A couple went through the service of marriage in accordance with national traditions of Mari culture at their Alma Mater

    Spring has come and “the sons of a flying bird” welcomed it at the Mining University. On the 3-rd of March the Day of Finno–Ugric nations was observed at the first Ural establishment of higher learning. There is a Center of Promotion of National Cultural Associations of Sverdlovskiy region at the University. “Flying bids” is an old ethnic symbol of Finno-Ugric people: Mari, Udmurt, Mordvins, Khanty, Mansi and even Hungarians.

    The festival began with a “round table” discussion “Traditional culture of Finno-Ugric people in the era of globalization”, where Yelena Glavatskaya, Doctor of Historical Sciences, acted as a moderator. The idea of establishing the Center of Finno-Ugric nations found support of the participants.

   A book fair was working in the foyer in front of the Tsar’s Hall and there was also an exhibition of old musical instruments, kitchen utensils and clothes of Ural’s native people. Mari shirts are made of black and white, and black and red holiday homespun. An obligatory element is a patterned belt. Women’s pectoral “yaga” is made of several rows of coins. They say, that you can first hear and only then see a Mari woman. Everybody present could make a stone amulet of “Bear’s fang” and a folk doll “Akay” with the assistance of an expert.

    For northern Finno-Ugric people a bear means two things:  source of food and a human soul.  In spring a ceremonial event takes place, when the bear’s soul is united with the hunter’s soul. All sorts of games are organized during this event and they are aimed at improvement of hunter’s skills. Such entertainment for our guests was organized by representatives of Khanty-Mansi people. Our student Misha Potapov,  who is a flake, and Deputy Chairman of regional Duma of Sverdlovskiy region’s Legislative Assembly - Nail Shaimardanov participated in the games with great pleasure.

    The next to come was the ceremony of a Mari wedding, a spectacular event.  Several students of the Mining University took part in this game show, conducted in due form. And who knows? It can turn out to be their Fate.

    The bridegroom was wearing two belts, as it is the tradition,  and his friend – only one.  The bride’s traditional attire - “taqiya” (a headdress). With the help of two wisps the floor was swept in front of the couple and their “parents’ (Mari people) met the young people with a traditional loaf of bread. Two wisps were used on purpose, as from now on the bride and groom are a couple forever, no divorce is possible for this culture.

    At the table the young people gave their parents homemade Mari beer of rye flour, potatoes and hop. The Rector of the Ural Mining University Nikolay Kosarev delivered a toast and wished good health to the young couple. The toast was supported by Nail Shaimardanov and by Marina Plyasunova, a representative of the Department of Internal Policy of the Sverdlovskiy region Governor.

    At the end of the festival there was dancing, singing and performances of Finno-Ugric folk groups.

    Natalya Tsaregorodtseva, director of the Center of Promotion of National Cultural Associations, said: «It’s not for the first time that we introduce traditions of Ural people to Mining students. In our everyday life we can’t see such ceremonies, and it’s a real thing at the Mining University. If we take students, studying art, for example, they can get new ideas attending such events».

Tatyana Gladkova
Photo: Nikolay Agapov, Pyotr Pavlov