Abstract: The subject of the study is carnival and laughter forms in the traditional life cycle rites of the peoples of the Middle Volga region before 1917. On the basis of archival materials collected by the author and local history literature, a typology of variants of the manifestation of carnival and laughter forms in the ritual practices of the population of the region is carried out for the first time. Based on specific historical examples, the analysis of the selected variants ("noisy performance", "antics", "censure" and "imitation") is carried out. The article uses systematic and culturological approaches that allow to explain the reasons for the stability and semantic content of the rituals, as well as their role in the translation of spiritual and moral values of the inhabitants of the region. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the interpretation of the traditional life cycle rites of the peoples of the Middle Volga region as the focus of carnival and laughter forms that help overcome fears of an unknown future and create an atmosphere of optimism. The main result of the research is a new understanding of the traditional life cycle rites of the peoples of the Middle Volga region as a means of psychotherapy due to their inherent carnival and laughter forms that help a person adapt to various conditions of existence. The material of the article can serve as a basis for scientific research in the field of psychology of ritual activity, for the preparation of educational courses on the history of everyday life and cultural studies.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the ritual texts of the peoples of Middle Volga Region of the XIX – early XX centuries. The goal lies in constructing image of the future based on ritual texts, as well as finding common motives and themes therein. Leaning on the archival materials, the author determines the key concepts of the regional folklore: desire of happiness, acquisition/loss of freedom, and loneliness. The content analysis is conducted on ritual lamentations and songs, as well as the most meaningful motives that unite all the rituals of the life cycle. The article employs culturological methods of research that allow identifying the spiritual and moral values and representations of the life cycle in the ritual texts of the peoples of Middle Volga Region. The scientific novelty consists in interpretation of the ritual texts of the population of the region as basic elements essential for constructing image of the future life. The conclusion is made that ritual texts of the inhabitants of the region feature similar theme: admiration of children, desire of happiness and freedom in the context of sending for military service and consummation of marriage, leaving home, and fear of loneliness. Shared outlook upon life created a predictable picture of the future with uniform requirements to a person as a bearer of the traditional culture. Such requirements implied the idea of the importance of reproduction of healthy generation and unification of family.

Abstract: The research subject of the article is the ideas that the peoples of the Middle Volga region had about the human life cycle in the 19th century - processes of birth, initiation, marriage and death. The aim of the article is to identify the general (typical) and particular (unique) in these perceptions as categories that unite and at the same time separate the inhabitants of the region. The general expresses the universal features inherent in all ethnic cultures of the Middle Volga region. The particular describe the local properties that act as markers of the identity of each ethnic group. The boundaries between the general and the particular in the Middle Volga region have a symbolic designation, since the region had for several centuries a complex synthesis of the interactions between Western, Russian and Eastern traditions. The article's research methods are based on the principle of historicism. The author uses structural and typological analysis to determine the general and particular in the Volga peoples' ideas about the life cycle, as well as the comparative-historical, logical and retrospective methods. The novelty of this study lies in the culturological comprehension of their ideas about the human life cycle in the regional culture, formed under the influence of paganism, Christianity and Islam. An important role in preserving the ethno-confessional values of the inhabitants of the Middle Volga region was played by the peasant community. The author concludes that the spread of Christianity and Islam in the region under the pressure of state power and as a result of intercultural interaction had made it possible to develop the universal requirements for human living. In this case, the particular was preserved at the level of individual rites. The source materials used in the article can be useful for scholars, culturologists, teachers, students and specialists developing programs in the field of preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to description of functions of the traditional life cycle rituals by analyzing the foreign culturological concepts the XIX-XX centuries. Relevance of the topic is substantiated by the demand to determine the role of ceremonial functions in modern culture. Reference to the historical experience of studying the traditional rituals allows to better understand their concept as a way of expressing collective representations in the past and present. The sources for this research became the foreign culturological concepts of the XIX-XX centuries, as well as the report and field journals of the Soviet ethnographers on ritual practices of the peoples of Volga Region stored in the Russian scientific archives. The study is based on the principle of historicism, which allows viewing life cycle rituals in the historical dynamics. The analysis of foreign culturological concepts and ethnographic materials suggest the use of systemic approach for more coherent representation of the traditional ritualism. The novelty consists in the fact that the author is first to propose the typology of culturological concepts to determine functions of the traditional life cycle rituals. Three types of concepts are highlighted: “magic”, “pragmatic”, and theories of “transition”. In light of this study, the following functions of the traditional life cycle rituals were determined: magic, consolidating, explanatory, regulatory, symbolic and social. Some of these functions remain in modern culture, since the rituals are oriented towards human existence, experiences and hopes.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to life cycle rites of the Volga Germans in the 1920’s. The timeframe is selected due to its contrariety, which can be characterized as the struggle between the previous cultural values and socialistic ideals. The key question in the analysis of German ritualism is the reflection of the category of “own” and “alien”, which manifest as the centerpieces for the ritual scenario. They clearly define the symbolism of life circle rites designating the real and sacred. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time the life circle rites of the Volga Germans are analyzes as the clash point of the “own” and “alien”, impacting the worldview of the German colonists and predetermining their fate. From the structural perspective, the article contains a brief characteristic of the concept of “own” and “alien”, description of the ways of manifestation of both in life circle rites of the Volga Germans, as well as examination of the German ritual texts considering the presence of these categories. The results demonstrate that the system “own – alien” influences the perception of the elements of other cultures by Volga Germans. The theoretical significance of the article consist in expansion of representations about the life circle rites of Volga Germans. The materials may be used for preparing the targeted programs for preservation of cultural heritage of the Volga Region.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the animalistic and ornitomorphic symbols in traditional customs of the peoples of Volga Region (XVII-XXI centuries) and their functional purpose. The goal of this article is the analysis of the most typical and popular symbolic embodiments of animals and birds in the regional culture, determination of their role in the conceptual content of ritualism the Volga Region natives. The scientific novelty consists in perception of these symbols as the manifestation of the will to live and way of protection from nothingness. The empirical foundation for this publication became the historical sources from the regional archives, works of the travelers and ethnographers, field materials of the author. The research leans on the systemic approach that allows identifying the most consistent animalistic and ornitomorphic symbols in culture of the Volga Region. A conclusion is made that the presence of the images of birds and animals in various rituals can testify to the primeval fears of human being, when he his dependence on nature. Experiences. Historically, the animalistic and ornitomorphic symbols in culture of the Volga Region contributed to strengthening of interethnic relations and ensured interaction between the real and sacred worlds. Belief in the other, sacred being offered hope for the eternal human existence, while the birds and animals were the key of such existence due to their power, cunning and endurance. The research material can be valuable for anthropologists and historians, educators and students of humanitarian disciplines.