Appearance of Chuvashes, features, characteristic features of character. History of the people

The style of existence, way of life, rites - all this affects the appearance and behavior. Chuvashes live in the center of the European part of Russia. Characteristic traits of nature are inherently associated with the traditions of these amazing people.

The origins of the people

At a distance of about 600 kilometers from Moscow is the city of Cheboksary, the center of the Chuvash republic. Representatives of the colorful ethnos live on this land.

There are many versions about the origin of this people. Most likely, the ancestors were Turkic-speaking tribes. These people began to migrate to the west in the II century BC. E. Seeking a better share, they came to the modern territories of the republic in the 7th-8th centuries and three hundred years later created a state that was known as the Volga Bulgaria. Hence the Chuvashes went. The history of the people could be different, but in 1236 the state was defeated by the Mongol-Tatars. Some of the people fled from the conquerors to the northern lands.

The name of this people from the Kyrgyz is translated as "modest", in the old Tatar dialect - "peaceful". Modern dictionaries say that the Chuvash are "quiet," "harmless." The name was first mentioned in 1509.

Religious preferences

The culture of this people is unique. So far, the elements of the Near East are traced in the rituals . Also the style was influenced by close communication with Iranian-speaking neighbors (Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans). Not only life and economy, but Chuvash took over the manner of dressing. Appearance, features of the costume, character and even religion are derived from neighbors. So, even before joining the Russian state, these people were pagans. The supreme god was called Tour. Later, other faiths began to penetrate the colony, in particular Christianity and Islam. Those who lived on the lands of the republic worshiped Jesus. Allah became the head of those who lived outside the region. In the course of events, the Muslim bearers fought off. Yet to date, most of the representatives of this people profess Orthodoxy. But the spirit of paganism is still felt.

Merging of two types

Different groups influenced the appearance of the Chuvashes. Most of all - the Mongoloid and Europoid race. That's why almost all representatives of this people can be divided into blonde Finnish and representatives of a dark type of person. Blond hair has fair hair, gray eyes, pallor, a broad face oval and a small nose, the skin is often covered with freckles. At the same time, they are somewhat darker in appearance than Europeans. Locks of brunettes are often curled, eyes are dark brown in color, narrow in shape. They have badly expressed cheekbones, a pinched nose and a yellow type of skin. Here it is worth noting that their features are softer than those of the Mongols.

They differ from the neighboring Chuvash groups. Characteristic facial features for both types - a small oval of the head, the nose is low, eyes narrowed, a small neat mouth. The growth is average, not full to fullness.

Casual image

Each nationality is a unique system of customs, traditions and beliefs. The population of the Chuvash Republic was no exception. Since ancient times, these people in each house independently made cloth and canvas. Of these materials were sewn clothes. Men were supposed to wear a linen shirt and trousers. If it became cool, a caftan and a sheepskin coat were added to their image. They had only Chuvashian patterns. The appearance of a woman successfully emphasized unusual ornaments. All things were decorated with embroidery, including wedged shirts worn by ladies. Later, bands and cage became fashionable.

In each branch of this group there were and there are preferences for the color of clothing. So, the south of the republic always preferred saturated shades, and northwestern fashioners loved light fabrics. In the attire of every woman there were wide Tatar trousers. An obligatory element is an apron with a breastplate. He was especially diligently adorned.

In general, the appearance of the Chuvashes is very interesting. Description of the headdress should be highlighted in a separate section.

The status was determined by the helmet

No representative of the people could walk with their heads uncovered. So there was a separate flow in the direction of fashion. With a special imagination and passion adorned with such things as tuhya and hushpu. The first was worn on the head by unmarried girls, the second was only for married women.

First, the hat served as a talisman, a guard against misfortune. To such an amulet were treated with special respect, decorated with expensive beads, coins. Later such an object not only beautified the appearance of the Chuvashes, he began to talk about the social and marital status of women.

Many researchers believe that the form of the dress resembles a knight's helmet. Others give a direct link to understanding the design of the universe. After all, according to the ideas of this group, the earth had a quadrangular shape, and in the middle stood a tree of life. The symbol of the latter was a bulge in the center, which distinguished the married woman from the girl. Tukhya was a pointed conical shape, hushpa - rounded.

With particular scrupulousness, they chose coins. They had to be melodic. Those that hung from the edges, struck each other and rang. Such sounds scared off evil spirits - this was believed by the Chuvashes. The appearance and character of the people are in direct interrelation.

Ornament Code

Chuvashes are famous not only for spiritual songs, but for embroidery. Mastery grew with generations and was inherited from mother to daughter. It is in the ornaments that you can read the history of a person, his belonging to a particular group.

The main feature of this embroidery is a clear geometry. The fabric should be only white or gray. It is interesting that they decorated the girl's clothes only before the wedding. In family life, this was not enough time. Therefore, what was done in his youth, was for the rest of his life.

Embroidery on clothes complemented the appearance of the Chuvashes. Information about the creation of the world was encrypted in it. So, symbolically depicted a tree of life and eight-pointed stars, rosettes or flowers.

After the popularization of factory production, the style, color and quality of the shirt changed. Older people grieved for a long time and assured that such changes in the wardrobe would bring trouble to their people. Indeed, with the years of true representatives of this kind is becoming less.

World of Traditions

Much of the people say customs. One of the most colorful rituals is a wedding. The character and appearance of the Chuvashes, traditions are still preserved. It is worth noting that in the old days priests, shamans or official authorities were not present at the wedding ceremony. The creation of the family was witnessed by the guests of the action. And everyone who knew about the holiday visited the homes of the newlyweds' parents. It is interesting that the divorce itself was not perceived. According to the canons, lovers who combined with their relatives must be faithful to each other for the rest of their lives.

Previously, the bride was supposed to be older than her husband for 5-8 years. At the last place when choosing a partner put the Chuvash appearance. The nature and mentality of these people demanded that, first of all, the girl was hardworking. The young lady was given to marry after she mastered the household. An adult woman was also instructed to raise a young husband.

Character - in the customs

As already mentioned, the word itself, from which the name of the people came, is translated from most languages as "peaceful", "quiet", "modest". Such a value is absolutely consistent with the character and mentality of this people. In their philosophy, all people, like birds, sit on different branches of a large tree of life, each to another - a relative. Therefore, their love for each other is boundless. Very peaceful and kind people Chuvash. The history of the people does not contain information about the attacks of innocents and arbitrariness against other groups.

The older generation keeps traditions and lives according to the old scheme, which they learned from their parents. Lovers still marry and swear fidelity to each other before their relatives. Often, mass festivities take place, in which the Chuvash language sounds sonorous and melodic. People wear the best suits, embroidered in all the canons. Brew traditional mutton soup - shurpa, and drink own beer.

The future is in the past

In modern conditions of urbanization, traditions in the villages disappear. Along with this, the world loses its own culture, unique knowledge. Nevertheless, the Russian government is aimed at maximizing the interest of contemporaries in the past of different peoples. Not an exception and the Chuvash. Appearance, peculiarities of life, color, rituals - all this is very interesting. To show the younger generation the culture of the people, students from universities of the republic spend their improvised evenings. They say and sing young people while in the Chuvash language.

Chuvashes live in Ukraine, in Kazakhstan, in Uzbekistan, so their culture successfully breaks into the world. Representatives of the people support each other.

Recently the main book of Christians - the Bible was translated into the Chuvash language. Literature is flourishing. Ornaments and clothing of the ethnos inspire famous designers to create new styles.

Until now, there are villages where they still live according to the laws of the Chuvashi tribe. The appearance of a man and a woman in such saddles is traditionally popular. The great past is preserved and revered in many families.