What Chuvash girls look like. Origin of the Chuvash people (characteristics of hypotheses). The main stages of the ethnic history of the Chuvash people
Chuvash always found themselves at the crossroads of peoples and civilizations. This shaped their culture, but more than once brought them to the brink of death. It determined friendship with neighbors and, at the same time, enmity. It prompted the creation of a state in order to then repeatedly recreate it from the ashes. The fate of this people is difficult. Just like the path of Russia itself and its other ethnic groups.
“The Chuvash tribe is still an unsolved page of history,” these words of the famous Tatar writer of the twentieth century Zarif Bashiri capture the whole essence of the complex and even mysterious origin of the Chuvash people.
Entertaining quest: Bulgarian-Suvar ancestors
Ethnogenesis, in terms of the degree of confusion, resembles a game of thimbles: “I twist and turn - I want to confuse.” Try to find the grain in the depths of centuries without confusing the archaeological layers of the historical pie. Today we will follow the representatives of the Chuvash people to get acquainted with their ancestors and trace life path ethnicity.
On the northern slopes of the Tien Shan, Altai and in the upper reaches of the Irtysh in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. the Bilu, Bugu, Cheshi and Puley tribes appeared. They belonged to the Oguro-Onur ethnic community. These proto-Bulgarian tribes, in turn, were representatives of the western wing of the Xiongnu tribes.
Huns... Yes, it is from them that the ancient Bulgars/Bulgarians, Suvars and some other ethnic groups trace their ancestry - the ancestors of the Chuvash people. (we use the traditional transcription of Russian chronicles, while keeping in mind “our” Volga Bulgarians, and not the Balkan ones).
The similarity of language, economy, life and culture speaks in favor of the fact that one should look for familiar Chuvash features in the “Caucasian faces with a slight Mongoloid admixture” of the Volga Bulgarians. By the way, Chuvash - the only surviving language of the Bulgarian branch - is different from all other Turkic languages. He's so different general characteristics that some scientists generally consider it an independent member of the Altai language family.
central Asia
The East poured into Europe. The mass exodus began with the Huns, who carried other peoples with them to the west. By the beginning of the 1st century AD. The Ogur tribes took advantage of the moral “right of the nation to self-determination” and went their own way - to the west, separately from the Huns. This path turned out to be not straight, but zigzag: from north to south and back to the north. In the 2nd century AD. Ogur tribes invaded Semirechye (the south-eastern part of modern Kazakhstan and northern Kyrgyzstan), where they received the ethnonym Sabir (from the Persian Savar, Suvar “rider”) as a nickname from local Iranian-speaking agricultural tribes. As a result of mutual assimilation with the Iranian-speaking Usuns, a Proto-Bulgarian ethnic community was formed.
Some researchers believe that it is there, in Central Asia, in the language of the ancestors of the Chuvash, ancient Iranian words are fixed (in modern speech there are about two hundred of them). Under the influence of Zoroastrianism, the paganism of the people is formed, and the ancient Iranian cultural influence is reflected in the Chuvash material culture, for example, women's hats, embroidery patterns.
Caucasus and Azov region
In the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. Bulgarian and Suvar tribes settle on the right bank of the Lower Volga, occupy territories North Caucasus and the Azov region.
But, strictly speaking, the name “Bulgarians” was first mentioned only in 354 - in the anonymous “Chronograph”, written in Latin. Became widespread during the creation of “Great Bulgaria” - their first public education. Ethnicity confidently promotes new round development - settled life and the formation of statehood.
This is how the Volga Bulgarians first found their native expanses, where they would build their first state. But from geographical application to the formation of the people there are still almost seven centuries of trials. And not just “state building”.
From afar for a long time - they flowed to the Volga
In the 40s of the 5th century. The militant leader Attila became the head of the Huns for 20 years, uniting the tribes from the Rhine to the Volga under his rule. The ancestors of the Chuvash, who lived in the Volga region at that time, found themselves part of a “nomadic empire”, of which even the Roman Empire was a tributary. However, with the death of Attila, the empire fell apart.
Finding themselves first under the rule of the Western Turkic Khaganate, the Bulgarian tribes continued the struggle for independence. In the first quarter of the 7th century, their ruler Kubrat united his people along with the Suvar and other Turkic-speaking tribes into a union called “Great Bulgaria”. “Independence Day” finally arrived - the ruler managed to achieve autonomy from the Turkic Kaganate.
Great Bulgaria is located on the territory between the Azov and Caspian seas. And the capital became the city of Phanagoria.
State 2.0
The death of the ruler of Great Bulgaria, Kubrat, led to a split into the western and eastern parts - into two tribal unions. The first, pressed by the Khazars, led by Asparukh, moved to the west, where they later created the Bulgarian kingdom.
Part of the Eastern Bulgarians (the so-called “silver”) in the 70s of the 7th century moved first to the upper reaches of the Don, and then to the Middle Volga region. Those who remained on the spot submitted to the Khazars.
The theory about the seizure of the lands of local Finns by newcomers from the Eastern Bulgarians is disputed by modern historians. Archaeologists echo that when the Bulgarians arrived, the lands were already practically empty - the Imenkovo population (Slavs who moved from the Middle Dnieper) disappeared in the 7th century, and the Volga Finns, who turned out to be the closest neighbors, lived in isolation. The Middle Volga region has become a place active interaction Volga-Finnish, Permian-Finnish population with Ugric tribes penetrating from Western Siberia.
Over time, the Bulgarians occupied a dominant position in the Middle Volga, managing to unite in an alliance and partially assimilate with the local Finno-Ugric tribes (the ancestors of the modern Mari, Mordovians and Udmurts), as well as the Bashkirs.
By the 8th-9th centuries, plow farming was established among the new settlers, and a transition to sedentary forms of farming took place. Back in the 10th century, the famous Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan mentioned that the Bulgars were actively engaged in cultivating the land: “Their food is millet and horse meat, but they also have wheat and barley.” large quantities, and everyone who sows something takes it for himself.”
In the “Risalia” of Ibn Fadlan (10th century) it is noted that the Bulgarian Khan Almush still lives in a tent.
Settlement, agriculture and even some kind of economic organization... Most likely, at the end of the 9th century, the state of Volga Bulgaria already existed. It was created in the context of the ongoing struggle against the Khazars, which contributed to the strengthening of autocracy in the state. In difficult times, the ruler relied on an eternal scheme: to unite the people with a common goal of survival and to hold with a firm hand the main levers of power, including financial ones. Even in the first quarter of the 10th century, Khan Almush concentrated in his hands the collection and payment of tribute to the Khazars from the tribes of the Middle Volga region subordinate to him.
A Question of Faith
Back in the first quarter of the 10th century, Almush, in order to fight the Khazars, turned for support to the Baghdad caliph Mukhtadir, who in 922 sent an embassy to Volga Bulgaria. As a result, most Bulgarians converted to Islam.
However, the Suwaz tribes refused. They retained the former name “Suvaz” - Chuvash, while those who remained later assimilated with the Bulgarians.
At the same time, the scale of the spread of Islam in Volga Bulgaria cannot be exaggerated. In 1236, the Hungarian monk Julian called it a powerful kingdom with “rich cities, but all there are pagans.” Therefore, it is too early to talk about the division of the Bulgar ethnic community into Muslims and pagans before the 13th century.
Since 965, after the defeat of the Khazar Kaganate by Russia, new stage development of Volga Bulgaria. Territorial expansion is actively underway, as a result of which the Bulgarian ethnic group “subjugated all its neighbors...” (Al-Masudi). By the end of the 12th century, the northern part of the state reached the Kazanka River, the eastern - to the banks of Yaik and Belaya, the southern - to Zhiguli, and the western included the right bank of the Volga. The center of Volga Bulgaria until the middle of the 12th century was the city of Bolgar (Bulgar), and from the second half of the 12th to the beginning of the 13th century - Bilyar. Some researchers refuse to call these cities capitals, preferring to call them “centers”, because They believe that Volga Bulgaria was rather a union of independent principalities with separate capital cities.
The Bulgarian tribes (the Bulgarians themselves and related Suvars) are drawing closer together, and the Finno-Ugric peoples are also integrating. As a result, even before the Mongol invasion, a more or less unified nationality was formed in the Bulgarian state with its own common language Chuvash type.
Rus': only business and nothing personal
From the end of the 10th century until Mongol conquest The most active relations are developing between Volga Bulgaria and Russia. She is not yet Mother Rus' - the relationship is not one of love, but quite a commodity-money relationship. The Volga trade route passed through Bulgaria. By playing the role of an intermediary, she provided herself with decent benefits.
However, partnerships alternate with periods of military confrontation, which was caused mainly by the struggle for territory and influence over various tribes.
They failed to unite in a military alliance in the face of the Horde enemy, but the states made peace.
"Non-Golden Age" of the Horde
The real test for Volga Bulgaria was the invasion of the Golden Horde. At first, the courageous resistance of the people stopped the invasion. The first clash between the Bulgarians and the Mongols occurred after the Battle of the Kalka River in 1223. Then the Mongols sent a detachment of five thousand to Bulgaria, which was defeated. The attacks in 1229 and 1232 were also successfully repulsed.
The victory of the Volga Bulgarians over the Mongols, according to historian Khairi Gimadi, had far-reaching consequences: “Until the mid-30s of the 13th century, the Mongol invasion of Europe was delayed.” As for the Bulgarians themselves, they had no doubt that the next invasion would be more serious, merciless and would not last long. Therefore, intensive work begins to strengthen cities. In 1229, the peace treaty with Vladimir-Suzdal Russia was extended for six years.
However, in 1236 the Bulgarians were unable to resist Batu's army. Russian chronicles write about the defeat like this: “The godless Tatars came from the eastern countries to the Bulgarian land, and took the glorious Great Bulgarian and beat with weapons from the old man to the old man and to the living child, taking a lot of goods, and burning their city with fire and captivating their entire land " The Mongols ravaged Bulgaria and destroyed almost all important cities (Bulgar, Bilyar, Dzhuketau, Suvar).
In 1241, the Mongols turned Volga Bulgaria into the Bulgar ulus of the Golden Horde. Moreover, the occupied territories had special significance for them: the city of Bulgar, before the construction of Sarai, was the capital of the Golden Horde, and later became the summer residence of the khans of the Jochi ulus.
Kazan Tatars
Mongol rule forced the population to move north. At the same time, there was an increased penetration of the Kypchaks into Volga Bulgaria, who, occupying the most important positions in the administration of the ulus, gradually moved to a settled life. The surviving Bulgarian elite, thanks to their religious community - many converted to Islam in the 9th-10th centuries - gradually became closer to the newcomer Kipchaks-Tatars, as a result of which by the 15th century. the nationality of the Kazan Tatars was formed.
As part of the decrepit Golden Horde, the Bulgar ulus was subjected to numerous raids. In 1391 and 1395, the territory was devastated by the troops of Tamerlane, Novgorod robbers and Russian princes. The devastation was completed by the Mangyt yurt of Prince Edigei (later the Nogai Horde). As a result, the Bulgarian ancestors of the Chuvash as an ethnic group found themselves on the verge of extinction, having lost their historical homeland, statehood, elite and ethnic identity. According to historians, at least 4/5 of the population was destroyed.
Chuvash Daruga of the Kazan Khanate
After the collapse of the Golden Horde in the Middle Volga region, Ulu-Muhammad created the Kazan Khanate in 1438 with its center in Kazan. In addition to the Kipchak-Tatars, who served as support for the ruler, a significant part of the population were Chuvash, Mari, Mordovians and Udmurts, who were the main tax-paying class. Also, part of the Bashkir lands was part of the Kazan Khanate.
Most of the Chuvash who found themselves part of the Kazan Khanate lived on the mountainous side of the Volga (north of modern Chuvashia), as well as on its left bank. Therefore, the territory east of Kazan, where they lived, was called the “Chuvash Daruga” (“Daruga” is an administrative unit in the Kazan Khanate).
Since a significant part of the feudal lords and nobility professing Islam remained in Kazan, the influence Tatar language and there were few Muslim clergy in the area. On the territory of the former Volga Bulgaria, on the basis of Bulgarian ethnoculture, by the end of the 15th century, the formation of two ethnic groups - Tatar and Chuvash - was completed. If in the first the Bulgarian ethnicity was practically replaced by the Kipchak-Tatar, then the Chuvash, according to ethnographer Rail Kuzeev, “while preserving the archaic Turkic language, at the same time developed a culture that was in many respects close to the culture of the Finno-Ugric people.”
33 misfortunes
As part of the Kazan Khanate, the Chuvash found a place to live. But this life was not easy due to tax burdens. The descendants of the once powerful Volga Bulgaria were obliged to pay a burdensome tribute, were involved in the construction of fortresses, and performed pit, road, stationary and military duties.
But the war brought the greatest suffering to the Chuvash people. Starting from the second half of the 15th century, the territory of their residence became a zone of Russian-Kazan confrontation. Thus, the Tatars marched across the Bulgarian-Chuvash land against the Russians 31 times, and the Russians against the Kazan Khanate - 33 times. Along with regular raids by Nogai nomads, campaigns became a real disaster for the population. These factors largely determined the willingness of the Chuvash to accept Russian citizenship.
To be continued
One of the most numerous peoples Volga region, has long become “one of our own” in the family of Russian peoples.
It is all the more interesting to know that its history and origin are the subject of fierce battles between historians and anthropologists!
The Chuvash are related to a variety of peoples of the past and present, and they are not directly related to anyone.
So who are they really?
The invisible people of the Volga region
Despite the fact that the Volga region was located on the outskirts of ancient civilizations, its peoples were well known.
The Mordovians, Maris and Cheremis are mentioned long before the Slavs!
Herodotus and Jordan write about the well-recognized signs of these peoples, but not a word about the Chuvash...
The Arab traveler Ibn Fahdlan, in the 10th century, described in detail local peoples, but did not see the Chuvash.
The Khazar king Joseph wrote to his Jewish co-religionist in Spain about the subject peoples, but again without the Chuvash!
And even in the 13th century, the Hungarian monk Julian and the famous Rashid ad-Din crossed Chuvashia far and wide, but did not see such a people.
However, there is a strong version that the Chuvash are not just the indigenous inhabitants of these places, but even the descendants of Attila the Huns!
Horsemen of Attila or peaceful farmers?
Hunnic hypothesis
Traditionally, the Chuvash are considered the descendants of the people suar-suvar
, which was related to the Khazars and Bulgars, developed somewhere in the steppes of Central Asia and, together with the Huns, came to Europe.
Some Savirs, as part of the Sarmatian world, are mentioned by Strabo, and in myths Siberian Tatars,
there is a legend about how they conquered these lands from the people soir, who went west.
Thus, the Savirs could be one of the eastern branches of the Sarmatians, who early met the Turks and Huns, after which they came to Europe under the banner of Attila, already a strongly mixed people.
After the murder of Attila and the defeat of his sons in the battle with the Gepids, at Nedao, the remnants of the Huns went to the Black Sea region, and from there further east, where they mixed with the aboriginal Finno-Ugrians and became the Chuvash.
As proof, they cite the undoubtedly Turkic language of the Chuvash and the distinctly mixed Mongoloid appearance and, in general, nothing more!
Bulgarian hypothesis
Another version derives the Chuvash from the population of Volga Bulgaria, which disintegrated after Batu conquered it and a certain part of the tribe settled in present-day Chuvashia.
DNA genealogy speaks in favor of this version - showing a large percentage of R1A haplotypes in the Chuvash and Bulgars, which makes both Sarmatians related.
But linguists are strongly against it, since the Bulgars spoke a typically Western Turkic language, which is related, but very different from Chuvash.
These are cousins, not direct relatives.
Khazar version
There is reason to suspect a strong Khazar influence on the Chuvash: the Chuvash language has a huge number of parallels with the language of the Jewish rulers of Khazaria (about 300 similar words).
Even the name of the supreme deity "Toram" suspiciously coincides with the holy book of Judaism.
In the 19th century this version was very popular
The Chuvash and their ethnonym “Chuvash” were brought out of the Khazar Kaganate. They acquired it during the Kavar uprising, when a split occurred among the Khazars.
As is known, the Kavar uprising occurred shortly after the religious reform of Kagan Obadhia, who elevated Judaism to the rank of state religion.
This uprising was raised by the Muslim Khazars, outraged by the granting of privileges to Jews and the infringement of their own rights.
It was then that the Khazar people split into two branches: into rebels called Kavarami(from the Chuvash word kavar“conspiracy, conspirators, front”) and on peaceful Khazars who did not participate in the rebellion and were nicknamed Chuvash(from Chuvash-Turkic-Iranian juash, yuash(“peaceful, meek, quiet”).
Anthropology of the Chuvash
Chuvash - usually have mixed European-Mongoloid features.
Moreover, they predominate, oddly enough for this region, mixes with southern Europeans, and not in the northern ones, like the Mordovians or Permians.
Caucasoidism, in general, predominates and typical Mongoloids make up no more than 10% of the population.
But appearance The Chuvash are quite recognizable: small or medium height, with dark eyes and hair, dark skin, a wide and flattened face, small eyes and a short, wide nose.
In men, the growth of beard and mustache is weakened; in women, there is often excessive accumulation of fat male type in the area of the shoulders and abdomen.
The length of the body is greater than the length of the legs, the shape of the head is round with a massive facial part and a weakly defined chin.
Chuvash language
With all the influence of Khazar words, as well as the differences in the written language of the Volga Bulgaria and Chuvash, the language of this people is clearly recognized as Turkic and the only living language of the Bulgarian group.
Who are the Chuvash and from whom did they descend?
Today it is obvious that the Chuvash have a large share of haplotypes of the Indo-European population, and a very ancient one - the Andronovo people of Western Siberia, who were the ancestors of the Altai Scythians and Sarmatians, as well as the Avars.
This people early mixed with the early Turks: the Huns, and then the Bulgars and Khazars.
Then they were joined by the indigenous inhabitants of the Volga region, close to the Finno-Ugrians, and perhaps the West Siberian Ostyak Ugrians took part in the formation of this people.
From such a cocktail of backgammon, a very mixed ethnic group emerged, where obvious Mongoloid characteristics of the people are combined with the Turkic language, Finno-Ugric customs and the obvious influence of the Tatar-Mongols and Khazars on the linguistic base of the Chuvash.
There is some truth in this statement. Any change of ethnonym is associated with the genetic drift of the people. Today's Chuvash are not only Suvars, they are also Bulgars - descendants of the Huns (Vunnogurs, etc.), they are also the awakened Mari (Viryal) and fragments of various nations that have merged into the sphere of Chuvash culture. Geneticists have recognized that the middle-class Chuvash are genetically close early Turks, that is, the Huns. But what about the rest of the Chuvash? Today the anthropological school of Chuvashia has been destroyed, but it was the anthropologists who claimed: “The Chuvash are 98% Caucasian; Mari, Mordovians by 82%, and Tatars and Bashkirs by 60%.” If the Chuvash are Turks, then why is this a big difference in terms of Caucasianness in relation to the Turks (Tatars and Bashkirs)?
Watching a film about the Chuvash-Turks, the following thoughts arise:
- the film postulates the idea that the Turks are not an anthropological, but a cultural community, this explains the difference in the anthropology of the Chuvash and other Turkic peoples. But in this case, how can we explain the powerful cultural difference between the Chuvash and the Turkic peoples: in religion, art, way of life? In addition, historically the Turks descend from a very specific ancestor - the Hun tribe Tyukue (Tyugyu), which means, after all, anthropology is a key indicator of the unity of the Turkic community.
- The film shows the rituals around the Abashevo mounds. From an archaeological point of view, the Abashevites are not the ancestors of the Chuvash. True, from the point of view of the attitude of the Chuvash to the mounds, as to “Ulăp tapri”, such filming is possible, but the Chuvash did not perform rituals near such places, except perhaps only in those cases when there was a kiremet on the hill.
- During the rituals, beer was not thrown into the fire. Beer, as well as offerings, were left at the cult site. The Mari offer sacrifices to the fire.
- The film tells about the developed hop growing in Chuvashia, but everyone should understand that there is no longer any need to talk about any industrial farming in the republic after the reign of the former Head of the Administration of Chuvashia. It would be worth saying that every village farmstead used to have its own brewery. All Russian names associated with brewing are Bulgaro-Chuvash: hops, malt, wort, etc.
- The ritual of “nime” (mutual assistance) was usually carried out during the construction of a house or during field work and was associated with personal participation in the work. Under the former Head of the Administration of Chuvashia, this ritual was reduced to the level of “voluntary-forced” monetary collections. The connection between the “nime” ritual and the autumn gatherings “kĕr sari” is not clear.
- Historically, yeast began to be added to beer at a later time, during the period of the nation’s drinking.
- It is believed that beer is a common Turkic drink. Judging by the name “săra” among the Chuvash and Altai, it may indeed seem so, however, who influenced whom? It is known that brewing originated in Mesopotamia in the 5th millennium BC, and not in Far East. Name at least one Turkic people where brewing was also widely developed?
- If the Chuvash are Turkic-speaking, then why do the basic words of the people not fit into the Turkic vocabulary: for example: hevel (“sun” Chuv.) – helios (Greek). Why are the Turks nomads, and the Chuvash the most ancient farmers? (D.F. Madurov. Type of way of life of the Chuvash people and its role in the ecosystem of the Volga-Kama region // Ecological Bulletin of the Chuvash Republic. - Cheboksary: 2000. - Issue 20. D.F. Madurov. Verification of the way of the Chuvash people using the example of cultural artifacts // From the history of nature to the history of society: the past in the present and future: Supplement to the Russian Bulletin philosophical society. Materials scientific conference. M.: 2000. - part 1) Why all the Turks worshiped Tengrikhan, but the Chuvash have no traces of this cult. The Chuvash worship Tura. This is the name of a god of Central Asian origin. More details about this in the article (D.F. Madurov. Near Asian-Chuvash cultural parallels. P.360-382 // Scientific and pedagogical heritage of V.F. Kakhovsky and problems of history and archeology. Materials of the scientific-practical conference. December 19-20 2006 Book 2. – Cheboksary, ChGIGN, 2009).
- Listening to the Chuvash song in the film, I involuntarily remembered the Ukrainian one: “A birch tree grew on my pidvirya, Give us vodka hey ho, give us vodka hey ho. A birch tree grew on my pidvirya.” So who copied this song from whom?
- It’s a pity that the silver jewelry of the Chuvash people is poorly represented in the film. Embroideries with flowers embroidered with aniline threads look terrible. The height of vulgarity, this tradition appeared in the 50s, during the period of cultivation of the denial of national culture and imitation of Russian. A woman in a girl’s headdress simply looks funny, and the combination of glasses and an ethnographic costume also looks ridiculous.
- The film claims that the Chuvash who converted to Islam began to be called Tatars. This phrase reveals the meaning of the kinship of the Turkic-speaking Chuvash and Tatars. One should be aware that these processes took place during the period of Tatar domination in the region and their maximum cultural influence. Exactly the same processes are taking place today, and from this point of view, most of the Orthodox Russian-speaking population can also point to their Chuvash (Bulgaro-Suvar) roots. At the same time, in the Chuvash environment there are traces of genetic input from neighboring peoples.
- I am surprised to learn that the Chuvash language exists and will exist thanks to the translation of the Bible into it. In fact, the sacred scriptures in the “Hunnic language” were published back in 530, but this in no way affected the preservation of the language or the translations themselves. Of course, we can only thank the Russian Institute of Bible Translation for another large (by our standards) financial contribution. Let us remember that with a grant from the English Bible Society, missionary-educator I.Ya. Yakovlev built the Chuvash Simbirsk school. Only the main goal of this mission was not the development of the national culture of the Chuvash, but purely missionary tasks, not for nothing, according to the recollections of the students of the Simbirsk school, it was forbidden to sing Chuvash folk songs. And from the point of view of the Orthodox (Orthodox) Church, even folk costume is “pagan”, as the Cheboksary News newspaper has already written about in its propaganda articles. So, it turns out that they slipped us another “Trojan” (“Trojan horse”).
After watching the film, you get the feeling that this film was created to further divide our people, or that it was created by people incompetent in these matters.
The Chuvash people are quite numerous; more than 1.4 million people live in Russia alone. Most occupy the territory of the Republic of Chuvashia, the capital of which is the city of Cheboksary. There are representatives of the nationality in other regions of Russia, as well as abroad. Hundreds of thousands of people each live in Bashkiria, Tatarstan and the Ulyanovsk region, and a little less in the Siberian territories. The appearance of the Chuvash causes a lot of controversy among scientists and geneticists about the origin of this people.
Story
It is believed that the ancestors of the Chuvash were the Bulgars - tribes of Turks who lived from the 4th century. on the territory of the modern Urals and in the Black Sea region. The appearance of the Chuvash speaks of their kinship with the ethnic groups of Altai, Central Asia and China. In the 14th century, Volga Bulgaria ceased to exist, the people moved to the Volga, to the forests near the Sura, Kama, and Sviyaga rivers. At first there was a clear division into several ethnic subgroups, but over time it smoothed out. The name "Chuvash" in Russian-language texts appears with early XVI centuries, it was then that the places where these people lived became part of Russia. Its origin is also associated with the existing Bulgaria. Perhaps it came from the nomadic tribes of the Suvars, who later merged with the Bulgars. Scholars were divided in their explanation of what the word meant: a person's name, a geographical name, or something else.
Ethnic groups
The Chuvash people settled along the banks of the Volga. Ethnic groups Those living in the upper reaches were called Viryal or Turi. Now the descendants of these people live in the western part of Chuvashia. Those who settled in the center (anat enchi) are located in the middle of the region, and those who settled in the lower reaches (anatari) occupied the south of the territory. Over time, the differences between subethnic groups have become less noticeable; now they are the people of one republic, people often move and communicate with each other. IN former time The way of life of the lower and upper Chuvashes was very different: they built their homes, dressed, and organized their lives differently. According to some archaeological finds it is possible to determine which ethnic group the item belonged to.
Today, areas in Chuvash Republic There are 21 cities, 9 cities. In addition to the capital, Alatyr, Novocheboksarsk, and Kanash are among the largest.
External features
Surprisingly, only 10 percent of all representatives of the people have a Mongoloid component that dominates their appearance. Geneticists claim that the race is mixed. It belongs predominantly to the Caucasoid type, which can be seen from the characteristic features of the appearance of the Chuvash. Among the representatives you can find people with brown hair and light-colored eyes. There are also individuals with more pronounced Mongoloid characteristics. Geneticists have calculated that the majority of Chuvash have a group of haplotypes similar to that characteristic of residents of countries in northern Europe.
Among other features of the appearance of the Chuvash, it is worth noting their short or average height, coarse hair, and darker eye color than those of Europeans. Naturally curly hair is a rare phenomenon. Representatives of the people often have epicanthus, a special fold at the corners of the eyes, characteristic of Mongoloid faces. The nose is usually short in shape.
Chuvash language
The language remained from the Bulgars, but differs significantly from other Turkic languages. It is still used in the republic and in surrounding areas.
There are several dialects in the Chuvash language. The Turi living in the upper reaches of the Sura, according to researchers, are “okai”. The ethnic subspecies anatari placed greater emphasis on the letter “u”. However, clear distinctive features on this moment are missing. The modern language in Chuvashia is rather close to that used by the Turi ethnic group. It has cases, but lacks the category of animation, as well as the gender of nouns.
Until the 10th century, the runic alphabet was used. After reforms it was replaced by Arabic symbols. And since the 18th century - Cyrillic. Today the language continues to “live” on the Internet; even a separate section of Wikipedia has appeared, translated into the Chuvash language.
Traditional activities
The people were engaged in agriculture, growing rye, barley and spelt (a type of wheat). Sometimes peas were sown in the fields. Since ancient times, the Chuvash raised bees and ate honey. Chuvash women were engaged in weaving and weaving. Patterns with a combination of red and white flowers on fabric.
But others too bright shades were also common. The men carved, cut dishes and furniture from wood, and decorated their homes with platbands and cornices. Matting production was developed. And since the beginning of the last century, Chuvashia began to seriously engage in the construction of ships, and several specialized enterprises were created. The appearance of the indigenous Chuvash is somewhat different from the appearance of modern representatives of the nationality. Many live in mixed families, marry with Russians, Tatars, and some even move abroad or to Siberia.
Suits
The appearance of the Chuvash is associated with their traditional types of clothing. Women wore tunics embroidered with patterns. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the lower Chuvash women have been wearing colorful shirts with ruffles from different fabrics. There was an embroidered apron on the front. For jewelry, Anatari girls wore tevet - a strip of fabric trimmed with coins. They wore special caps on their heads, shaped like a helmet.
Men's trousers were called yem. In the cold season, the Chuvash wore foot wraps. As for footwear, leather boots were considered traditional. There were special outfits worn for the holidays.
Women decorated their clothes with beads and wore rings. Bast sandals were also often used for footwear.
Original culture
Many songs and fairy tales, elements of folklore remain from the Chuvash culture. It was customary for the people to play instruments on holidays: the bubble, the harp, the drums. Subsequently, a violin and an accordion appeared, and new drinking songs began to be composed. Since ancient times, there have been various legends, which were partly related to the beliefs of the people. Before the annexation of the territories of Chuvashia to Russia, the population was pagan. They believed in various deities and spiritualized natural phenomena and objects. At certain times, sacrifices were made as a sign of gratitude or for the sake of a good harvest. The main deity among other deities was considered the god of Heaven - Tur (otherwise - Torah). The Chuvash deeply revered the memory of their ancestors. The rituals of remembrance were strictly observed. Columns made of trees of a certain species were usually installed on the graves. Linden trees were placed for deceased women, and oak trees for men. Subsequently, most of the population accepted Orthodox faith. Many customs have changed, some have been lost or forgotten over time.
Holidays
Like other peoples of Russia, Chuvashia had its own holidays. Among them is Akatui, celebrated in late spring - early summer. It is dedicated to agriculture, the beginning preparatory work to sowing. The duration of the celebration is a week, during which time special rituals are performed. Relatives go to visit each other, treat themselves to cheese and a variety of other dishes, and pre-brew beer from drinks. Everyone sings a song about sowing together - a kind of hymn, then they pray for a long time to the god of Tours, asking him for a good harvest, the health of family members and profit. Fortune telling is common during the holiday. Children threw an egg into the field and watched whether it broke or remained intact.
Another Chuvash holiday was associated with the veneration of the sun. There were separate days of remembrance of the dead. Agricultural rituals were also common when people caused rain or, conversely, wished it to stop. Large feasts with games and entertainment were held for the wedding.
Dwellings
The Chuvash settled near rivers in small settlements called yalas. The settlement plan depended on the specific place of residence. On the south side, houses were lined up. And in the center and north, a nesting type of layout was used. Each family settled in a certain area of the village. Relatives lived nearby, in neighboring houses. Already in the 19th century, wooden buildings similar to Russian rural houses began to appear. The Chuvash decorated them with patterns, carvings, and sometimes paintings. As a summer kitchen, a special building (la) was used, made of logs, without a roof or windows. Inside there was an open hearth on which they cooked food. Baths were often built near houses; they were called munches.
Other features of life
Until Christianity became the dominant religion in Chuvashia, polygamy existed in the territory. The custom of levirate also disappeared: the widow was no longer obliged to marry the relatives of her deceased husband. The number of family members was significantly reduced: now it included only spouses and their children. The wives took care of all the household chores, counting and sorting food. The responsibility of weaving was also placed on their shoulders.
According to the existing custom, sons were married early. On the contrary, they tried to marry off daughters later, which is why wives were often older than husbands in marriages. The youngest son in the family was appointed heir to the house and property. But girls also had the right to receive an inheritance.
The settlements could have mixed communities: for example, Russian-Chuvash or Tatar-Chuvash. In appearance, the Chuvash did not differ strikingly from representatives of other nationalities, therefore they all coexisted quite peacefully.
Food
Due to the fact that livestock farming in the region was poorly developed, plants were mainly consumed as food. The main dishes of the Chuvash were porridge (spelt or lentil), potatoes (in later centuries), vegetable and herb soups. The traditional baked bread was called hura sakar and was baked with rye flour. This was considered a woman's responsibility. Sweets were also common: cheesecakes with cottage cheese, sweet flatbreads, berry pies.
Another traditional dish is khulla. This was the name of a circle-shaped pie; fish or meat was used as filling. The Chuvash were preparing different types sausages for the winter: with blood, stuffed with cereals. Shartan was the name of a type of sausage made from a sheep's stomach. Basically, meat was consumed only on holidays. As for drinks, the Chuvash brewed special beer. The resulting honey was used to make mash. And later they began to drink kvass or tea, which were borrowed from the Russians. The Chuvash from the lower reaches drank kumys more often.
For sacrifices they used poultry that was bred at home, as well as horse meat. On some special holidays, a rooster was slaughtered: for example, when a new family member was born. From chicken eggs Even then they made scrambled eggs and omelettes. These dishes are eaten to this day, and not only by the Chuvash.
Famous representatives of the people
Among those who have characteristic appearance Famous personalities also met Chuvash people.
Vasily Chapaev, a future famous commander, was born near Cheboksary. His childhood was spent in a poor peasant family in the village of Budaika. Another famous Chuvash is the poet and writer Mikhail Sespel. He wrote books in his native language, at the same time he was public figure republics. His name was translated into Russian as “Mikhail”, but in Chuvash it sounded Mishshi. Several monuments and museums were created in memory of the poet.
A native of the republic is also V.L. Smirnov, a unique personality, an athlete who became the absolute world champion in helicopter sports. He trained in Novosibirsk and repeatedly confirmed his title. Among the Chuvash there are famous artists: A.A. Coquel received an academic education and painted many stunning works in charcoal. He spent most of his life in Kharkov, where he taught and developed art education. Also born in Chuvashia popular artist, actor and TV presenter
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
The main economic activity of the Chuvash was 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, working with the land was the only source of 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. The traditional hut was the construction of a purt, which was placed in the center of the yard. 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 brightest holiday for the people. Before Mancun, women clean their huts, and men clean up the yard and outside the yard. People prepare for the holiday by filling full barrels of beer, baking pies, painting eggs and preparing 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 blond 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.
