Hutsuls - who are they? Peoples of Western Ukraine. Where do the Hutsuls live?

"Hutsuls .... Who such these people? "Such question repeatedly arose at those who though once was interested in culture of nationalities of the next countries.

However, it is not so easy to answer it, even for the native inhabitants of Ukraine. That is, you will most likely be told that these are people who live in the western part of the state, love to sing and attach great importance to clothing in the traditional style passed down from generation to generation. And this, perhaps, is all. It's a shame, because in this case this distinctive nation will be exactly like other numerous peoples of Ukraine.

Although that's about the Hutsuls and should be told first. Why? The thing is that their way of life, manner of dressing and the image of the worldview have become the subject of study of many scientists, both historians and culturologists, for many years.

In this article, we will try to answer the question of what the Hutsuls are. Who such these people, readers will learn from the description of the history, culture and modernity of the nation.

Section 1. General description of the nationality

There is a suggestion that the Hutsuls, however, just like lemk and beetles, belong to the Carpatho-Ruthenian ethnic group. But, despite this opinion, emigrants from the Galician and Bukovynian Ruthenians believe that their ancestors appeared in the Carpathian Mountains as early as the beginning of the sixth century. Today, the main part of the Carpatho-Ruthenian ethnos inhabits the border areas of the modern Carpathians, located at the intersection of the Ukrainian, Polish and Slovak borders.

Also, more than half a million people live in separate communities in neighboring countries and in the United States of America. The population of these communities is almost ½ of the total number of Rusyns on earth.

Section 2. Origin of the name of the ethnos

There are many versions of the origin of the word "Hutsuly", but none of them has direct proof. Some believe that the name of the Carpathian mountaineers was derived from the Ossetian (Sarmatian) word "gytsyl", which means "small, younger".

In written sources, this name is recorded as "gyztsyl chezg / lyagn" and refers to the languages - the Sarmatian tribe that existed in the Carpathian region and Galicia in the first centuries AD. E. It was they who did not participate in the Sarmat-Alan campaign to Europe and remained with the Gepids in Galicia and Goths-Greatuns ("small Goths").

Others express the opinion that the word "Hutsuly" origin has a slightly different meaning - from the word "to roam" (due to the gradual transformation: nomadic-kochuli-gotsuly-hutsuly).

There is also a hypothesis that the tribe received its name because of the name of Guts or the verb "gutsata".

However, the most common variant of the etymology of the word is the combination of two words - "Hutsul" (through the Opryshkiv "movement") with the Romanian "robber". It is not for nothing that this people is considered a wild (free) people.

Section 3. Where do the Hutsuls live on the territory of Ukraine?

Hutsuls - on a par with picks and lemkami - belong to the indigenous inhabitants of the Carpathian Mountains. Nowadays they live on the territory of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Transcarpathian regions.

In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, these ethnic Ukrainians inhabit Verkhovinsky, Yaremche, southern Kosovo, and Nadvoryansky districts.

Their place of residence in the Transcarpathian region is the Rakhiv district. The area of Hutsulshchyna in Ukraine is 6,5 thousand square meters. Km. Its territory also includes the borderlands of Romania, where the Maramorosh Hutsuls live.

Section 4. Historical moments

Until the mid 40-ies of the last century Hutsuls, as well as all of Western Ukraine, were divided.

Before the outbreak of the First World War, part of their territories belonged to Austria and Hungary. And after 1920 the Hutsul lands were subordinated to Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia. By the end of the 30s of the 20th century Hutsulshchina became a part of the Ukrainian SSR.

The first census of Ukraine, conducted in 2001, showed that about 21.5 thousand people refer themselves to the ethnological group of Hutsuls.

Section 5. How Hutsulshina was formed

The first historical mention of Hutsulshchina appeared in Polish written sources dating from the 14th-15th centuries. For a long time these peoples of Western Ukraine land were freed from feudal duties (panschiny).

Instead, there was a natural and monetary rebate from the population to pay rent from neighboring landowners. In the middle of XVII-XVIII centuries. On the lands of Hutsulshchina, the people's insurgent movement began, Olex Dovbush became the leader of the Ukrainian movement of oprichki. And in the 40s of the XIX century another popular uprising took place, aimed at protecting peasant interests and abolishing the panshchina. This movement of the rebels was led by Lukyan Kobylitsa.

The most significant historical events of the last century that took place in the cultural and political life of the Hutsuls include the active activities of the Ukrainian Radical Party, the creation of an amateur theater led by Gnat Hotkevich (1911) and the "Sich" society of K. Trilevsky, the military actions of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen ( 1914-1915) and the appearance of the Hutsul Republic, which existed only a few months.

The main part of the modern Hutsulshchina is located on the territory of Ukraine. The exception is only a few villages in the Romanian part of Bukovina and Marmarishchyna.

Section 6. The main type of Hussul classes

The main types of traditional occupations of Hutsuls since ancient times are: cattle breeding, forestry, beekeeping and rafting on mountain rivers. The Ukrainian Carpathians are the best place for such crafts.

Hutsuls practically did not farm, and it was of secondary importance. A special place in the life of the Hutsuls was occupied by folk and art crafts. Pottery, weaving, making of leather and copper products, processing of wood, inlaying with straws, etc. were developed. Many items of folk craftsmen have survived to this day.

The folk musical instruments of the Hutsuls included a tilinka (calf) - an open tube without holes, made of willow or hazel. A resident of Transcarpathia, it seemed, could not live a day without his favorite tunes. Practically each of them mastered the game from early childhood.

Another traditional wind musical instrument was trembita - a wooden pipe up to four meters long without valves and valves, wrapped in birch bark. This type of wind instrument was used to transmit sound signals over long distances. With its help in the old days reported on various events (weddings, holidays, deaths, funerals, etc.), and shepherds notified about their whereabouts in the highlands.

Hutsuls also use other musical instruments - a pipe, an accordion and cymbals, less often a violin and a harp.

The Hutsuls have a highly developed clan relationship and the community, shamanism is preserved. They are adherents of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches.

Section 7. What language do the Hutsuls speak?

To communicate in the territory of Ukraine among the Hutsuls, the Hutsul dialect of the Ukrainian language is used, the Romanian Hutsuls speak Ukrainian and Romanian.

Case endings and features of pronunciation of Hutsul words in many ways similar to the Slovak language. This once again shows that the people of Ukraine are very heterogeneous and very often look more like immigrants from European countries than to the inhabitants of their state.

Section 8. Hutsulian Wedding Traditions and Rituals

Hutsuls, whose origins do not get tired of studying ethnographers, even nowadays they wear national clothes and adhere to their centuries-old traditions.

Traditionally, matchmaking and engagement take place in the spring, summer and autumn, very rarely in the winter. For weddings there is no fixed time, but most often they are held before the Great Lent. It is forbidden to hold a celebration in the days of any posts.

The first sign of an imminent wedding in Hutsulshchina was the presentation of matchmakers' towels. For a marriage to be long and strong, young people should "get on the towel." A long tradition of Hutsuls is the presentation of kalachi on an embroidered towel to young spouses with the pronunciation of wishes for a rich and happy life. Before the church, the groom was riding horses.

In general, if you answer briefly the question: "Hutsuls? Who such these people? », It is necessary to notice, that it first of all cheerful people.

Judge for yourself, no wedding passes without folk songs and dances, games and fun, funny jokes and jokes. Bake karawai and kalachi, weave and embroider towels. Guests' dresses are decorated with bouquets, which are also hung on the tree and giltza. The bride and groom all day are accompanied by boyars, elders, matchmakers and a friend.

Section 9. Conducting religious holidays (Christmas and Easter)

Preparing for Christmas begins in advance, from the sheaves they make a tree - Didukh. According to the legend, in this tree there live the souls of ancestors, guardians of the house. The day before the holiday, the hostesses of the house are bred in the oven "living fire" from twelve logs and prepare twelve ceremonial fasting strife.

The holy supper necessarily consists of kutya - boiled wheat with nuts, honey and poppy seeds. Wheat is considered a symbol of eternity, and honey is a symbol of the welfare of all the saints in the sky. With the advent of Christmas, Christmas carols begin. These days everyone walks around the guests from village to village, riding a sleigh drawn by horses. A week after Christmas, celebrate the Old New Year, January 18, keep fasting, and January 19 celebrate Epiphany (Jordan). Dinner begins only with the appearance of the first star in the sky.

The Easter holiday in Huzulschina is celebrated with observance of all traditions and customs. On Palm Sunday, residents bring from the church consecrated branches of willows and lightly beat each of their families. According to ancient customs, pussy will have medicinal properties. During the Great Post all the craftsmen made pysanka.

For church consecration, pisankas, Easter eggs and other products are placed in the basket. Also, in memory of Christ's sufferings, horseradish and Easter eggs with a wax candle are placed in the basket , which are a symbol of the divine light and the resurrection of Christ. The rich Hutsuls traveled to the church on horseback, and the poor walked on foot.

Section 10. Features of Hutsul cuisine

The national Hutsul cuisine is very diverse and simple in its preparation. Of the products most often used corn flour, cereals, legumes, potatoes, mushrooms and cheese, which is made from sheep's milk. Dishes of Hutsul cuisine - banush, mushroom soup, Hutsul borsch, rosensnit, kulesha and much more.

Banush is cooked in a cauldron of cast iron on fire. Sour cream and cream are placed in a kettle and brought to a boil, salt and neatly covered with corn flour. Banuche is considered ready, as soon as there are droplets of fat on the surface. On the table, the dish is served with cheese, mushrooms and cracklings.

To prepare the mushroom soup dry white mushrooms are cooked in chicken broth with seasonings, and then add vermicelli and herbs.

Traditional Hutsul borsch hostesses are made from smoked boiled pork and fermented beets.

Section 11. Hutsuls ... Who are these people? Can they be called modern?

Today, the lives of the Hutsuls are also little subjected to various political and social upheavals. In the villages folk crafts and livestock breeding are reviving, which is connected with the collapse of the collective farms and the halt in production. For many, this is a basic or additional type of income. Almost all families make souvenirs for sale to tourists. Despite this, unlike other residents of Ukraine, Hutsuls have the lowest income.

Some of the Hutsuls, who in the Soviet period ranked themselves as Ukrainians, now consider themselves Rusyns and are separated, although they can not unite and create a single Rusyn society with strikers and lemkami.