Veps - Finno-Ugric people living in the territory of Karelia. Nationality of Veps

In ancient times, even before the Eastern Slavs (Novgorodians) penetrated into neighboring territories, the peoples of the tribe lived on a vast range of lands on the southern side of Onega Lake. There is a definite opinion on the name of this tribe: the ancient "all" has the same origin as the name of the modern Vepsians. For quite a long period of existence, this people was called a chudha, chuharis and kaivans. Its representatives buried their dead relatives in ground pits or built "death cottages" for them - small logs built on the surface.

Veps is a nationality representing the Finnish language group of the Ural family and referring to Karelian branches. The closest relatives of this language are Karelian, Finnish and Izhora.

History of Veps

There is not much information about the history of the Vepsians. Quite often there is no information about their lives for centuries.

First of all, this is due to the fact that ancient tribes all lived exclusively in the most deaf areas, located among lakes, rivers and marshes in the taiga. Agriculture was not enough to ensure that this hard-working people could ensure their existence. Therefore, a significant addition to it was fishing. Veps also collected forest gifts. Among the stocks in the peasant household, a significant place belonged to:

• Fish;
• Feathered game;
• Furs;
• Cranberries;
• Mushrooms.

They were used not only as food products. A large number of these stocks residents of the tribes were taken to the city's fairs. There, in exchange for them, people with Veps nationality received a considerable amount of bread, salt, cloth, tools and hunting and other necessary goods to support their livelihoods.

In winter, the inhabitants of these lands harvested the forest and transported it to rafting rivers. To do this, they used canopies. This occupation was also an additional earnings.

In addition, Veps were engaged in other activities:

• Stone-cutting crafts;
• Pottery and catapult craft.

Severe living conditions

For the geographical location of the Vepsian settlements, it was also characteristic that a considerable distance separated them from trade routes, cities and postal routes. This is due to the fact that they were not actually involved in the socio-political processes that took place in the state.

Despite the adoption of Christianity, in the life and rites of the Vepsians there is a lot of national and original. But the constant Russian influence still made its own adjustments to their way of life, occupation and culture.

According to some researchers, in the beginning of the 16th century the inhabitants of the Belozersk-Poshekhonsky Territory spoke in their own language, despite the excellent knowledge of Russian and Orthodox religion.

The first All- Russian population census of 1897 did not record the nationality of Veps.

Until the beginning of the 20th century the Vepsians lived in very difficult conditions. The writer A. Petukhov noted that their lives were characterized by "impassability, impudence, illiteracy, lack of their written language".

The Soviet period of Vepsian life

In the 1920s and 1930s the life of the Vepsians changed radically. In 1932 the Committee of the new alphabet was formed. Before him were set such tasks:

• To develop the writing of small nations in their languages;
• Prepare national educational staff;
• Publish educational literature.

For the development of the Veps alphabet, the Latin framework was used. There is an opening of the library, 57 schools, construction of hospitals, feldsher-midwife stations, public canteens, nurseries. The Vepsian branch opens in the Lodeinopolsk Pedagogical College.

Great importance for development was formed by the national councils and Oyat (Vinnytsia) national district.

In the middle of the 1930s, the current accounting authorities recorded the maximum number of representatives of this people in the state - approximately 35,000.

The deterioration of the economic situation and the disunity of the Veps

In the late 1930s a new period began in the life of people with Veps nationality. He reflected all the complex socio-political processes that were taking place at that time in our country.

Repeatedly conducted administrative-territorial transformation, due to which there is a disunity Veps land. These changes had a very negative impact on the development of the people, a significant part of which was relocated to other areas.

Over time, the Veps land was increasingly abandoned due to the state of the economy of all northern villages.

Now the number of this people in Russia is about 13 thousand people. The place where the modern northern Veps live is Karelia, the southern ones are the Vologda region, and the middle ones live in the Leningrad region.

Appearance of Veps

It is very difficult to talk about the appearance of ancient Veps. Most likely, assimilation influenced the changes that occurred in it. Over the centuries, they have been in contact with all sorts of peoples, so they could not avoid mixing blood.

Perfectly ordinary people seem at first glance modern Veps, whose appearance does not have any clearly expressed national characteristics. These people have white and black hair, thin and full physique, small and large growth, are beautiful and not very.

But, despite this, they are an independent people living on their territory.

Women's Veps Clothing

The traditional clothes of the Veps were festive and everyday. On women, a woolen or half-woolen skirt with a longitudinal or striped striped pattern was worn on a typical day. Obligatory subject was apron, which in girls was red, and for women in years - black. A long linen shirt with sleeves was decorated with a beautiful ornament on the hem.

Women could very beautifully embroider. Therefore, it was often possible to meet a northerner dressed in 2 or 3 shirts. At the same time, they were raised in such a way that their edges formed a wide pattern. This greatly improved the look that women-Vepsians had, their appearance and self-esteem.

To sew a casual sundress, used homespun canvas. For cloth clothes they bought cloth. In a set with a sarafan worn still a junkbreaker (waistcoat), and in the cold put on shugai (a jacket with buttons) from cloth.

In the winter, women wore a fur coat or sheepskin coat made of sheepskin. The festive version of this clothing was made of rabbit hair and covered with bright silk or woolen fabrics with large patterns.

What men wore

Men's suits of Veps consisted of shirts and two pants, which were tightened by a cord on the waist. Shirts were released upstairs and girdled with leather or woven belts. Ancient shirts are embroidered, while more modern ones are painted.

In the 19th century, for the sewing of the upper pants began to use dark fabric. Also changed and the shirts, which began to sew from a purchased chintz or kumach. Winter men's clothing of this people is represented by caftans of cloth, sheepskin coats, covered cloth, straight without collar fur coats.

From the middle of the 19th century, the Vepsian festive clothing included a counterfeit - a kind of demi-season coat with assemblies and knee-length.

Features Veps housing and life

Most likely, the housing of the ancient Vepsians practically did not differ from the Karelian houses. These were log-houses of wooden half-earths with a hearth. Over time, the construction of individual farm buildings began:

• Barn for storage of products;
• Rigs for grinding grain;
• Crib;
• Baths.

The construction of the latter was mostly carried out by the northern Veps. The southern part of this people for a very long time used for such purposes ordinary domestic sands. Traditional Vepsian housing was a whole complex that united the house and all outbuildings.

In addition to the corner connection of the buildings, the main feature of the Vepsian house was the presence of an even number of windows and the absence of a covered porch. In them there were such subjects of a life of Veps, as:

• Tables, benches and beds made of wood;
• A cradle for children;
• Russian stove;
• A tub with a washstand;
• Weaving mill.

Traditions and customs of the Veppsian people

Vepsians belong to Orthodox peoples. But for quite a long time, they were characterized by signs of paganism. Among the Veps were sorcerers who communicated with spirits, treated and sent spoilage. With the advent of churches and monasteries, they disappeared, but the witch doctors and presenter remained.

Veps is a nation that has its own signs and beliefs. In order to build a house or bury a person, it was necessary to "redeem" the land. Clothes for the deceased person were chosen only white and necessarily washed.

In a special way related to the construction of the house of Veps. The customs of this event were as follows:

• In the new housing for the first night the cat was admitted;
• The head of the family with bread and an icon was to enter the house first;
• After the chapter in the dwelling entered his wife with a cock and a cat;
• From the old house to the new one they brought hot coal;
• Never started to build a hut on the trail.

The traditions of Veps are closely related to their beliefs:

• Spirits of the sky;
• House;
• Water;
• Spirits of the forest, courtyard, shed and others.

For example, the water in their view was a living being, because the spirit inhabited it. If you do not read it, it will not give you fish, drown, or find disease. Therefore, nothing was thrown into the water, nor were boots washed in it.

Veps was also traditional. The main place in it belonged to the fish. In addition, they also used rye bread, which they baked independently, the ear. Thirsty for the local residents quenched with repetitive kvass, oat jelly, drinks from forest berries, milk and milk whey. Tea, like homemade beer, was a celebratory drink. Meat dishes were prepared only for holidays and heavy physical work.

Many troubles had to be experienced by this unique people, which has an interesting culture, customs and folklore. The fate of the inhabitants of the northern regions, having the Veps nationality, has never been easy. But, despite this, they remained an independent people living in their patrimonial territory.