“Our ancestors were Orthodox. “Our ancestors were Orthodox Kabardians from where

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INTRODUCTION

This project is dedicated to the history of my people - the Kabardians. The population of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic as of January 1, 2017 is 862,050 people. according to Rosstat data on a preliminary estimate of the population as of 01/01/2017.

I, Gonibova Lalina, am a representative of the Kabardian family, immigrants from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the village of Verkhniy Akbash.

Russia is a multinational state. Representatives of more than 100 different nations live here. A people and a nation are a community of people that has formed over a long period of time in a certain territory and has its own special language, culture, and economy. A person’s belonging to a particular nation is called nationality. A person inherits his nationality from his parents.

In my work, I would like to draw public attention to the development of the cultural traditions of my people.

When starting work on this project, I set myself a goal to learn as much as possible about the traditions of my people. While working on the project, I studied various literary and documentary sources, which helped me learn a lot of useful information. I learned to analyze and draw conclusions. To find answers, I turned to an explanatory dictionary for help, talked with village elders, met with school and village library workers, visited Internet sites, and asked a teacher for help.

On September 1, 1921, the Kabardian Autonomous Region was formed as part of the RSFSR, and in January 1922, a single Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Region was formed, transformed in 1936 into the Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Kabardino-Balkaria is one of the most picturesque corners of the North Caucasus. The main wealth of the republic is its people: hardworking and brave, generous in friendship and hospitality, harsh with enemies. The workers of Kabardino-Balkaria turned the formerly backward region into a powerful industrial region of the country. New power plants, factories and factories peacefully coexist with the remains of ancient battle towers, monuments to ancient folk heroes - defenders from foreign invaders.

The very name of the republic suggests that two peoples live here - Kabardians and Balkars. These peoples speak different languages, but since ancient times they have been united by a common historical destiny and similarity in their way of life. There are many similarities in the oral literature of Kabardins and Balkars - in their folklore.

Kabardians call themselves “Adyghe”. “Adyghe” is the common name for two other peoples related to Kabardians - Adyghe and Circassians, who live in the Adyghe and Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Regions. In the distant past, Adygeis, Kabardians and Circassians formed a single people. They also created a common folklore, known as Adyghe folklore.

Majestic tales about the heroes - the Narts, songs about the fighters for the people's cause - the brave Aydemirkan, Hatha Kochas and other folk heroes, sincere lyrical songs, various fairy tales - all this is the common heritage of the three peoples.

Objective of the project: get acquainted with the history of the Kabardian people and explore the peculiarities of cultural traditions.

Project objectives:

Learn from various sources the history of the development of the Kabardian people; explore the main stages of development of cultural traditions.

Introduce national crafts and features of homemade culinary products.

Tell about the national traditions of your family.

Relevance:

Russia is a huge, big country. And in this huge country there is a beautiful corner called “Kabardino-Balkaria”. Every person should know well about the place where he was born and lives. Everyone has the right to be proud of their history. Everyone has their own, unique, special, original. It was shaped year after year, created by dozens of generations. What we inherited from past generations was obtained through incredible efforts, sweat and blood of our predecessors. Therefore, we remember them with gratitude and carefully preserve everything they left us.

Today, the issue of preserving the customs and cultural traditions of peoples is very acute in the world. It is necessary to draw public attention to the development of cultural traditions of different peoples living on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Hypothesis: the ability to preserve and enhance the traditions and culture of one’s ancestors, representatives of different nationalities is not only the ability to honor the past and present, but also the ability to educate a cultural, tolerant society for the future generation of our country.

Customs and traditions of Kabardians: loyalty to the principles of Adyghe Khabze.

Object of study:

My family, my classmates, the Kabardian people.

Subject of study:

History and culture of Kabardians.

Research methods:

Collection of information.

Working with Internet resources.

Analysis of received materials.

Chapter 1.

1.1. History of Kabardians.

Since ancient times, until the end of the 14th century, all Adygs (Circassians) (including Kabardians, Circassians of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and Adygeis) have a common history.

Kabardians are the largest branch of the Circassians (Circassians). Of all the mountain tribes, the Kabardians gained the loudest fame, thanks to their warlike spirit, courage, as well as their dominant position in the North Caucasus. In Russian history they are known by the name "Pyatigorsk Circassians", which comes from the name of Mount Beshtau (in Russian - Pyatigorye), in the vicinity of which they live.

The ancestors of Kabardians have lived on the eastern shores of the Black Sea since time immemorial. But only from the middle of the 15th century did Kabarda and the Kabardians appear on the historical stage, named after the leader of the people, the semi-legendary Prince Idar (Kabardey). Subsequently, the Kabardian princes kept the neighboring mountain tribes - Ingush, Ossetians, Abazins, and Mountain Tatars - in tributary dependence.

All the highlanders of the North Caucasus, and after them the Russian Cossacks, borrowed from the Kabardians their uniform, weapons, and horse riding. Kabarda was also a school of good manners and manners for the mountaineers.

In 1722, during the Persian campaign of Peter I, the Kabardians, despite the threats of the Crimean Khan, stood on the side of Russia. Their complete unification occurred after a series of Russian-Turkish wars. Friendship with Russia contributed to the strengthening of the influence of the Kabardians in the North Caucasus. In 1991, the Kabardian Autonomous Okrug was formed as part of the RSFSR, subsequently the united Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

I learned that Kabarda has the best pastures in the Caucasus. The rivers and streams are home to carp, pike, and trout, but the fish of the Caspian Sea rise up the Terek only to Naur or Mozdok. This region lacks only a large population to turn it into one of the most beautiful provinces of Russia. The rivers and streams that irrigate the plains of Kabarda are very numerous. Here is a list of them: Podkumok, Stoka, Zaluka, Malka, Kura, Kish-Malka, Baksan, Chegem, Cherek, Nalchik, Urukh, Psydakha, Shugolya, Durdur, Psykhuzh, or Belaya, Ardon, Fiak-don, Gezeldon, Arkhon, Mostchaya and Kurp.

I also learned that nature generously endowed our region: high mountains crowned with snowy peaks, fertile plains, dense forests. In Kabardino-Balkaria there is the highest peak in Europe - Mount Elbrus (in Kabardian - Oshkhamakho, which means “Mountain of Happiness”) and the famous Blue Lakes.

1.2. How Kabardians lived and what they did.

Young Kabardians of the noble class have been engaged in their physical development since childhood. This is how the ideal of a Kabardian was developed, who has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, a powerful neck like an ox, keen eyes like a falcon, and strong hands like a wolf’s mouth. The love of sports (although there is no adequate word in the Adyghe language) is fantastically reflected in Nart legends. Every year the Narts (the legendary heroes of the Kabardians) staged heroic games with the Steel Wheel. He was lowered from the top of the mountain, and one of the heroes met him at the foot and drove him back up the mountain with a blow of his foot or palm. The Narts loved multi-day races, wrestling, the goal of which was to drive the enemy into the ground up to his neck. For Kabardians, the Narts were an unattainable ideal.

Kabardian sport did not know mountaineering, but the greatest mountaineering feat in the Caucasus belongs to Kabardian Kilar Khashirov. On July 10, 1829, he was the first in the world to conquer Elbrus without prior training. The ascent was organized by the commander of the Caucasian line, General Emanuel. Scientists were involved in this expedition - geophysicist, geologist, physicist, zoologist, botanist, as well as an escort team consisting of Kabardians, Balkars and Cossacks. However, most of the climbers were forced to descend from a height of 4270 meters, unable to withstand altitude sickness. Some did not reach the top by only 210 meters. Only Kilar Khashirov continued the ascent alone. Observing the assault on Elbrus through a telescope, General Emanuel saw how he climbed to the very top of the eastern peak. To perpetuate Kilar’s ​​feat, by order of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a memorial plate was cast at the Lugansk plant with the inscription: “Let this modest stone will pass on to posterity the names of those who first paved the way to reach Elbrus, which is still considered inaccessible!”

1.3. Trades

Kabarda and Circassia were not areas of widespread development of crafts, like, for example, Dagestan.

Most of the local crafts are related to the processing of agricultural products and served the needs of the residents of their village. Only the famous Kabardian cloaks and saddles found sales outside Kabarda and Circassia, especially among the Terek and Kuban Cossacks.

Existed among the Kabardians and Circassians in the 19th - early 20th centuries. fisheries can be divided into two groups:

1) women's household crafts (women worked for their family, and in the feudal period, for the owner's family);

2) handicraft and handicraft production, serviced by male labor.

The main raw material for women's household crafts came from cattle breeding, with the first place being occupied by wool, from which burkas, hats, felts, cloth, ropes, etc. were made. The light and durable local burkas, so necessary in the life of a mountaineer rider, are best known for their high quality . In the household, women were also involved in processing sheepskins and leathers, from which clothes and shoes were made. Along with this, for a long time there were artisan tanners who made leather for shoes and especially belts for horse harnesses.

Women also weaved mats from reeds. In the everyday life of Kabardians and Circassians, things woven from willow and hazel twigs are widespread. The walls of the house and outbuildings, fences, part of the body of a cart, beehives and all kinds of baskets were woven together. Men did the weaving.

Chapter 2. Cultural traditions of Kabardians.

2.1. Cloth.

For a long time, Kabardians and Balkars lived in friendship, jointly repelling the onslaught of numerous enemies. In harsh battles, these peoples managed to preserve their language, customs, and rich folklore.

The national clothing of Kabardians and Balkars has evolved over centuries. There were great similarities in the traditional clothing of Kabardians and Balkars. This community has developed over a long historical period. The general military life was also important.

MEN'S CLOTHING

The men's clothing of Kabardians and Balkars was basically the same type. It was largely made from local materials: sheepskin, cattle leather, wool was processed into felt, from which hats, burkas, and homespun cloth were made. Kabardians and Balkars received silk, velvet, and cotton fabrics through developed trade relations.

Men's clothing of Kabardians and Balkars was not only well adapted to local conditions, but was also distinguished by its beauty, grace and peculiar elegance. It fully corresponded to the highlanders’ idea of ​​the beauty of the male figure, emphasizing the broad shoulders and thin waist, its slimness and fit, dexterity, and strength. Both the cattle breeder, the hunter, the warrior, and the rider felt equally comfortable and free in clothes that were precisely tailored to the figure and did not restrict movement.

The clothes of Kabardians and Balkars were also a kind of decoration. These qualities of national clothing ensured its universal recognition in the Caucasus.

WOMEN'S CLOTHING

The clothing of Kabardian and Balkar women had much in common with men's, which indicates the unity of their fundamental principles. There were, of course, significant differences. The ideal of female beauty in the Caucasus was considered to be a thin waist and a flat chest. To achieve such a figure, Kabardian and Balkar girls from the age of 10-12 wore morocco corsets with wooden slats, worn over the naked body and tightly encircling the girl’s entire bust. This ensured the girl’s slim and slender figure. The corset was tightened with laces and removed only on the wedding night.

Over the corset they put on an undershirt, which had the same cut as the men's shirt. But it was longer and went down below the knees. Her sleeves were also straight and wide, long, sometimes covering her hands. The women's shirt also had a straight cut and a small stand-up collar fastened with a button. Shirts were made from cotton or silk fabric of various, sometimes bright, colors. Great care was taken in the choice of material for a dressy shirt, as the collar, front slit and sleeves peeked out from the dress. Connected with this was the custom of Kabardian and Balkar women to decorate these parts of the shirt with embroidery and beautiful narrow braid. Old women wore shirts made of cotton fabric in white or somewhat dark colors, while young women sewed them from dark red, blue, brown, etc. The shirts of older women did not have decorations or embroidery.

2.2. Food.

The Adygs always approached the issue of food and its intake very seriously. It is no coincidence that in this regard they developed a special etiquette - table etiquette. This etiquette was taught to children from early childhood, because it was not just a meal, but a whole school that required concentration, attention, and self-control.

Meat dishes were a common traditional food for Kabardians. They were prepared from lamb, beef, poultry and game - from fresh, dried, smoked, boiled meat. The carcass was carefully cut up at its joints. First of all, they chopped the spine into small pieces, separated the ribs, loin, shoulder blades and hind thighs. If there was no need to cook the entire carcass of a ram or goat, i.e., food was prepared only for family members, then first of all, pieces of the spine, part of the ribs, a shoulder blade, liver, lungs, and heart were cooked. The last four parts were fried separately in oil. The head and feet were oiled and washed thoroughly in hot and cold water; The innards (offal) were also washed very thoroughly and, at the same time, the head and legs were cooked separately. Before cooking fresh meat, you need to thoroughly rinse it in cold water and put it in a container with already hot, but not yet boiling, salted water and cook, periodically removing the foam. About 30-40 minutes before it is fully cooked, add a head of onion or a bunch of peeled green onions and other spices to taste into the broth. The cooked meat is removed, and the broth can be used separately. Kabardians always ate boiled and fried meat with pasta. A prerequisite for eating boiled meat was that for normal digestion it was washed down with either broth or another hot drink, but in no case with cold water. As a rule, meat was eaten hot and with “shyps” (gravy with garlic on a different base - broth, sour milk, sour cream, a mixture of sour cream and sour milk).

2.3. Culture.

The culture of any people is eternal. It will remain for humanity, even if its creator disappears from the face of the earth. In the system of Caucasian civilization, the culture of the Kabardian people occupies a significant and worthy place. The whole world knows Adyghe etiquette (a set of unwritten laws of the Adyghe people) - one of the remarkable monuments of the spiritual culture of the Adyghe ethnic group. The national uniform of the Circassians was adopted by almost all the peoples of the Caucasus, as well as by the Don, Kuban and Terek Cossacks. Historically, Kabardians were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding.

Kabardians raised sheep, cattle and horses. Kabardian horses have always been famous both in Russia and abroad. The famous breed of Kabardian horse is not only the personification of beauty and endurance, it is extremely popular among connoisseurs and equestrian sports enthusiasts; many give preference to it because of its unpretentiousness and practicality in the household. The monumental Nart epic is a significant part of world culture.

Nowadays, after more than 100 years, there has been such a close merging and mutual enrichment of the cultures of the peoples of Kabardino-Balkaria that samples of their song creativity are difficult to separate from each other. They are perceived as a single culture. Therefore, in this work, Kabardian and Balkar music will be discussed as a single whole.

Kabardians carefully preserve the traditions of their ancestors. In their lives, an important role is played by “Adyghe khabze” - a set of norms and rules of behavior that have been established for centuries. Honoring elders is one of the main rules of “Adyge khabze”. It is no coincidence that an eloquent saying has been preserved in Kabarda for a long time: “The power of the elder is equal to the power of God.” Indeed, old people are the most respected people among relatives and villagers. Elders are always given emphasized signs of attention, they are never objected to. In the company of elders, the younger ones never speak first, do not interrupt them, and, moreover, will never smoke in front of them. The respect of the elders in Kabarda can only be equaled by a guest. Hospitality among Kabardians is virtuous, because it is believed that the guest is a messenger of God. Popular wisdom says: “The Adyghe guest sits in the fortress.” The holy commandment of a Kabardian is to receive a guest at any time, feed him and accommodate him in the best possible way. A family that is unable to fulfill the duty of hospitality is condemned by its fellow villagers.

2.4. History of Lezginka dance.

Lezginka is familiar to everyone. This dance is danced at concerts, city squares, weddings and just on the road. He inspires some, irritates others, but people indifferent to Lezginka simply do not exist. The peoples of the Caucasus have many common features determined by their genetic affinity - from the famous “mountain temperament” to linguistic and cultural proximity. One of the most famous common symbols of the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus is the Lezginka dance, which traditionally symbolically expresses the diversity of the mountain worldview.

Lezginka has a deep symbolic meaning - the ancient basis of the dance is the story of the eagle and the swan. In the image of an eagle, a man dances, alternating the tempo of the dance from slow to swift, like an eagle, now soaring, now diving, and spreading his arms as if they were wings. The woman opposite moves smoothly, imitating a swan's figure and grace, gradually accelerating, following her partner. Men compete with each other, trying to show the best skill and the most incredible movements at maximum speed.

Lezginka can also be performed with weapons, which gives it additional belligerence. Techniques for performing Lezginka exist in many variations, and each nation dances it in its own way. However, three types of dance can be distinguished, each of which is distinguished by its unique performance.

Chapter 3. Practical work.

Making a national dish.

To find out how to prepare gedlibze I asked my grandmother to tell me about the peculiarities of preparing the national dish.

Giedlibrze- one of the most common dishes of Adyghe cuisine, without which not a single feast is complete. Gedlibrze is prepared for every day, and for the festive table, and for funerals. This is chicken lightly boiled and then stewed in a creamy sauce. For this dish, place the chicken in cold water, bring to a boil, add salt and cook over low heat until almost done. Then we cut it into small portions. To speed up the process a little, take the chicken fillet and immediately cut it into thin slices along the grain, and then cook. Transfer the boiled chicken meat, divided into portions, to a frying pan. There we fill it with a mixture of cream and broth and simmer.

One serving will require 200 g. chicken fillet, 120 gr. cream 33% fat and 50 gr. strained broth. 10-15 minutes - and the dish is ready. Of course, we serve it with the inevitable pasta.

Conclusion.

Summing up the results of the work, I would like to note that preserving the diversity of national cultures is an important task of modern society.

The level of national relations, the degree of their humanity and respect depend on the correct understanding of another people and their culture. A person who is included in the culture of his own people, thinking about its origins, cannot help but treat another culture with good interest and trust.

This work helped me learn the history of my people and tell my peers about them and their traditions. I believe that the more we know about the peoples living in our country and abroad, the fewer interethnic conflicts there will be on our land.

Let's summarize.

While working on the project, I learned the history of my people, how my people fought for the right to live, observing the traditions of their ancestors. I learned a lot about the development of the culture of the Kabardian people.

The Caucasus is one of the regions of the world where folk costume is distinguished by exceptional diversity, color and decoration. I learned that you can study the history of a people using national costume. I also learned to independently analyze and evaluate facts and events in the history of my native land.

References:

“Traditional hospitality of Kabardians and Balkars” A.I. Musukaev. 2008

“Traditional culture of Kabardins and Balkars” G.Kh.Mambetov. 2008

“Narts” Heroic epic of the Balkars and Karachais. A.I.Alieva. Moscow 1994.

4. Internet resources.

The history of Kabardians and Balkars is closely connected with Christianity and Islam. The Christian religion left a deep mark on the culture of these two peoples, but by the 19th century. Islam replaced Christianity. The interweaving of powerful religious traditions at various stages of history gave rise to its own characteristics associated with the simultaneous veneration of pagan, Christian and Muslim deities, while the latter two religious systems, as a rule, became mythologized and acquired certain features of pagan cults. Finding Christian and Muslim monuments in the same area and performing pagan rituals here remains a normal occurrence for many residents of mountainous Balkaria and especially Kabarda.

To this day, in the gorges of Kabarda you can see pine trees hung with multi-colored ribbons - a sign of reverence by the local residents for sacred nature. In the syncretic consciousness of the Kabardians, the worship of the “trinity” is preserved: the great god Tha, the god of the soul Psathe, the god of heaven Uashkho. Kabardian legends associate the name of the god Tha with Elbrus (Ueshkhye-mahue - mountain of happiness). After the penetration of Islam into Kabarda, Elbrus began to be considered the habitat of Jin the Padishah, the king of spirits and ruler of birds, who has a wonderful gift of predicting the future. Before each New Year, many Kabardians consider it their duty to perform a kind of “Hajj” - to go to worship Gen Padishah. But since it is impossible to reach the peaks of Elbrus, pilgrims usually head to the Tatar-tup tract (Tatar hill) on the western bank of the Terek, where images of the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist were once discovered. The amazing vitality of ancient folk beliefs is evidenced, for example, by the existence of such a ritual as “Khantseguasche” - causing rain (during a drought, a shovel dressed in a woman’s dress is carried around the village; in every house it is doused with water and decorated with something). The syncretic consciousness of the Kabardian people is well reflected in the popular saying: “It is better to respect all gods than to offer prayers to one and not remember the others. After all, the rest will be offended.”

An important role in the life of Kabardians is played by the Adyghe code of morality and honor “Adyghe-Khabze”, which is mainly of pagan origin. In many cases, this code is considered more important than Muslim customs and Sharia. In this system of ethical norms, an important place is occupied by the traditions of honoring elders (“the power of an elder is equal to the power of God”), the cult of ancestors, military valor (“it is as difficult to make a mullah out of an Adyghe warrior as it is from a Turkish mullah into a warrior”), honoring a guest, and the cult of family , as well as rituals related to food (“food is more important than the Koran”). In the villages, ancient folk customs were preserved throughout all the years of Soviet power and have noticeably intensified in recent years. The only ritual in which the Muslim tradition is to a greater extent strong is the funeral (although this ritual is also supplemented to a certain extent by pre-Islamic customs). A modern researcher of Adyghe culture, Barazbi Bgazhnokov, notes that Adyghe ethics involves religious consciousness in its sphere of influence and subordinates it. This phenomenon is relevant for all periods of the historical development of the Circassian Circassians (Kabardians - Pyatigorsk Circassians). The Adyghe-Khabze has such a large social and everyday role in Kabarda and other Adyghe regions that the Adyghe people were declared the creation of God. According to Bgazhnokov, “in the consciousness of the bulk of the Circassian population, this is a way of being in the world, given to the people by the Muslim Allah or the pagan-Christian Tha, just as the Creator himself descends the sacred scriptures to the people. Therefore, it is believed that a person who does not keep the commandments of the Adyghe people incurs the wrath of God himself. Judgments like: “When our souls leave the body and appear before Allah, he will ask with reproach: “I gave you Adyghe so that you could live in accordance with its laws, why did you neglect my gift?”” Thus, Adyghe ethics are comparable. with an unshakable national religion, which loyally and tolerantly perceives world religions - Islam and Christianity." (Bgazhnokov B.Kh. Adyghe ethics. Nalchik, 1999. P. 84).

Kabardians, like most Caucasian peoples, experienced several periods of Christianization and Islamization. The process of penetration of Christianity into the environment of the Adyghe peoples began in the 4th century and intensified in the 6th century, when the Adygs submitted to the Byzantine Empire. The Circassians officially adopted Christianity in the 6th century. under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I through Greek trading posts on the Mediterranean coast. In the XIII-XIV centuries. As a result of the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the territory of modern Kabardino-Balkaria was devastated. At the end of the 14th century. under the leadership of Prince Inal, whom legend considers the ancestor of all Kabardian princes, Kabardians began to settle throughout the Kuban and Terek. In the XIII-XV centuries. Catholic missionaries appeared in the North Caucasus.

In the middle of the 16th century. Kabardian prince Temryuk Idarov concluded a military alliance with the Russian state. In 1561, Ivan the Terrible married Temryuk’s daughter Goshen, who

shelter baptism with the name Maria. Subsequently, Christian preachers remained among the Kabardians until the 18th century.

The formation of Islam was carried out in stages. The city of Derbent (Southern Dagestan) is considered to be the area where Islam most anciently penetrated into the North Caucasus. The Arabs made attempts to capture Derbent back in the 7th century, but then they were unable to gain a foothold in the “country of mountains.” At the same time, they managed to exert a certain influence on the religious beliefs of local residents, who were the first to convert to Islam in the North Caucasus. Subsequently, Islam penetrated to the Circassians from the Golden Horde through the Lower Volga region.

XIII - first half of the XVI century. - penetration of Islam into the North-Western Caucasus, including Kabarda. After Turkey captured the Black Sea coast of Georgia and Abkhazia in the mid-15th century. and throughout Crimea in 1475, Turkish pashas and Crimean khans conducted campaigns against the peoples of the North Caucasus under the banner of Islam. In the 16th century Some of the Kabardian princes converted to Sunni Islam. From Kabarda, Islam (Hanifi Sunnism) penetrated into Balkaria, where it was finally established by the middle of the 18th century. However, pagan beliefs were still very strong among the people; their connection with the Muslim tradition could be traced in many rituals. Kabardians resisted the introduction of Muslim legislation - Sharia, while remaining committed to local customs - adats.

In 1711, Peter I gave a letter to the Kabardian people accepting them into Russian citizenship. Since the 18th century The active settlement of the North Caucasus by immigrants from Russia began.

Currently, Kabardians occupy predominantly the lowland part of the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria; Balkars live in its mountainous part.

On the territory of Balkaria, in the mountain gorges of the Elbrus region, Christianity appeared in the 6th century. It is believed that its carriers were not only the Alans-Asses, but also the ancestors of modern Balkars - the Turkic-speaking Bulgarians, who became the main population of Balkaria. It spread primarily from Byzantium and from the Taman Peninsula, but Balkaria’s connections with the Christian states - Georgia, Armenia and Abkhazia - were also of great importance. Until the invasion of Tamerlane in the 14th century. The Alan diocese in the North Caucasus was of great missionary importance. Islam began to penetrate into Balkaria from the 16th century, but until the middle of the 18th century, Christianity was strong among the Balkars, which had a significant influence on the language and customs of the people. Despite Islam, which spread more energetically in the 18th-19th centuries, even in At the beginning of the 20th century, Christian villages remained in Balkaria. The nobility mostly converted to Islam, and ordinary peasants remained Christians or pagans. In the 19th century, the Orthodox Church tried to organize its ministry among the Balkars, which did not bring much success. Islam has become

official religion in Balkaria (see: Babaev S.K. On the history of the language and religion of the Balkar and Karachay peoples. Nalchik, 2000. pp. 147-190). Balkar Islam was not distinguished by orthodoxy - many Muslim institutions were violated, for example, pork was eaten, Islamic rituals were mixed with folk traditions associated with mountain etiquette - tauadet. Tauadet was based on pagan elements similar to Kabardian paganism (just as Tauadet is in many ways reminiscent of the Adyghe-Khabze).

In 1921, by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Region was formed as part of the RSFSR. During the Soviet period, Kabardino-Balkaria, like the entire North Caucasus, became an arena of struggle against “religious remnants,” “kulak-mullah elements” and “anti-Soviet underground,” as a result of which in the 30s. Almost all mosques were destroyed here, and the clergy were subjected to repression. In 1944, the Balkar population, accused by Stalin of collaborating with the Nazis, was deported to Siberia and Central Asia, where they remained until the beginning of Khrushchev’s “thaw”, and the republic was renamed the Kabardian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The deportation of the Balkars had a strong impact on popular religiosity. The difficult conditions of deportation and living far from their homeland forced the Balkars to rally around Islam, the main faith of the people at that time. Christianity and paganism were practically lost and forgotten.

A small republic not only by the standards of Russia, but even relative to the Greater Caucasus - Kabardino-Balkaria. The religion of this region differs from the generally accepted one in the country, but this is not what makes the republic famous throughout the world. This is where the highest mountains in Europe are located.

Story

Balkaria and Kabarda were completely separate regions until 1922. Kabarda became part of the Russian Empire in 1557, while Balkaria only in 1827. Officially, these territories were ceded to our state in 1774 under the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty.

Kabarda and our country have always been on friendly terms, but they became especially close after Ivan the Terrible married the daughter of the Prince of Kabarda, Temryuk Idarov. In 1561, Goshane became the wife of the Russian ruler, taking the name Maria after baptism. Her brothers went to serve the tsar, founding the family of princes of Cherkasy, who gave Russia many politicians and famous commanders.

In 1944, “thanks to” Stalin, the Balkars were deported. More than 37 thousand people were sent to Central Asia in 14 echelons, among whom were both babies and ancient people. Their only fault was that they were born Balkars. 562 people died on the road. At the end point of the route, carefully guarded barracks were set up for people. For 13 years people actually lived in camps. Leaving without permission was equivalent to escape and was a criminal offense. The story seemed to stop there, since only Kabardians were allowed to remain in the name. Fortunately, in 1957 the Balkars were rehabilitated and the republic returned to its former name.

Since ancient times, Kabardians lived on the plains, while Balkars lived in the mountains. To this day, the situation remains virtually unchanged: the vast majority of villages in the mountains belong to the Balkars. However, the mountaineers are gradually descending into the flat part of the republic. In addition to these two peoples, the republic is inhabited by about ten other nationalities, including Russians.

Republic

First of all, Kabardino-Balkaria, whose religion is an important part of the culture, is known for its highest mountains: most of the world-famous five-thousanders are located on its territory.

The relief increases as you move south - the northern plains gradually rise and bring the traveler to the main Caucasian ridge. It is here, next to Karachay-Cherkessia, that rises Mingi-Tau, known to most under the name Elbrus.

Kabardino-Balkaria, whose religion and language are inextricably linked with the beginning of the history of these peoples, is in no hurry to urbanize. On the territory of the republic there are only 8 cities that remain faithful to the precepts of antiquity. The rest of the population lives in villages and auls located high in the mountains, on the banks of rivers or in gorges. The largest gorges vary greatly in both natural conditions and degree of development. Thus, it is a well-known route for tourists to Cheget and Elbrus. Whereas Khulamo-Bezengiskoe remains a poorly developed area today, accessible only to hikers and climbers. To this day, all gorges have two things in common: stunning, incredible beauty and sheep.

Kabardino-Balkaria, whose religion prohibits the consumption of pork, focuses on sheep farming. Even where human habitation is not visible to the horizon, flocks roam. As soon as thunder thunders, frightening the animals with its echoing rolls, no less piercing cries of sheep are heard in the piercing silence. This makes an incredible impression - the roll call of the elements, the panicky voices of nature. Cows are slightly less popular in the republic. These animals are afraid of little and no matter the disturbances of nature, they still move slowly along the roads, phlegmatically working their jaws.

High in the mountains, with great luck, you can see a real symbol of the Caucasus - mountain tours: early in the morning these animals make their way along mountain paths to their grazing places.

The origin of Kabardino-Balkaria suggests a large number of mountain villages, life in which remains unchanged for many centuries. However, after the deportation, despite subsequent rehabilitation, people were not allowed to return to their homes. This is what explains the ruins of villages, through which only the wind blows today.

However, there are still authentic villages in the republic. Even today, everything happens here the same as it did hundreds of years before: elders gather in the central part of the settlement to discuss matters or have a leisurely conversation. Children are running around the streets, women are baking khichina and knitting socks. Centuries-old traditions and everyday life come together here in the most natural way.

Religion

Over the years, Kabardino-Balkaria has become more and more religious. Religion has a positive effect on all areas of the population's life: for example, there are no drunk or homeless local residents. A woman smoking in rural areas will not only cause confusion, but will also attract comments from residents. Most women wear long skirts and headscarves. In the cities, however, young people are increasingly disregarding these conventions, but you won’t see revealing clothes on the locals here. When traveling to Kabardino-Balkaria, you should take these features into account and not take with you excessively tight outfits or extreme minis.

Customs

A clear difference between both Balkars and Kabardians from Russians is their incredible hospitality. They are able to invite someone whom they barely had time to meet. According to tradition, neither children nor the hostess sit at the table with the guest and men. They watch from the sidelines, waiting for the moment when their help may be needed. In cities this tradition is almost forgotten, but in villages it is firmly adhered to. You won’t be able to seat the hostess with you, so just thank her for her hospitality.

In the Caucasus, it is considered extremely impolite to interrupt your interlocutor, but interrupting a person older than you is simply impossible.

What is the republic famous for?

You can come to the republic all year round: there will always be entertainment for the season. Of course, in winter the first place is to relax at ski resorts and climb to the peaks. However, this is not only a winter holiday - there is always snow on Cheget and Elbrus, you just need to climb higher.

In the warm season, mineral waters, mud, climatic resorts, hot springs and pine forests with their healing air are popular in Kabardino-Balkaria. In addition, lovers of hiking, horseback riding, and mountaineering also come here.

Transport

Major cities are easy to reach, as are tourist spots. Although not often, buses run regularly from Nalchik to all gorges. It is easy to get to any of the resorts by taxi. However, traveling through the passes is only possible in very capable vehicles. A passenger car will only be able to travel in the Baksan Gorge.

Trains can take you to Terek, Nalchik, Maisky and Prokhladny. On the main territory of the republic, the laying of railway tracks is inaccessible due to the terrain.

Kitchen

Many types of cheeses, a variety of milk products, active consumption of vegetables - this is all Kabardino-Balkaria. Islam is a religion that excludes the consumption of pork, so lamb is most often eaten. Residents prefer to drink ayran, a fermented milk product. Wine is sold only in tourist places, despite the fact that for most people the Caucasus is associated with homemade wine.

Souvenirs

Kabardino-Balkaria can offer a lot of knitted items. Religion (which one? Of course, Islam) makes it possible to eat lamb, but these animals are also famous for their wool, from which women knit beautiful and warm things.

Ceramic products that exactly replicate archaeological finds are very popular among tourists. Embossing, chain mail, bronze and leather items are what travelers in the Elbrus region are happy to buy.

The Russian tsars showed exceptional respect to this Caucasian people and even considered it an honor to become related to them. And the most noble representatives of this people, in turn, sometimes passed themselves off as Russian princes. And for a long time this people were considered, as they would say today, “style icons” for all highlanders and even indulged in paramilitary pleasures in their leisure time.

The founder of the ethnic group, which is called Kabardians, is considered to be a certain Kabarda Tambiev. According to legend, he was the leader of a warlike tribe that, in ancient times, moved to the North Caucasus from the Western Caucasus.

The ancestors of the Kabardians may have been the ancient Khebars, about whom the famous Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi wrote. In the 15-16 centuries, this people stood out under the name “Kabardian Circassians” among the so-called “Pyatigorsk Circassians”, who inhabited the lands from the foothills of the left tributary of the Kuban to the lower reaches of the Terek. In the 19th century, the territory where they prevailed was called Greater and Lesser Kabarda.

The self-name of Kabardians is Adyghe ( keberday), this is the Adyghe subethnic group, the indigenous population of modern Kabardino-Balkaria (57% of all those living in the republic). Today's Kabardians also live in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, in Karachay-Cherkessia and North Ossetia, as well as in many countries of Southeast Asia, Western Europe and even North America.

According to the latest census, there are 516,826 Kabardians in Russia.

Kasogi, they are Circassians

Since ancient times, Kabardians stood out among all the Caucasian tribes for their courage and rebellion. For a long time they occupied a dominant position in relation to their neighbors. Historians have described them as intelligent, proud, brave and headstrong people, who are also distinguished by their strong physique, tirelessness and dexterity. These are excellent riders and accurate shooters.

The Russians at first called all Circassians, including Kabardians, Kasogs. In 957, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus wrote about the country “Kasakhia”, above which are the Caucasus Mountains, and above them is the country of Alania.

The Tale of Igor's Campaign tells how the Kasozh prince Rededya fought in a duel with the Russian prince Mstistav and was stabbed to death by him.

Subsequently, the Circassians fiercely resisted the Mongol-Tatar invasion, but under the exoethnonym “Circassians,” which stuck with them for many centuries.

The Tsar's Bride and the False Tsarevich

Suffering from the raids of the Crimean feudal lords, the Kabardians in the 16th century decided to enter into an alliance with the Moscow principality and participated along with Russian troops in the capture of Kazan. In 1561, Ivan the Terrible, in order to strengthen the alliance with Kabarda, even entered into a dynastic marriage and married the daughter of the Kabardian prince Temryuk Idarov, who after baptism took the name Maria.

During the Time of Troubles, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich helped the Russians fight against Ataman Zarutsky, who was entrenched in Astrakhan, for which he later received gratitude from Tsar Mikhail.

In 1670, the young Prince Andrei Kambulatovich Cherkassky portrayed Tsarevich Alexei Alekseevich in the army of Stepan Razin. But the Don Ataman Kornila Yakovlev did not dare to arrest him - that’s how great the Russians’ respect for the Kabardian princes was. Therefore, the prince went to Moscow not as a prisoner, but as the leader of the delegation that brought Stepan Razin there, and was then released by the tsar with honors.

Later, the Ottomans and Crimeans again ousted the Russians from the Caucasus and began to consider the Kabardians their subjects, but during the Persian campaign of Peter the Great, the Kabardians sided with the Russian emperor. And since they kept all the other mountain tribes dependent, Russia was so concerned about maintaining friendly relations with Kabarda that, according to the Belgrade Peace, it recognized its territory as free.

Historians of that time wrote that the Kabardians enjoyed enormous influence in the Caucasus, as evidenced even by the manners and fashions of that time. The expression “he is dressed” or “he drives”, “like a Kabardian” sounded in the mouths of all neighboring mountain peoples as the greatest praise.

After joining the Russian Empire, Kabarda became part of the Nalchik district of the Terek region, and the title “sovereign of the Kabardian land” was added to the title of Russian emperors.

Lunch is lunch, but war is on schedule

The Kabardino-Circassian language spoken by these people belongs to the Abkhaz-Adyghe group.

Until the mid-19th century, Kabardians did not have their own written language. On March 14, 1855, Umar Bersey, the great Adyghe educator, linguist, scientist, writer and fabulist, compiled and published the first “Primer of the Circassian Language” using Arabic script. But since 1936, Kabardians switched to the Cyrillic alphabet.

Until 1917, Kabardian society consisted of the following classes. The smallest number are the princes (Atazhukins, Didanovs, Elbuzdukovs, Misostovs, Karamurzins, Nauruzovs, Dokshukins). Then the higher nobility (Kudenetovs, Anzorovs and Tambievs). Up to 25% of the population were ordinary nobles (Kabardey Workers), the rest were free people and former freedmen.

The traditional occupation of Kabardians is arable farming, gardening, and horse breeding. The Kabardian breed of horses has even gained worldwide fame. Kabardians also traditionally excel in blacksmithing, weapons and jewelry, as well as in the art of gold embroidery.

They weave cloth from wool and make clothes from felt - in particular, the bashlyk and burqa - male elements of a traditional costume.

The festive "Circassian" women's costume varied among different classes, but was always richly decorated. Girls from poor families sewed their clothes from homespun cloth, and those from richer families sewed clothes from expensive fabrics brought from Europe and the East. One dress took up to five meters of material, because it was fitted from the waist, but widened towards the bottom due to wedges.

On ordinary days, Kabardian women wore a long swing dress that reached to the toes, trousers, a tunic-like shirt, silver and gold belts and bibs, a gold-embroidered cap and morocco leggings.

The national men's costume is a Circassian jacket with a stacked silver belt, a dagger, a hat, morocco boots with leggings, and a burka on top.

The costume of a noble Kabardian always included bladed weapons. A dagger and saber were attached to a leather belt decorated with copper and silver plaques. Daggers also served them as amulets; men used them to perform various rituals. In addition, the rider carried a bow with a quiver for arrows.

For food, Kabardians used mainly boiled and fried lamb, beef, turkey and chicken, sour milk and cottage cheese. On holidays, Kabardians prepared the traditional festive low-alcohol drink Makhsyma from millet flour and malt.

In general, the culture of the Kabardians, especially their traditional men's costume and the national techniques of saddling and horseback riding passed on from father to son, have always been well adapted to their military life. Therefore, the traditional entertainment of this people often also had a militarized character. This is shooting at stationary and moving targets and at a gallop, the fight of riders for a mutton skin, games in which men on foot armed with sticks try to defeat horsemen.

Kabardian folklore is also rich in historical and heroic songs.

People of the sun and Allah

The traditional Kabardian family is based on the subordination of the younger to the elder, and women to the men. Family and neighborly mutual assistance are very important in the culture of this people. Traditional rules of family etiquette are largely preserved among Kabardians to this day.

Like all Circassians, the ancient Kabardians believed that the world consists of three levels (upper, middle and lower), they worshiped the sun and lived according to the solar calendar, where the new year began with the spring equinox, and also revered the Mistress of the Rivers (Psykhue Guashche), The Mistress of the Forest (Mez Guashche) and Codes (Kledyshche) - the mythological Fish with a golden tail, holding the Black Sea on its shores. They had a cult of the “Golden Tree of the Narts,” which connects heaven and earth, as well as nature and man, they distinguished between good and evil, male and female, “smart” and “stupid,” virtuous and evil tree species, they worshiped cult animals and used animals for sacrifices.

Since the 15th century, the influence of Islam has been growing in the Caucasus, which gradually replaced the pagan and Christian beliefs of the Kabardians. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Circassians began to borrow religion from the Crimean Khanate, which became the strongest ally of the Ottoman Empire.

Currently, Kabardians, both in Russia and abroad, profess Sunni Islam and adhere to the principles of the legal school of the Hanafi madhhab. However, some of the Kabardians living in the Mozdok region of North Ossetia remained Orthodox.

Elena Nemirova

(self-name), people in Russia (number 386 thousand people), indigenous population of Kabardino-Balkaria (about 364 thousand people). They also live in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories and North Ossetia. The total number within the former USSR is about 391 thousand people. They also live in many countries of Southeast Asia, Western Europe and North America. They speak the Kabardian-Circassian language of the Abkhaz-Adyghe group of the North Caucasian family. Writing based on the Russian alphabet. Believers are Sunni Muslims, Mozdok Kabardians are mostly Orthodox Christians.

Together with the Adyghe and Circassians, they form the ethnic community of the Adyghe. The ancestors of the Kabardians, like other Adyghe peoples, were the aboriginal population of the Northern and Northwestern Caucasus. They are known in the I-VI centuries. like zihi, in the XIII-XIX centuries. like the Circassians. In the middle of the 1st millennium, part of the Circassians was pushed back by the Huns beyond the Kuban. In the XIII-XV centuries. there was a reverse movement to the Central Ciscaucasia, which ended with the formation of Kabarda - an independent political unit and the formation of the Kabardian people. In 1557, the Supreme Prince of Kabarda Temryuk asked the Russian Tsar Ivan IV to take him under his hand; in 1774, according to the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty with Turkey, Kabarda became part of Russia.

In the XVI-XVIII centuries. there was tributary dependence of some neighboring Ossetians, Chechens, Ingush, Balkars, Karachais, and Abazas on the Kabardian princes. Archaic forms of power were preserved: popular assemblies, secret men's unions.

In 1921, the Kabardian Autonomous Okrug was formed as part of the RSFSR, in 1922 - the united Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Okrug, and in 1936 it was transformed into the Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1944 to 1957, when the Balkars were forcibly deported, the republic existed as the Kabardian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1957, the Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was restored. In January 1991, the Supreme Council of Kabardino-Balkaria adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty and proclaimed the Kabardino-Balkarian SSR, since March 1992 the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The Congress of the Kabardian People (established in 1991) plays an important role in the national movement.

Traditional occupations are arable farming and transhumance cattle breeding, mainly horse breeding (the Kabardian breed has gained worldwide fame). Trades and crafts are developed: men's - blacksmithing, weapons, jewelry, women's - fulling, felt, gold embroidery.

The layout of settlements until the middle of the 19th century was cumulus, then street. Princes, nobles and wealthy peasants, in addition to a residential building, built a house (yard) for guests - kunatskaya. The dwelling is turluch, rectangular in shape, with a gable or hipped thatched roof. Adobe and stone buildings, iron and tile roofs appeared in the second half of the 19th century.

Traditional men's costume - Circassian jacket with a stacked silver belt and dagger, hat, morocco boots with leggings; top - burka, sheepskin coat, bashlyk. Traditional women's clothing - trousers, a tunic-like shirt, a long swinging dress down to the toes, silver and gold belts and bibs, a cap embroidered with gold, morocco boots.

Traditional food is boiled and fried lamb, beef, turkey, chicken, broths made from them, sour milk, cottage cheese. Dried and smoked lamb is common and is used to make shish kebab. Pasta (hard-cooked millet porridge) is served with meat dishes. The drink - makhsyma is made from millet flour with malt.

At least until the 19th century, the large family predominated. Then the small family became widespread, but its way of life remained patriarchal. The power of the father of the family, the subordination of the younger to the older and women to the men were reflected in etiquette, including avoidance between spouses, parents and children, each of the spouses and the older relatives of the other. There was a neighbor-community and family-patronymic organization with family exogamy, neighborly and kinship mutual assistance. Blood feud was already largely replaced by compositions by the 19th century. Atalism was widespread in the upper classes. Hospitality, which had a ritualized, even sacralized character, as well as kunakism, was highly valued.

Modern life is becoming more and more urbanized, but it retains many traditional features. Food preferences and many national dishes are preserved. Basically, the rules of etiquette are preserved, especially in relations between elders and younger, men and women, at a feast.

Much attention was paid to Adyghe khabze - a set of customary laws, moral precepts and rules of etiquette. Many elements of the Adyghe khabze, along with elements of material culture well adapted to military life, such as men's clothing, saddle techniques, horse riding, etc., spread widely among neighboring peoples.

In spiritual culture, starting from the 15th century, the influence of Islam increased, which increasingly replaced pagan and Christian beliefs. Traditional games and spectacles were of a militarized nature: shooting at stationary and moving targets, shooting at a gallop, fighting between riders for a mutton skin, fighting on horseback and on foot armed with sticks. Folklore is rich: the Nart epic, historical and heroic songs, etc. Traditional pictorial motifs are stylized elements of the animal and plant world, characteristic of horn-shaped curls.

Kabardians, like other Adyghe peoples, have a strong desire for ethnic self-affirmation and cultural revival. The "Hasa" ("People's Assembly") society was created. Connections have been established with the Circassian and Adyghe societies of the same name. The World Circassian Association was established. There is a noticeable desire to restore the Islamic worldview and cult, and the everyday precepts of Islam.

B. Kh. Bgazhnokov, Ya. S. Smirnova

Peoples and religions of the world. Encyclopedia. M., 2000, p. 207-208.