ADORNMENTS IN THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING SYMBOLIC DONATION OF THE TURKOMONGOL PEOPLES OF CENTRAL ASIA
M.V. Moskvina
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAE SB RAS), Russia, 630090, Novosibirsk, prospect Akad. Lavrentieva, 17
Keywords: women’s adornments, Central Asia, symbolic donation, wedding, ritual
Abstract
The paper examines the phenomenon of symbolic gift exchange in the traditional wedding practice of the Turko-Mongol peoples of Central Asia (northern and southern Altai people, Khakas people, Buryats, Yakuts, Kazakhs). The author undertakes examination of the ritual use of female adornments. She maintains that women’s adornments were connected with a complex system of exchanges accentuating the establishment of relations of different levels - from personal relationships to relationships between newlyweds of the united families and kins. In the traditional society marriage was considered as ritual of public order, so its preparation and accomplishment involved relatives of both genders. It included the exchange’ rituals and obtainment of decorations as gifts. During such ritual actions people used almost all components of the traditional set of ornaments for women set - earrings, plait and breast adornments, rings, bracelets, belts and beads and silver coins. The participants of the weddings made use of gifts not only as a ransom, but as a designation of transition to the next socio-age group. Semantic meaning of ornaments was significant in ritual exchange: earrings designated a married woman, rings and plait ornaments were associated with unification of both kins, rings and beads symbolized the future children, silver was a sign of prosperous marriage. Besides, ornaments had auspicious, protective and reproductive meaning, served as embodiment of female beauty, health and wellness. Not only the bride and groom and their families, but all of the guests could participate in the wedding rituals connected with adornments. Young unmarried girls played an especially active role in these ritual activities. They perceived a “reproductive” magic of adornments. The ritual of jewelry offerings process was a part of reciprocal gift exchange of two kins united in a new family. It accompanied and represented the basic exchange - the bride’s transfer from one kin to another.
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