized by hospitality to any good man, regardless of his national, religious and ideological affiliation. Many sayings, legends, and parables are dedicated to the sacred duty of hospitality among the Chechens. Chechens say: “Where a guest does not come, grace does not come”, “A guest in the house is a joy”... One of the basic rules of Chechen hospitality is the protection of the life, honor and property of the guest, even if this involves a risk to life. The guest should not offer a fee for the reception, but he may give gifts to the children. 
The Chechen people have a special attitude towards women. A woman who is a mother among Chechens has a special social status. Since ancient times, she has been the mistress of fire and the keeper of the hearth. And in this capacity she is endowed with very special rights. No one except a woman can stop a fight between men based on blood feud. If a woman appears where blood is flowing and weapons are clanging, the mortal battle may end. A woman can stop the bloodshed by removing the scarf from her head and throwing it between the combatants. By Western tradition the man will let the woman pass first as a sign of respect. According to Chechen, a man, respecting and protecting a woman, always walks ahead of her. This custom has ancient roots. In the old days, on a narrow mountain path there could be very dangerous encounters: with an animal, a robber, with a blood enemy... So the man walked ahead of his companion, ready at any moment to protect her, his wife and the mother of his children.
A respectful attitude towards a woman is evidenced by the custom of greeting her only while standing. If an elderly woman passes, it is the duty of any person, regardless of age, to stand up and say hello first. The greatest shame was considered to be disrespect for the mother and her relatives.
If any girl turns to a boy or man with the words “become my brother,” they must solve any of her problems, even at the risk of their lives.
A boy and a girl can only meet in public, in public places.
The found item or money must be given to the village mullah in front of witnesses so that he can find the one who lost it.
If children quarrel or start a fight, then parents should first of all scold their children, without distinguishing which of them is right or wrong.
Interrupting the speaker is a sign of disrespect for him. In extreme cases, when circumstances require it, you need to tell the speaker: “Don’t forget your word.” Etc.
Thus, despite the difficult history, the Chechen people managed to preserve their traditions and culture. Of course, the passage of time has made its own adjustments, but the customs of family education, hospitality, and respect for women still dominate among the Chechens.
Chechens also have their own traditions in clothing.
The history and culture of each nation is original and unique, and the national costume is an inseparable part of them. Living conditions of the people, geographical and climatic features, beliefs, social economic situation influence how the suit will look and what materials it will be made from. Since ancient times, Chechens have been engaged in sheep breeding, and wool, fur, and animal skins were used to make clothes and shoes. Homespun cloth and felt were widely used.
The details of the costume not only have a decorative function, but are also a historical reflection of the life of the Chechens. Soft leather boots were comfortable for shepherds and warriors to walk through the mountains. Daggers and weapons were attached to the belt. Mandatory in Chechen national costume a hat made from sheepskin. She is a symbol of masculinity, and touching a hat means insulting a man. At the same time, it perfectly protects against cold or overheating in the bright sun.
The basis of a men's suit is a beshmet and trousers, tapering towards the bottom. The pants are tucked inside the boots. Beshmet is a specially cut semi-caftan, the length of which is approximately 10 centimeters above the knee. On holidays, a Circassian coat is worn over this half-caftan. It does not have a collar, and it is fastened only at the belt.
Her distinctive feature is the presence of so-called gas holders on both sides of the chest - small pockets for weapon charges. Although with the advent of new types of weapons the need for gazyrnitsa disappeared, they remained on the Circassian coat as a decorative element.
The components of a woman's outfit are a tunic dress, an outer dress, a belt and a scarf. The length of the tunic dress reaches the ankles. Under this dress, women wear wide trousers, the legs of which are gathered at the ankles. A distinctive feature of the women's dress is bibs and very long sleeves that cover the fingers. In festive dresses, the length of the sleeves could reach the floor. Precious metals and stones were used in the manufacture of bibs. The outer dress is like a robe or cape. It only has a clasp at the waist to keep the bibs visible.
| 26.11.2014 | 14:00
The North Caucasus is famous for its ethnic diversity and rich cultural traditions mountain peoples Russia. Of course there are Caucasian customs, characteristic of the inhabitants of the whole region, but, meanwhile, each people North Caucasus unique and has its own special traditions and culture. Unfortunately, after the war in Chechnya, many people have a misconception about Chechen culture, or are even not familiar with it at all.
Chechens are a people of about one and a half million people, most of them living in the North Caucasus. It is generally accepted that the basis of the Chechen people consists of 156 types, which gradually expanded, in addition, new ones emerged from them. And today's question young man“Where is he from?” Chechens always call the aul from which his family comes. Thus, in Grozny it is impossible to meet a Chechen who will answer such a question “I am from Grozny.”
On early developments Hierarchy played a big role in Chechen society. Thus, only the highest types had the right to build a tower, while the lower ones, usually newcomers, did not have such permission. Different Chechen tribes are distinguished by different traditions, but there are rituals that unite the entire Chechen people and their difficult history.
The tragic pages of the history of this people date back not only to the Chechen wars of the twentieth century and Caucasian War second half of the nineteenth century. In February 1944, more than half a million Chechens were completely deported from their places of permanent residence in Central Asia. The turning point for the people came in 1957, when the Soviet government allowed the Chechens to return to their homes after thirteen years of exile. As part of the policy of the USSR government, people were prevented from returning to the mountains, thereby trying to encourage the Chechens to move away from their rituals and customs.
However, the Chechen people have largely managed to preserve their traditions and culture, passing it on to the younger generation. So, today one of the main traditions of Chechen society is the preservation of family etiquette and honorable respect for guests.
So, even in poor families, the owners always keep flatbreads with butter and cheese for a guest who may suddenly come to their house. It is noteworthy that the Chechen people are characterized by hospitality to any kind person, regardless of their national, religious and ideological affiliation. Many sayings, legends, and parables are dedicated to the sacred duty of hospitality among the Chechens. Chechens say: “Where a guest does not come, grace does not come”, “A guest in the house is a joy”... One of the basic rules of Chechen hospitality is the protection of the life, honor and property of the guest, even if this involves a risk to life. The guest should not offer a fee for the reception, but he may give gifts to the children.
The Chechens have always followed the custom of hospitality, and they do not forget about it today. Thus, in modern families, guests are still always offered special guest food - boiled meat with dumplings - zhizhig galnysh.
Photo source: "Tasty Notes" website
Historically, galushi was prepared from corn flour with the addition of a glass of hot water, in modern times Housewives are increasingly preparing a dish from wheat dough, for the formation of which you already need to add a glass cold water. Special attention pay attention to the quality of the broth in which the meat is cooked - it is in it that the dumplings made from dough are then cooked. Chechen housewives say that the taste of dumplings depends on the broth. The dumplings should be cooked silently, “so that they don’t fall apart.” Separately, a special sauce is prepared for the dish - from onions or garlic. So, today in the city housewives cut onions into rings and fry them in melted or sunflower oil, depending on taste preferences.
According to Chechen traditions, only women should cook every day and on holidays. Only at funerals is it mainly men who cook, which is due to the absence of Chechen women in the main part of the ceremony. In traditional Chechen families, the woman always eats after the head of the family; in modern ones, everyone often dines at the same table, but tribute to the head of the family is invariably present.
Preserved in Chechen families and wedding traditions, as well as the attitude towards his son’s wife in new family. Thus, the daughter-in-law still expresses great respect for her husband’s parents, calling them nothing more than “dada” and “nana” - father and mother.
Despite the fact that Ramzan Kadyrov abolished the historically outdated law of “bride kidnapping,” the role of the groom in the wedding ceremony is still insignificant. The Chechen code even states that “the groom should never be present at his wedding.” As a rule, he is always nearby, holed up in the next room.
An interesting Chechen custom that has survived to this day is called “untying the bride’s tongue.” According to Chechen tradition, the bride had no right to talk in her husband’s house without receiving special ritual permission to do so. In modern Chechen families, this ritual, as a rule, takes place on the wedding day. So, at the beginning of the ceremony, the father-in-law asks the bride about the weather, trying to get her to talk, then, having failed, he asks to bring her a glass of water. When the girl fulfills the order of her husband’s father and returns to the guests with a glass in her hands, the father-in-law begins to inquire in surprise why she brought him the glass. After the betrothed son’s silence, the guests, according to seniority, drink from the mug, putting money on the tray with the mug and “talking” to the bride. Only after this ceremony the bride receives full right to speak in her husband's family.
However, this tradition does not at all mean a degraded position of women in Chechen families. On the contrary, according to Chechen customs, it is strongly recommended not to enter into marriage between a man and a woman without mutual consent, as this may affect the mental and physical development of their children. According to a number of historians, this is why bride kidnapping is not, and never has been, a truly Chechen custom.
An ancient Chechen legend beautifully illustrates the observance of these commandments. “When they brought a girl to the groom’s house who agreed to marriage in order to fulfill the will of her father and brothers, although she loved another, the young man caught sadness in the girl’s eyes and began to inquire until he found out the reasons. And when the girl told about her love, big as the starry sky, he didn’t lay a finger on her. He brought her out of the house, and with her love from his heart, and dark night brought a yearning lover to the house. And from then on the young men became friends, ready to give their lives for each other. Because life is in our hands, and love is from God..."
Previously, according to tradition, a young man and a girl met at a spring, since in the minds of the Chechen people the spring was given to people by the creator. Meeting at the spring, lovers proclaimed their desire for their relationship to be as pure as its waters. According to Chechen customs, a girl and a young man could not be on a date together. The man, who was keeping a distance from his beloved, was accompanied by a friend, and the girl by a friend. The meeting always took place before dark, but in the afternoon, when the girl, having shown herself to be obedient and hardworking, received permission from her mother to go to the spring. The girls always came to the meeting place after the boys. Even today, it is not customary among the Chechen people for girls to appear first on a date.
It is worth noting that today, like two hundred years ago, a Chechen reacts very sharply to obscene language addressed to a woman, perceiving it as an insult. This is due to the fact that the biggest shame is if a woman from the family allows herself any relationship with a stranger. In the Chechen Republic today there are rare cases of lynching of women for free behavior. Women who lost their honor were and are being killed. However, the reason for such a harsh punishment lies primarily in the fact that the Chechens attach special meaning heredity through the female line. A Chechen has the right to take a wife of any nationality, although he is condemned by relatives and fellow villagers, but it is very rare for a Chechen woman to marry a foreigner.
Let us also note that among the Chechen traditions that have survived to this day is the obligatory ability of a woman to sew. So, for a wedding, young Chechen women inevitably receive a sewing machine as a dowry.
Among other traditions revered by the Chechen people for centuries, it should be notedspecial attention to the patient. A sick person is always visited by all friends and acquaintances, supporting him financially and morally, regardless of the age of the sick person. It is indecent to come to a sick person empty-handed. Chechens do not talk about illnesses around a sick person; on the contrary, they try to make him laugh. During the period of illness of a Chechen, his relatives and friends manage his affairs, and during rural areas- harvesting crops and chopping wood.
According to Chechen customs, a man must have such qualities as: taciturnity, leisurelyness, restraint, caution in statements and in assessing people. Restraint is the main feature of a Chechen man. According to custom, he will not even smile at his wife in front of strangers and will not take the child in his arms in front of his friends.
Another distinctive feature of Chechens is their attentiveness when meeting. First of all, every Chechen will ask: “How is it at home? Is everyone healthy? When breaking up, it is still considered a rule today good manners ask: “Do you need my help?” It is especially important to offer help to an elderly or simply older person.
Of course, the wars of the late twentieth century had a huge impact on the culture of modern Chechens. Thus, a whole generation of young people grew up in Chechnya, for whom real ammunition served as toys, and wartime tragedies gave rise to meaningless bravado. Many children were never able to complete school education. The problem of migration from villages to big cities is also difficult.
Today the Chechen government has shown itself capable of solving these problems. It not only rebuilt cities and villages, organized jobs and sports sections, has opened additional schools, but also supports programs about the culture of the Chechen people and the study of the native language of the Chechens. Thus, in October of this year, a new Chechen-Russian dictionary was published, the author of which is Doctor of Philology, Professor Zulay Khamidova. In addition to the fact that the book contains over 20 thousand purely Chechen words, the dictionary contains a lot useful material and transcriptions of words. This is especially important, since in the Chechen language the same word has several meanings and is read with different intonation. The cost of the dictionary is about one and a half thousand rubles (1,500 rubles).
Chechens also carefully preserve the memory of their musicians. A song performed by Belukhadzhi Didigov, dedicated to the legendary abrek Zelimkhan from the village of Kharachoy, is widely known among Chechens.
The best way to reflect the traditions of the Chechen people is the word “Nokhchalla”, which roughly translated into Russian means “to be a Chechen-Chechen” or “Chechenness”. This word includes a set of rules of ethics, customs, traditions accepted in Chechen society, and is a kind of code of honor. Thus, nokhchalla is the ability to build relationships with people without in any way demonstrating one’s superiority, even when in a privileged position. Nokhchalla is a special reverence for women and rejection of any coercion. From an early age, a Chechen was raised as a defender, a warrior. Most ancient look Chechen greeting, preserved today - “Come free!”
Thus, despite the difficult history, the Chechen people managed to preserve their traditions and culture. Of course, the passage of time has made its own adjustments, but the customs of family education, hospitality, and respect for women still dominate among the Chechens. And this means that time is changing everything for the better, testing the people for the strength of their moral principles and confirming the Chechen proverb: “those who do not keep up with the times risk falling under its wheel.”
The article was prepared as part of the project Scientific Society Caucasian scholars “Ethnocultural diversity of Russia as a factor in the formation of civil identity”, carried out with the support of the All-Russian public organization Social science"
The peasant always lives with worries about the harvest. Therefore drought is its enemy. According to an old Chechen belief, a snake is a reliable remedy against drought. As you know, snakes crawl out especially willingly into rainy days, hence the belief in their connection with the desired heavenly moisture arose. To make rain, the Chechens killed and hung snakes. In popular belief, the crow was also considered a messenger of bad weather, so in order to cause rain, it was necessary to destroy the crow's nest. Among the well-known ancient Chechen rituals of summoning rain is plowing the bed of a dry river. This ritual was performed separately by both women and men. The men gathered in the courtyard of a successful and revered man in the village, harnessed themselves to a plow and dragged it along and across the river bed. At the same time, everyone diligently doused each other with water. The women, coming to the river, dragged the plow along its bottom two or three times, while they themselves fell into the water and doused each other, and also tried to push passing men into the river. Then the women who “plowed the river” walked around the village and were presented with money or food. The pagan meaning of the sacrifice was the ritual of invoking rain, in which a teenager was dressed up as a sheaf of green grass. He was led through the streets of the village by a crowd of young people wearing sheepskin coats turned inside out. At the same time, everyone was having fun, since it was not visible who was hidden under the grass. The mummer also saw almost nothing, since his head was covered by elderberry branches hanging to the ground or a sheaf of hemp or a bag with holes for the eyes, covered with grass. It was believed that throwing pebbles into the river, accompanied by reciting a prayer, also helped to bring rain. The water that washes the pebbles will flow to the sea and return from there as rain. In mountainous Chechnya, the male part of the population usually participated in this ritual. The old men, led by the mullah, prayed, and the young people collected pebbles. The stones were placed near literate residents who could read the Koran, who whispered a prayer over them, and then put them aside. After this, the youth threw stones into the water. Sometimes these pebbles were put in a bag and lowered into water. At the end of the ceremony, sacrificial animals were slaughtered and a common meal was held.
-
Slide 1
- Chechens are a North Caucasian people living in the North Caucasus, the main population of Chechnya. Historically, they also live in the Khasavyurt, Novolak, Kazbekovsky, Babayurt, Kizilyurt, Kizlyar districts of Dagestan, the Sunzhensky and Malgobek Districts of Ingushetia, and the Akhmeta region of Georgia.
-
Slide 2
- At the moment, the absolute majority of Chechens live in the territory Russian Federation, namely in the Chechen Republic.
- The document on the basis of which mountainous Chechnya became part of Russia was signed on January 21, 1781 and confirmed in the fall of the same year.
-
Slide 3
- According to the TSB, in 1920, 0.8% of Chechens were literate, and by 1940, literacy among Chechens was 85%.
- In February 1944, the entire Chechen population (about half a million) was deported from their places of permanent residence to Central Asia.
- On January 9, 1957, the Chechens were allowed to return to their previous place of residence. A certain number of Chechens remained in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
-
Slide 4
- After the First and Second Chechen war a significant number of Chechens left for countries Western Europe, to Turkey and Arab countries.
- The Chechen diaspora in the regions of the Russian Federation has also increased significantly.
-
Slide 5
- The Chechen language belongs to the Nakh branch of the Nakh-Dagestan languages, included in the hypothetical Sino-Caucasian macrofamily.
- Distributed mainly in the Chechen Republic, in other regions of the Russian Federation, in Georgia, and partially in Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
- Number of speakers before the war 1994-2001 - approx. 1 million people.
-
Slide 6
- Most Chechens belong to the Shafi'i madhhab of Sunni Islam.
- Religion - Islam.
- Sufi Islam among the Chechens is represented by two tariqats: the Naqshbandiyya and the Qadiriyya, which in turn are divided into small religious groups - vird brotherhoods, the total number of which among the Chechens reaches thirty-two.
-
Slide 7
- A constitutional order was established in Chechnya, and Akhmat Kadyrov came to power, who was later replaced by AluAlkhanov, and then Ramzan Kadyrov.
- Chechen society is very conservative.
- It is divided into tukhums, teips and gars (families).
View all slides
“Lessons of Folklore” - The connection between Russian and Chuvash is considered children's folklore. Problem - difficult question, a problem that requires resolution, research. Creative name project: “What, what are our children made of...”. A question is an appeal that requires an answer. Explanatory note. People say: there is no tree without roots, no house without a foundation.
"Children's musical instruments" - Melodika. Keyboard and reed: Accordion Accordion Bayan. Flute. Children's musical instruments. Gusli. The role of children musical instruments V musical education preschoolers. Harp. Electric organ. Keyboards: Piano Grand Synthesizer Electric organ. Maracas triangle pandeira castanets. Accordion. Types of children's orchestra: noise ensemble, mixed orchestra.
“Song Dance March” - The ballet involves dancers, an orchestra, and is controlled by a conductor. Opera – musical performance where the artists sing. The dance will take us to the opera. The march will lead us to the ballet. Participants in the opera: soloists, choir, orchestra, controlled by the conductor. The three pillars are found in symphony, opera and ballet. Three pillars in music. The song will take us to the opera.
“Musical image” - F. Chopin. Founder Polish music. In his work, J. Sibelius widely used Finnish and Karelian folk art. V.A. Mozart. What is the name of the work by J. Sibelius? Words and music by O. Mityaev. An image of sadness. Norwegian. M.I. Glinka. And the soul will immediately become purer, kinder, happier than everyone else!
“Nekrasov song” - Didactic materials Test “And Nekrasov... Problematic question. Educational: contribute to the formation of a communicative culture and the cultivation of patriotism. Goals. Contents of the UMP. “I dedicated the lyre to my people...” Creative evening. Stages of the project. Fundamental Question: Can we hear music in poetry?
"Musical Theater" - Meyerbeer. Therefore, ensembles often appear at the climactic or final moments of dramatic development. combined with signs romantic drama. Verdi, one of the most remarkable masters of world realistic art. The Spanish court opera, the so-called zarzuela, also experienced a crisis.