Chuvash- people Turkic origin, living in Chuvashia, where its main population is, and beyond its borders.
Regarding the etymology of the name Chuvash there are eight hypotheses. It is assumed that the self-name Chăvash goes back directly to the ethnonym of a part of the “Bulgar-speaking” Turks: *čōš → čowaš/čuwaš → čovaš/čuvaš. In particular, the name of the Savir tribe (“Suvar”, “Suvaz” or “Suas”), mentioned by Arab authors of the 10th century. (ibn-Fadlan), is supposed to be considered the source of the ethnonym chăvash - “Chuvash”: the name is considered simply a Turkic adaptation of the name of the Bulgarian “Suvar”. According to an alternative theory, chăvash is a derivative of the Turkic jăvaš - “friendly, meek”, as opposed to şarmăs - “warlike”. The name of the ethnic group also goes back to the self-name of the Chuvash. neighboring peoples. Tatars and Mordovians-Moksha call Chuvash “chuash”, Mordovian-Erzya - “Chuvazh”, Bashkirs and Kazakhs - “syuash”, Mountain Mari- “suasla mari” - “a person in the Suvazian (Tatar) way.” In Russian sources, the ethnonym “Chavash” first appears in 1508.

From an anthropological point of view, most Chuvash belong to the Caucasoid type with a certain degree of Mongoloidity. Judging by the research materials, Mongoloid features dominate in 10.3% of the Chuvash, and about 3.5% of them are relatively pure Mongoloids, 63.5% belong to mixed Mongoloid-European types with a predominance of Caucasoid features, 21.1% represent various Caucasoid types are both dark-colored and light-haired and light-eyed, and 5.1% are classified as sublaponoid types, with weakly expressed Mongoloid features.
From a genetic point of view Chuvash are also an example of a mixed race - 18% of them carry the Slavic haplogroup R1a1, another 18% - the Finno-Ugric N, and 12% - the Western European R1b. 6% have the Jewish haplogroup J, most likely from the Khazars. The relative majority - 24% - bears haplogroup I, characteristic of northern Europe.
The Chuvash language is a descendant of the language of the Volga Bulgars and the only living language of the Bulgar group. It is not mutually intelligible with other Turkic languages. for example, in it it is replaced by x, s by e, and z by x, as a result the word “girl” sounds in everyone Turkic languages How kyz in Chuvash sounds like crap.

Chuvash are divided by two ethnic groups: upper (viryal) and lower (anatri). They speak different dialects of the Chuvash language and in the past they differed somewhat in their way of life and material culture. Now these differences, which continued to persist especially persistently in women's clothing, are becoming more and more smoothed out every year. The Viryals occupy predominantly the northern and northwestern parts of the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Anatris occupy the southeastern part. At the junction of the settlement territory of the upper and lower Chuvash, a small group of middle lower Chuvash (anatenchi) lives. They speak the dialect of the upper Chuvash, and in clothing they are close to the lower Chuvash.

In the past, each group of Chuvash was divided into subgroups according to their everyday characteristics, but their differences have now been largely erased. Only among the lower Chuvash the so-called steppe subgroup (Khirti), living in the southeastern part of the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, is distinguished by some originality; In the life of the Khirti, there are many features that bring them closer to the Tatars, next to whom they live.
. The self-name of the Chuvash, according to one version, goes back to the name of one of the tribes related to the Bulgars - Suvar, or Suvaz, Suas. Mentioned in Russian sources since 1508.
At the end of 1546, the Chuvash and mountain Mari rebels against the authorities of Kazan called on Russia for help. In 1547, Russian troops ousted the Tatars from the territory of Chuvashia. In the summer of 1551, during the founding of the Sviyazhsk fortress by the Russians at the confluence of the Sviyaga and the Volga, the Chuvash of the mountain side became part of the Russian state. In 1552-1557, the Chuvash, who lived on the meadow side, also became the subjects of the Russian Tsar. By the middle of the 18th century Chuvash were mostly converted to Christianity. Part of the Chuvash who lived outside Chuvash and, having converted to Islam, became a Tatar. In 1917 Chuvash received autonomy: AO since 1920, ASSR since 1925, Chuvash SSR since 1990, Chuvash Republic since 1992.
Basics traditional occupation Chuvash– agriculture, in ancient times – slash-and-burn, until the beginning of the 20th century – three-field farming. The main grain crops were rye, spelt, oats, barley; wheat, buckwheat, and peas were sown less frequently. From industrial crops Chuvash They cultivated flax and hemp. Hop growing was developed. Livestock farming (sheep, cows, pigs, horses) was poorly developed due to a lack of forage land. For a long time Chuvash were engaged in beekeeping. Wood carving (utensils, especially beer ladles, furniture, gate posts, cornices and platbands of houses), pottery, weaving, embroidery, patterned weaving (red-white and multi-color patterns), sewing with beads and coins, handicrafts - mainly woodworking: wheelwork, cooperage, carpentry, also rope and matting production; There were carpenters', tailors' and other artels, and small shipbuilding enterprises arose at the beginning of the 20th century.
Main types of settlements Chuvash- villages and hamlets (yal). Most early types settlement - river and ravine, layout - cumulus-cluster (in the northern and central regions) and linear (in the south). In the north, the village is typically divided into ends (kasas), usually inhabited by related families. The street layout has been spreading since the 2nd half of the 19th century. From the 2nd half of the 19th century, dwellings of the Central Russian type appeared.

House Chuvash decorated with polychrome painting, saw-cut carvings, applied decorations, the so-called “Russian” gates with a gable roof on 3-4 pillars - bas-relief carvings, later painting. There is an ancient log building - a log building (originally without a ceiling or windows, with an open hearth), serving as a summer kitchen. Cellars (nukhrep) and baths (muncha) are common.

Men have Chuvash They wore a canvas shirt (kepe) and trousers (yem). The basis of traditional clothing for women is a tunic-shaped shirt-kepe; for Viryal and Anat Enchi, it is made of thin white linen with abundant embroidery, narrow, and worn slouchily; Anatri, until the mid-19th - early 20th centuries, wore white shirts flared at the bottom, later - from a motley pattern with two or three gathers of fabric of a different color. Shirts were worn with an apron, the Viryal had it with a bib, decorated with embroidery and appliqué, the Anatri had no bib, and was made of red checkered fabric. Women's festive headdress - a toweled canvas surpan, over which the Anatri and Anat Enchi wore a shaped cap truncated cone, with headphones fastened under the chin, and a long blade at the back (khushpu); Viryal fastened an embroidered strip of fabric on the crown of the head (masmak) with surpan. A girl's headdress is a helmet-shaped cap (tukhya). Tukhya and khushpu were richly decorated with beads, beads, and silver coins. Dudes They also wore scarves, preferably white or light colors. Women's jewelry - back, waist, chest, neck, shoulder slings, rings. The lower Chuvash are characterized by a sling (tevet) - a strip of fabric covered with coins, worn over the left shoulder under right hand, for the riding Chuvash - a woven belt with large tassels with strips of calico, covered with embroidery and appliqué, and bead pendants. Outerwear is a canvas caftan (shupar), in the fall - a cloth undercoat (sakhman), in winter - a fitted sheepskin coat (kerek). Traditional shoes are bast sandals and leather boots. The Viryal wore bast shoes with black cloth onuchs, the Anatri wore white woolen (knitted or made of cloth) stockings. Men wore onuchi and foot wraps in winter, women - all year round. Men's traditional clothing is used only in wedding ceremonies or folklore performances.
In traditional food Chuvash prevail herbal products. Soups (yashka, shurpe), stews with dumplings, cabbage soup with seasonings made from cultivated and wild greens - hogweed, hogweed, nettle, etc., porridge (spelt, buckwheat, millet, lentil), oatmeal, boiled potatoes, jelly from oatmeal and pea flour, rye bread (khura sakar), pies with cereals, cabbage, berries (kukal), flatbreads, cheesecakes with potatoes or cottage cheese (puremech). Less often they prepared khupla - a large round pie with meat or fish filling. Dairy products - turah - sour milk, uiran - churning, chakat - curd cheese. Meat (beef, lamb, pork, among the lower Chuvash - horse meat) was a relatively rare food: seasonal (when slaughtering livestock) and festive. They prepared shartan - a sausage made from a sheep's stomach stuffed with meat and lard; tultarmash - boiled sausage stuffed with cereal, minced meat or blood. They made mash from honey, and beer (sara) from rye or barley malt. Kvass and tea were common in areas of contact with the Tatars and Russians.

Rural community Chuvash could unite residents of one or several settlements with a common land plot. There were nationally mixed communities, mainly Chuvash-Russian and Chuvash-Russian-Tatar. Forms of kinship and neighborly mutual assistance (nime) were preserved. Family ties were steadily preserved, especially within one end of the village. There was a custom of sororate. After the Christianization of the Chuvash, the custom of polygamy and levirate gradually disappeared. Undivided families were already rare in the 18th century. The main type of family in the 2nd half of the 19th century was small family. The husband was the main owner of family property, the wife owned her dowry, independently managed income from poultry farming (eggs), livestock farming (dairy products) and weaving (canvas), and in the event of the death of her husband, she became the head of the family. The daughter had the right of inheritance along with her brothers. In economic interests, the early marriage of a son and the relatively late marriage of a daughter were encouraged, and therefore the bride was often several years older than the groom. The characteristic of Turkic peoples Minorate tradition when youngest son stays with his parents and inherits their property.

Grassroots Chuvash of the Kazan province, 1869.

Modern Chuvash beliefs combine elements of Orthodoxy and paganism. In some areas of the Volga and Urals regions, villages have been preserved Chuvash-pagans. Chuvash revered fire, water, sun, earth, believed in good gods and spirits led by the supreme god Cult Tur (later identified with the Christian God) and evil creatures led by Shuitan. They revered household spirits - the “master of the house” (khertsurt) and the “master of the yard” (karta-puse). Each family kept home fetishes - dolls, twigs, etc. Among evil spirits Chuvash they especially feared and revered the kiremet (the cult of which continues to this day). Calendar holidays included winter holiday asking for a good offspring of livestock, the holiday of honoring the sun (Maslenitsa), the multi-day spring festival of sacrifices to the sun, the god of Tours and the ancestors (which then coincided with Orthodox Easter), the holiday of spring plowing (akatuy), summer holiday remembrance of the dead. After sowing, sacrifices were carried out, a ritual of causing rain, accompanied by bathing in a pond and dousing with water; upon completion of harvesting grain, prayers were made to the guardian spirit of the barn, etc. Young people organized festivities with round dances in the spring and summer, and gatherings in winter. The main elements of the traditional wedding (the groom's train, a feast in the bride's house, her taking away, a feast in the groom's house, dowry, etc.), maternity (cutting the umbilical cord of a boy on an ax handle, a girl - on a riser or the bottom of a spinning wheel, feeding a baby, now - lubricating the tongue and lips with honey and oil, transferring it under the protection of the guardian spirit hearth and home etc.) and funeral and memorial rituals. Chuvash-pagans buried their dead in wooden logs or coffins with their heads to the west, placing them with the deceased household items and tools, a temporary monument was placed on the grave - a wooden pillar (for men - oak, for women - linden), in the fall, during general commemorations in the month of Yupa Uyikh ("month of the pillar"), a permanent anthropomorphic monument was built from wood or stone (yupa). His removal to the cemetery was accompanied by rituals simulating burial. At the wake, funeral songs were sung, bonfires were lit, and sacrifices were made.

The most developed genre of folklore is songs: youth, recruit, drinking, funeral, wedding, labor, lyrical, as well as historical songs. Musical instruments - bagpipes, bubble, duda, harp, drum, and later - accordion and violin. Legends, fairy tales and tales are widespread. Chuvash, like many other peoples with ancient culture, in the distant past they used a kind of writing, which developed in the form of runic writing, widespread in the pre-Bulgar and Bulgar periods of history.
There were 35 (36) characters in the Chuvash runic letter, which coincides with the number of letters of the ancient classical runic letter. In terms of location and quantity, style, phonetic meanings, and the presence of a literary form, the signs of Chuvash monuments are included in common system runic writing of the eastern type, which includes writing Central Asia, Orkhon, Yenisei, North Caucasus, Black Sea region, Bulgaria and Hungary.

Arabic writing was widespread in Volga Bulgaria. In the 18th century, writing was created based on Russian graphics of 1769 (Old Chuvash writing). Novochuvash writing and literature were created in the 1870s. The Chuvash national culture is being formed.

And behavior. The Chuvash people live in the center of the European part of Russia. Characteristics character are inherently linked to the traditions of these amazing people.

Origins of the people

At a distance of about 600 kilometers from Moscow is the city of Cheboksary, the center Chuvash Republic. Representatives of a colorful ethnic group live on this land.

There are many versions about the origin of this people. It is most likely that the ancestors were Turkic-speaking tribes. These people began migrating west as early as the 2nd century BC. e. Looking for better life, they came to the modern territories of the republic back in the 7th-8th centuries and three hundred years later created a state that was known as Volga Bulgaria. This is where the Chuvash came from. The history of the people could have been different, but in 1236 the state was defeated by the Mongol-Tatars. Some people fled from the conquerors to the northern lands.

The name of this people is translated from Kyrgyz as “modest”, according to the old Tatar dialect - “peaceful”. Modern dictionaries They claim that the Chuvash are “quiet”, “harmless”. The name was first mentioned in 1509.

Religious preferences

The culture of this people is unique. Elements of Western Asia can still be traced in rituals. The style was also influenced by close communication with Iranian-speaking neighbors (Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans). The Chuvash adopted not only their everyday life and economy, but also their manner of dressing. Their appearance, costume features, character and even religion were obtained from their neighbors. So, even before joining To the Russian state these people were pagans. The supreme god was called Tura. Later, other faiths began to penetrate into the colony, in particular Christianity and Islam. Jesus was worshiped by those who lived on the lands of the republic. Allah became the head of those who lived outside the area. In the course of events, Muslims became dissatisfied. Yet today, most of the representatives of this people profess Orthodoxy. But the spirit of paganism is still felt.

Merging two types

Various groups influenced the appearance of the Chuvash. Most of all - the Mongoloid and Caucasian races. That is why almost all representatives of this people can be divided into fair-haired Finns and dark-haired representatives. Blonde people have light brown hair, gray eyes, pallor, wide oval face and small nose, skin often covered with freckles. At the same time, they are somewhat darker in appearance than Europeans. Brunettes' locks are often curled, their eyes are dark brown and narrow in shape. They have poorly defined cheekbones, a depressed nose and a yellow skin type. It is worth noting here that their features are softer than those of the Mongols.

The Chuvash differ from neighboring groups. Characteristic for both types are a small oval head, a low bridge of the nose, narrowed eyes, and a small, neat mouth. Average height, not prone to obesity.

Casual look

Each nationality has a unique system of customs, traditions and beliefs. It was no exception, and from ancient times these people made cloth and canvas independently in every house. Clothing was made from these materials. Men were supposed to wear a linen shirt and trousers. If it became cool, a caftan and a sheepskin coat were added to their look. The Chuvash had patterns unique to themselves. The woman’s appearance was successfully emphasized by unusual ornaments. All things were decorated with embroidery, including the wedged shirts that the ladies wore. Later, stripes and checks became fashionable.

Each branch of this group had and still has its own preferences for the color of clothing. Thus, the south of the republic has always preferred rich shades, and northwestern fashionistas loved light fabrics. Each woman's outfit included wide Tatar trousers. Required element is an apron with a bib. It was especially diligently decorated.

In general, the appearance of the Chuvash is very interesting. The description of the headdress should be highlighted in a separate section.

Status determined by helmet

Not a single representative of the people could walk with his head uncovered. This is how a separate movement in the direction of fashion arose. Such things as tukhya and hushpu were decorated with special imagination and passion. The first one was worn on the head unmarried girls, the second was only for married women.

At first, the hat served as a talisman, a talisman against misfortune. Such an amulet was treated with special respect and decorated with expensive beads and coins. Later, such an object not only decorated the appearance of the Chuvash, it began to talk about social and marital status women.

Many researchers believe that the shape of the dress resembles Others provide a direct link to understanding the design of the Universe. Indeed, according to the ideas of this group, the earth had a quadrangular shape, and in the middle stood the tree of life. The symbol of the latter was a bulge in the center, which distinguished married woman from a girl. Tukhya had a pointed conical shape, hushpu was round.

The coins were chosen with special care. They had to be melodic. Those that hung from the edges hit each other and rang. Such sounds scared away evil spirits - the Chuvash believed in this. The appearance and character of a people are directly related.

Ornament code

The Chuvash are famous not only for their soulful songs, but also for their embroidery. The skill grew over generations and was passed down from mother to daughter. It is in the ornaments that one can read the history of a person, his belonging to a separate group.

The main embroidery is clear geometry. The fabric should only be white or gray. It’s interesting that girls’ clothes were decorated only before the wedding. IN family life there was not enough time for this. Therefore, what they did in their youth was worn for the rest of their lives.

Embroidery on clothes complemented the appearance of the Chuvash. It contained encrypted information about the creation of the world. Thus, the tree of life and eight-pointed stars, rosettes or flowers were symbolically depicted.

After the popularization of factory production, the style, color and quality of the shirt changed. The older people grieved for a long time and assured that such changes in the wardrobe would bring disaster to their people. And indeed, over the years, true representatives of this genus are becoming fewer and fewer.

World of traditions

Customs say a lot about a people. One of the most colorful rituals is a wedding. The character and appearance of the Chuvash, traditions are still preserved. It is worth noting that in ancient times wedding ceremony there were no priests, shamans or official representatives authorities. Guests of the event witnessed the creation of a family. And everyone who knew about the holiday visited the homes of the newlyweds’ parents. Interestingly, divorce was not perceived as such. According to the canons, lovers who married in front of their relatives should be true friend friend for the rest of my life.

Previously, the bride had to be 5-8 years older than her husband. When choosing a partner, the Chuvash put their appearance last. The character and mentality of these people required that, first of all, the girl be hardworking. They gave the young lady in marriage after she mastered housekeeping. Adult woman They were also tasked with raising a young husband.

Character is in customs

As previously mentioned, the very word from which the name of the people comes is translated from most languages ​​as “peace-loving”, “calm”, “modest”. This meaning absolutely corresponds to the character and mentality of this people. According to their philosophy, all people, like birds, sit on different branches of the big tree of life, each is a relative of the other. Therefore, their love for each other is limitless. Very peaceful and good people Chuvash. The history of the people does not contain information about attacks on the innocent and arbitrariness against other groups.

The older generation keeps traditions and lives according to the old pattern, which they learned from their parents. Lovers still get married and swear fidelity to each other in front of their families. Mass celebrations are often held, at which the music sounds loudly and melodiously. Chuvash language. People wear the best suits, embroidered according to all the canons. They cook traditional lamb soup - shurpa, and drink home-made beer.

The future is in the past

IN modern conditions With urbanization, traditions in villages are disappearing. At the same time, the world is losing its independent culture and unique knowledge. Nevertheless, the Russian government is aimed at maximizing the interest of contemporaries in the past different nations. The Chuvash are no exception. Appearance, features of life, color, rituals - all this is very interesting. To show to the younger generation the culture of the people, university students of the republic spend impromptu evenings. Young people speak and sing in the Chuvash language.

The Chuvash live in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, so their culture is successfully breaking through into the world. Representatives of the people support each other.

Recently it was translated into Chuvash language general ledger Christians - the Bible. Literature is flourishing. The ornaments and clothing of the ethnic group inspire famous designers to create new styles.

There are still villages where they still live according to the laws of the Chuvash tribe. The appearance of men and women in such gray hair is traditionally folk. The great past is preserved and revered in many families.

According to one hypothesis, the Chuvash are descendants of the Bulgarians. Also, the Chuvash themselves believe that their distant ancestors were the Bulgars and Suvars, who once inhabited Bulgaria.

Another hypothesis says that this nation belongs to the associations of Savirs, who in ancient times migrated to the northern lands due to the fact that they abandoned generally accepted Islam. During the time of the Kazan Khanate, the ancestors of the Chuvash were part of it, but were a fairly independent people.

Culture and life of the Chuvash people

Basic economic activity The Chuvash practiced settled agriculture. Historians note that these people succeeded in land management much more than the Russians and Tatars. This is explained by the fact that the Chuvash lived in small villages with no cities nearby. Therefore, work with the earth was the only source food. In such villages there was simply no opportunity to shirk work, especially since the lands were fertile. But even they could not saturate all the villages and save people from hunger. The main crops grown were: rye, spelt, oats, barley, wheat, buckwheat and peas. Flax and hemp were also grown here. To work with agriculture The Chuvash used plows, roe deer, sickles, flails and other devices.

In ancient times, the Chuvash lived in small villages and settlements. Most often they were erected in river valleys, next to lakes. Houses in villages were lined up in a row or in a heap. Traditional hut there was a purt building, which was placed in the center of the courtyard. There were also huts called la. IN Chuvash settlements they played the role of a summer kitchen.

The national costume was clothing typical of many Volga peoples. Women wore tunic-like shirts, which were decorated with embroidery and various pendants. Both women and men wore a shupar, a caftan-like cape, over their shirts. Women covered their heads with scarves, and girls wore a helmet-shaped headdress - tukhya. The outerwear was a canvas caftan - shupar. In the autumn, the Chuvash dressed in a warmer sakhman - an underwear made of cloth. And in winter, everyone wore fitted sheepskin coats - kyoryoks.

Traditions and customs of the Chuvash people

The Chuvash people take care of the customs and traditions of their ancestors. Both in ancient times and today, the peoples of Chuvashia hold ancient holidays and rituals.

One of these holidays is Ulakh. IN evening time young people gather for an evening meeting, which is organized by the girls when their parents are not at home. The hostess and her friends sat in a circle and did needlework, and at this time the guys sat between them and watched what was happening. They sang songs to the music of an accordion player, danced and had fun. Initially, the purpose of such meetings was to find a bride.

To others national custom is Savarni, the festival of farewell to winter. This holiday is accompanied by fun, songs, and dances. People dress up the scarecrow as a symbol of the passing winter. Also in Chuvashia, on this day it is customary to dress up horses, harness them to festive sleighs and give children rides.

Mancun holiday is Chuvash Easter. This holiday is the purest and happy holiday for the people. Before Mancun, women clean their huts, and men clean up the yard and outside the yard. They prepare for the holiday, fill full barrels of beer, bake pies, paint eggs and cook national dishes. Mancun lasts seven days, which are accompanied by fun, games, songs and dances. Before Chuvash Easter, swings were installed on every street, on which not only children, but also adults rode.

(Painting by Yu.A. Zaitsev "Akatuy" 1934-35.)

Holidays related to agriculture include: Akatui, Sinse, Simek, Pitrav and Pukrav. They are associated with the beginning and end of the sowing season, with the harvest and the arrival of winter.

The traditional Chuvash holiday is Surkhuri. On this day, the girls told fortunes - they caught sheep in the dark to tie a rope around their necks. And in the morning they came to look at the color of this sheep, if it was white, then the betrothed or betrothed would have blonde hair and vice versa. And if the sheep is motley, then the couple will not be particularly beautiful. In different regions, Surkhuri is celebrated on different days- somewhere before Christmas, somewhere in New Year, and some celebrate on the night of Epiphany.