About the Bashkirs: myths and truth
Historically, many different nationalities live in Russia. Each of them has its own characteristics in appearance, life, culture, traditions, cuisine, and even moral qualities. Each of us has our own idea of this or that nationality, so I suggest you find out where the myth is, and where, however, on the example of our neighbors - the Bashkirs.
Is it true that most Bashkirs have Caucasian features?
Bashkirs are distinguished by dark hair and dark skin. Further, they distinguish steppe and forest Bashkirs: the steppes have narrower eyes, a wide face, and the forest ones have slanted eyes and an oval face. But this description refers to the nomadic Bashkirs, and those who live for more than one generation in the city have acquired Caucasian facial features.
Traits of nomadic mentality were present and are still present in the mentality of the Bashkirs.
Bashkir culture was formed as a result of its complex history. Semi-nomadic lifestyle influenced household habits, the formation of culture. First of all, the Bashkirs have always had family ties, the older generation is in great honor. The head of the family was the husband, the woman - the keeper of the hearth. In the traditional way of life of the Bashkirs there was a strict division - male and female. Bashkir families sought to create a strong large family. In the modern Bashkir family, we see complete equality.
Features of the formation of the Bashkirs nationality revealed such features of the mentality as the desire for freedom, thirst for justice, hospitality, serenity, simplicity, modesty, pride, tolerance. Material values were not basic, so modesty was observed in everyday life. Bashkirs were hospitable and tolerant of immigrants, sometimes even treated better than their own. Over time, under the influence of many negative factors of modern life, many features of the mentality of the Bashkirs came to naught.
Is there a revival of the holiday tradition?
Bashkirs celebrated holidays on a wide scale, these are various traditions, and plot rituals, accompanied by dances and songs, and of course symbolic and bright costumes. But at one time, the Soviet period contributed to the withdrawal of traditions from everyday life. However, today the Bashkirs celebrate noisily and with observance of revived traditions all holidays: Uraza Bayram, Kurban Bayram, Kargatuy, Sabantuy, Yiyin. In addition, over the years, there have been traditions to celebrate public holidays, such as New Year, Defender of the Fatherland Day, March 8, Victory Day, National Unity Day. Family holidays in the Bashkirs are still distinguished by plot rituals. Even city dwellers observe all traditions during a wedding or childbirth, such as offering gifts, praising the gods, treats, special costumes and songs.
Bilingualism is the norm for Bashkirs
In the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian has an advantage. The Russian language prevails in business, in the media, in book publishing. However, public administration is not conducted entirely in the Russian language, in schools it is necessary to study, in addition to Russian, the Bashkir language. Any names, be it stop or sausage, are first indicated in Bashkir and then in Russian. Even in public transport, stops are announced first in Bashkir. Therefore, we can safely say that Bashkir-Russian bilingualism prevails here, while in the villages of Bashkortostan there is trilingualism - Bashkir-Tatar-Russian. That's such a reverent attitude to language.
Text by Jana Karanfil