Shamanic microcosm in the symbolism of wedding headdresses in the Udmurt and Russian traditions
- Authors: Molchanova L.A.1
-
Affiliations:
- Udmurt State University
- Issue: Vol 15, No 4 (2023)
- Pages: 483-492
- Section: Cultural Studies
- Submitted: 15.12.2025
- Accepted: 15.12.2025
- Published: 22.12.2023
- URL: https://journal-vniispk.ru/2076-2577/article/view/358148
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.04.483-492
- ID: 358148
Cite item
Full Text
Abstract
Introduction. The article deals with the design and semantics of shaman hats and wedding maiden headdresses in the Udmurt and Russian traditions. The author makes an attempt to identify the genetic connection between shamanic and wedding headdresses.
Materials and Methods. Taking into account the symbolic nature of the costume, the structural-semiotic method with its three levels of research: syntactics, pragmatics and semantics was taken as a basis for the study of traditional headdresses. In addition, the principles of artistic anthropology are used in the work. This field of art studies works of art as a creation of human hands, as a kind of the unique text reflecting the author's worldview.
Results and Discussion. The shamanic image of the Universe has three levels on vertical and a four-part horizontal. All this is reflected in the symbolism of the ancestral tree. It is the ancestral tree in shamanic ideology that is the giver of new lives and carries out the connection of generations, this is the key figure of shamanic magical practice. This shamanic microcosm is reflected in the symbolism of brides' hats in both the Russian and Udmurt traditions. A similar design of shamanic and women's wedding headdresses confirms their antiquity and common origin, their genetic connection. The primary idea of the shamanic ancestral tree, the source of new lives and the connection of generations is preserved by tradition. It is intuitive and completely reproduced in a special way in every ethnic culture.
Conclusion. The article examines the design and semantics of shaman hats and wedding maiden headdresses in the Udmurt and Russian traditions. Based on the similarity of the design features of these hats, it was possible to determine the semantics and identify their ancient origin and genetic relationships.
Keywords
Full Text
-
About the authors
Lyudmila A. Molchanova
Udmurt State University
Author for correspondence.
Email: lusmolchan@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8379-3450
Candidate Sc. {History}, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Technologies and Art Design
Russian Federation, IzhevskReferences
- Al'bedil' M. “Death and birth are the whole thread of existence”: ritual symbolism of the body. Teoriia mody: odezhda, telo,kul'tura = Fashion theory: clothing, body,culture. 2011;20. URL: http://www.intelros.ru/readroom/teoriya-mody/m20-2011/16970-smert-i-rozhdenie-vsya-nit-bytiya-ritualnyysimvolizm-tela.html (accessed 01.12.2023).(In Russ.)
- Vladykina TG. Udmurt folklore: problems of genre evolution and systematics. Izhevsk;1998. (In Russ.)
- Emel'ianov AI. Course of ethnography of Votyaks. Remains of ancient beliefs and rituals among the Votyaks. Kazan; 1921;3. (In Russ.)
- Zabylin M. Russian people: Its customs, rituals,legends, superstitions and poetry. Moscow;1990. (In Russ.)
- Kovshova ML. Semantics of headdress in culture and language. Costume code of culture.Moscow; 2014. (In Russ.)
- Kriukova TA. Udmurt folk fine art. Izhevsk;Leningrad; 1973. (In Russ.)
- Novgorodova EA. Giving life. Nauka i religiia = Science and religion. 1984;5:64–65.(In Russ.)
- Semenova TS. Folk art and its poblems. Moscow;1977. (In Russ.)
- Shamanism of the peoples of Siberia. Ethnographic materials of the XVIII–XX centuries.Saint-Petersburg; 2011;2. (In Russ.)
- Eliade M. Shamanism. Archaic echniques of ecstasy. Мoscow; 2014. (In Russ.)
- Molchanova LA. “Syulyk” as a signifi cant symbolic detail of the Udmurt woman’s image. Ezhegodnik fi nno-ugorskikh issledovanii = Yearbook of Finno-Ugric Studies.2017;11;3:138–142.
Supplementary files


