Family traditions of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia (according to the 2022 study)

Troshkina Irina Nikolaevna ORCID: 0000-0002-1650-0590 PhD in Philosophy Head of the Department of Economics and Sociology; Khakass Research Institute for Language, Literature, and History 655017, Russian Federation, Republic of Khakassia, Abakan, Shchetinkin str., 23, office 3 i.troschkina2012@yandex.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction.

The relevance of the problem of reproduction of the ethnocultural foundations of society through traditions is beyond doubt, which is due to their dynamics, the loss of components of ethnocultural traditions, including the peoples of Southern Siberia, the complexity of their reproduction ^[1], modernization through innovation ^{[2, 38-39]}, which is seen in the priority of rational expediency and symbolic designation of social involvement ^{[3, p. 22]}. Since traditions are heterogeneous due to human nature, the diversity of spheres of socio-cultural life, the diversity of cultures themselves, their type of transmission and typologies vary.

Due to the fact that broadcasting takes place through the family, family traditions are an important element in the overall system. Their peculiarity lies in the reproduction, translation of norms and values of the rules of intra-family communication, the distribution of roles in all spheres of family life, ways to resolve conflicts and overcome emerging problems ^{[4, p. 9]}. The study of family traditions will complement the existing scientific knowledge on the transformation of ethnic cultures.

We will try to compare the ranking of types of family traditions among the Altaians, Tuvans, and Khakas in the regions of Southern Siberia.

Tradition is considered as a sociocultural value, a habit ^{[5, p. 56]}, a way of social organization of society, a social regulator ^{[6, p. 11-20]}, functioning in the field of public relations where other regulatory mechanisms are least acceptable. We consider it as a set of cultural knowledge, rituals that are passed down from generation to generation, determine the norms of life, principles of behavior. The family tradition is presented as a set of family attitudes, feelings, ideals of internal and external family interaction, regulating intimate and moral relationships that are difficult to influence by the laws of the state. It is unique for each family, as it is based on historical, religious, and personal foundations ^{[7, p. 42]}. The reproduction of traditions acts as a stabilizer of the foundations of society in a dynamically developing society.

Traditions are subject to dynamics under the influence of objective and subjective factors, where the first category of factors is decisive. It includes global-civilizational, state-regional components. The state-regional factor is represented by the conditions of functioning of the traditions of ethnic groups, the policy of the state in relation to traditions and values. The state's policy aimed at preserving and reproducing traditions proceeds from both general regulations aimed at strengthening the all-Russian cultural basis and regional ones (taking into account historical and other local traditions) ^{[8, pp. 140-141]}.

The theoretical basis of the research is the general provisions of the naturalistic paradigm of the essence of traditions ^{[9, 10, 11]}, the socio-cultural approach of P. I. Sorokin ^{[12, 13, 14]}, cultural ^[15] and sociological aspects of the study of family values ^{[16, 17]}.

The study was conducted in 2022 using a questionnaire based on a questionnaire compiled by the author. The questionnaire is aimed at identifying respondents' opinions about broadcast family traditions, contains 25 questions, 14 of which reveal the main objectives of the study, 11 – socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire method, conducted remotely through the distribution of a link to an electronic questionnaire posted on the Google Forms platform. There was an interpretation of the types of traditions in the questionnaire. Representatives of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia (Altaians, Tuvinians, Khakas) took part in the survey. The primary data were processed by the method of mathematical statistics in the IBM SPSS Statistics 23 program. Official statistics were used to calculate the sample size. 1,000 people participated in the survey based on a quota sample.

Literature review.

The relevance of the topic is related to the lack of interregional research on this issue at the present stage, studying mainly from the standpoint of ethnographic and folklore directions.

It is possible to single out fundamental collective works on ethnotraditional foundations as the foundation of family traditions: "The Turkic peoples of Siberia" ^[18], which provides information about the Altaians, Khakas and other Turkic peoples of Siberia in the aspect of material and spiritual culture, social organization and family rites; "Family rites of the peoples of Siberia (comparative study experience)"(Family rituals of the peoples of Siberia (comparative study experience), where the issues of wedding and funeral traditions of the Altaians, Tuvans, Khakas and other ethnic groups of Southern Siberia, Northern Siberia and the Far East are updated; individual monographs – "Samples of folk literature of Turkic tribes living in Southern Siberia and the Dzungarian steppe" ^[19], "Ancient History Southern Siberia" ^[20], "History of Southern Siberia in the Middle Ages" ^[21], "Peoples of Western and Central Siberia" ^[22], "Peoples of Siberia" ^[23], "Peoples of Southern Siberia in the Ancient Turkic Era" ^[24].

Among the studies on family traditions and rituals of the Turks of Southern Siberia, the works of the philosopher S. A. Madyukova ^[25], the traditions of Altai ethnographers N. I. Shatinova ^[26], N. A. Tadina ^[27], E. V. Yentinov ^[28] should be indicated; the traditions of Tuvan historians Z. V. Anayban ^[29], M. B. Kenin-Lopsan ^[30], culturologist A. K. Kuzhuget ^[31], philosopher C. K. O. Lamazhaa ^[32], traditions of Khakass ethnographers K. M. Patachakov ^{[33, 34]}, M. S. Usmanova ^[35], V. Ya. Butanaev ^[36], Yu. G. Kustova ^[37], V. P. Krivonogov ^[1], philosopher L. V. Anzhiganova ^{[38, 39]}.

Traditions, including family traditions, are considered mainly from the standpoint of ethnography, folklore studies, a less researched issue is the study of the current state of family traditions of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia (Altaians, Tuvinians, Khakass) from the perspective of ethnosociology.

Family traditions typical in general for the surveyed Altaians, Tuvinians, Khakas.

According to the results of the survey, family traditions among the surveyed representatives of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia are represented by the dominant triad – hospitality (82.5%), maternity (73.3%) and funeral (69.2%). Among the less popular, labor, they were noted by 58.1% of respondents, drinking – 46.3% (Table 1). Respondents of Altai nationality more often than others distinguish wedding, maternity, funeral traditions, the surveyed Khakas – labor, hospitality, drinking, for representatives of the Tuvan ethnic group, average indicators for all categories of traditions are characteristic.

Table 1. Distribution of responses of the surveyed Altaians, Tuvinians, Khakass to the question: "What family traditions do you observe?", in %

Table 1. Distribution of the responses of the Altai, Tuvan, Khakass respondents to the question: ""What family traditions do you observe?", in %

Note: the amount exceeds 100%, because the respondent could choose several answers.

Today, each ethnic group has its own typology of family traditions: funeral (89.9%), wedding (88.8%), maternity (84.9%) are priorities for the Altai respondents; Tuvinians – hospitality (80.1%), maternity (72.0%), wedding (62.5%); Khakass – hospitality (94.1%), funeral (89.7%), maternity (67.6%).

In general, for the absolute majority of the surveyed titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia, hospitality is the most important among other family traditions. This is quite understandable, since it is connected with the cultural peculiarities of the territory's development, active communication processes in society. The decrease in the importance of table, labor, and wedding events is explained by the weakening of intraethnic ties, a decrease in the value of marriage, labor (an indicator of social and civic activity).

Of interest is the orientation of the family traditions of the ethnic groups in question in the context of the area of residence, gender, age.

The family traditions of the Altai people surveyed.

When analyzing the observance of traditions, depending on the sex of Altaians, it was found that maternity traditions are observed more often by men (92.9%) than by women (77.9%) (Table 2). A difference was also revealed in the observance of table traditions: women more often adhere to them than men (50.5% and 41.7%, respectively). According to the results of the analysis, there are significant differences in the observance of most of the traditions among the respondents of the Altai ethnic group of both sexes (N=7,749, p=0.005).

The area of residence also turned out to be a significant factor in the distribution of responses from the Altai respondents. Residents of rural and urban areas expressed almost equal shares about the observance of the traditions proposed by the survey, however, statistically significant differences are observed in relation to "drinking traditions" (H=7,044, p=0.008), which are more often observed by city residents (64.3%) than rural residents (40.9%).

Table 2. Distribution of responses of the Altai respondents to the question: "What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Table 2. Distribution of the responses of the Altai respondents to the question: ""What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Note: the amount exceeds 100%, because the respondent could choose several answers.

As a rule, the narrowing of the field of traditions used is associated with a decrease in concomitant practices among younger generations, therefore, it is interesting to analyze the responses of different age groups of the Altai respondents. Statistically significant differences were found in attitudes towards wedding (N=13.014, p=0.011), labor (N=13.376, p=0.010) and hospitality-related traditions (N=18.931, p=0.001). Based on the data obtained, wedding traditions are less often observed by respondents aged 35 to 44 years (76.1%), labor traditions – aged 45 to 54 years (23.3%), from 18 to 24 years (33.3%), hospitality traditions – aged 18 to 24 years (53.3%). While respondents from older age groups were much more likely to note that they adhere to these traditions.

In general, the preferred family traditions of Altai respondents are distributed as follows – on a gender basis: wedding (89.5%), funeral (87.4%), hospitality (85.3%) prevail among women, maternity and funeral (92.9%), wedding (88.1%) traditions are equally significant among men; areas of residence: in rural areas – wedding (89.8%), funeral (89.1%), maternity (83.2%), in urban areas – funeral (92.9%), maternity (90.5%), equally wedding and hospitality (85.7%); by age among young people (from 18 to 34 years) – funeral, wedding, maternity, for older age groups (35 years and older) – hospitality, wedding, funeral.

Family traditions of the surveyed Tuvans.

The responses of Tuvinian respondents by gender are distributed approximately equally in the issue of observance of various traditions. However, it was found that in the city, the surveyed Tuvans more often adhere to funeral traditions (64.6%) than residents of rural areas (54.9%). The same applies to the observance of labor traditions: the city – 63.7%, the village – 56.1% (Table 3).

Table 3. Distribution of the responses of the surveyed Tuvans to the question: "What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Table 3. Distribution of the responses of the surveyed Tuvans to the question: ""What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Note: the amount exceeds 100%, because the respondent could choose several answers.

The most popular family traditions among Tuvans are the traditions of hospitality and related to the appearance of children in the family, the least – drinking traditions. Men are more likely than women to observe wedding (62.7%), maternity (73.8%), labor (62.3%), as well as drinking traditions (46.6%). Women pay more attention to funeral traditions. Nevertheless, these differences are not critically significant, which confirms the calculation of Pearson's criterion ², which suggests that there is no connection between observance of traditions and the gender of the respondent.

In this matter, the place of residence is a more significant factor for Tuvans. Hospitality is in the first place among urban residents (82%), followed by maternity traditions (73.7%), funeral (64.6%), labor (63.7%) and wedding (60.5%) traditions are almost equally important to them, and naturally drinking traditions have the lowest priority (42.2%). In comparison, rural residents pay much less attention to all traditions, except for wedding and table ones. However, significant links between the observance of the surveyed traditions and their place of residence are observed only with respect to funeral (χ ²=6.635, df=1, p=0.010) and labor traditions (χ ²=3.841, df=1, p=0.041).

In general, the family traditions of the surveyed Tuvans were distributed as follows: by gender, women – hospitality (80.1%), maternity (70.4%), labor (57.6%), men – hospitality (80.2%), maternity (73.8%), wedding (62.7%); by area of residence the three significant traditions of the villagers include hospitality (78.3%), maternity (70.2%), wedding (61.3%), among the townspeople – hospitality (82.0%), maternity (73.7%), funeral (64.6%); by age among the younger generation, hospitality, maternity, wedding, older generation are significant – hospitality, maternity, labor.

The family traditions of the interviewed Khakas.

Respondents of the Khakass nationality pay great attention to the traditions of hospitality and funeral, others honor them almost at the same level (Table 4). In addition, the drinking traditions of the surveyed Khakass (61.8%) are stronger than those of the respondents of the Altai and Tuvan nationalities.

The men and women surveyed are in solidarity in observing traditions, the greatest difference relates to "maternity" traditions: 74.2% of men and only 61.4% of women noted this option. The gradation by age groups did not show any special differences in the responses (age as a factor is not as influential as among Altaians and Tuvinians). Only a connection was found with respect to labor traditions, which are observed mainly by representatives of the older generation: 82.5% from 45 to 54 years old, 61.5% from 55 to 64 years old, while only 45.8% of young respondents, aged 25 to 34 years, continue this tradition.

So, as a result of the analysis, no significant connections and factors affecting the observance of Khakas traditions, as well as other peoples of Southern Siberia, were revealed.

Table 4. Distribution of responses of the surveyed Khakass to the question: "What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Table 4. Distribution of responses of the surveyed Khakass to the question: ""What family traditions do you observe?" depending on the different characteristics of the respondent, in %

Note: the amount exceeds 100%, because the respondent could choose several answers.

Thus, the family traditions of the surveyed Khakas differ insignificantly by gender, area and age: women, like men, have significant traditions of hospitality (92.9% and 95.5%, respectively), funeral (87.1% and 92.4%), wedding (62.9% and 69.1%); in rural and urban areas of residence, there is a separation The same values are hospitality (95.6% and 91.1%, respectively), funeral (89.0% and 91.1%), wedding (60.4% and 66.7%); according to the age of the respondents, the selected traditions are similar among the youth and the older generation.

Other family traditions highlighted by the respondents.

One fourth of the respondents noted that their family adheres to the joint celebration of holidays (41.7%). The respondents identified the following family traditions least of all: the meeting of families, relatives (6.6%) and the preparation of national dishes (6.6%) (Table 5).

The analysis showed that men and women adhere to traditions in different ways. For example, women noted the following traditions more often than men: "veneration of elders" (26.4% – women, 3.1% – men) and "transmission of rituals and customs to generations" (26.4% – women, 7.1% – men). More men than women adhere to cooking national dishes (9.2% men, 1.9% women) and joint work (11.2% men and 0% women).

There are differences in the observance of traditions in the village and the city. Respondents living in rural areas more often note that their family adheres to holding holidays together (48.9% in the village, 31.7% in the city) and meeting relatives and relatives (11.4% in the village and 0% in the city). And those who live in the city choose the options "honoring elders" (17.5% – city, 6.8% – village) and "cooking national dishes" (11.9% – city, 3.4% – village).

The revered traditions also differ by ethnicity. For example, the Altai respondents choose to worship nature (24.2%), pass on rituals and traditions to generations (27.3%) and every second person chooses to hold holidays together (48.5%). Respondents of Tuvan nationality mostly prefer to spend holidays together (41%). The surveyed Khakass also prefer the joint holding of holidays (33.3%) and the meeting of families and relatives (27.8%). The peculiarity of the highlighted family traditions on a national basis among the Altai respondents is the veneration of nature, Tuvinians – joint work, Khakass – the meeting of families, relatives.

Table 5. Distribution of respondents' answers to the question: "Specify other family traditions that your family adheres to?", in %

Table 5. Distribution of respondents' answers to the question: " Specify other family traditions that your family adheres to?", in %

Note: the amount exceeds 100%, because the respondent could choose several answers.

In general, among other family traditions identified by respondents independently (when answering an open question), joint leisure activities prevail (41.7%), in particular the celebration of calendar holidays, significant family dates, in second place is the transmission of rituals and customs to generations (13.9%), in third place is the veneration of elders (11.3%).

The hierarchy of other distinguished family traditions in terms of indicators of gender, place of residence, ethnicity:

– for women, more significant traditions are joint leisure activities (35.8%), equivalent generational transmission of rituals, customs and reverence for elders (26.4%), for men – joint leisure activities (44.9%), reverence for nature (12.2%), joint work (11.2%);

– for rural residents, joint leisure activities (48.9%), generational transmission of rituals and customs (13.6%), meeting of families and relatives (11.4%) are of great importance, for residents of urban areas – joint leisure activities (31.7%), veneration of elders (17.5%), generational transmission of rituals and customs (14.3%);

– the Altai respondents note joint leisure activities (48.5%), the transmission of customs and rituals to generations (27.3%), reverence for nature (24.2%), the respondents of Tuvan nationality have joint leisure in the first place (41.0%), reverence for elders (14.0%), the transmission of rituals and customs (12.0%), Khakass – joint celebration of holidays (33.3%), meeting of families and relatives (27.8%), veneration of elders (16.7%).

Conclusion.

According to the results of the study of the types of family traditions of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia, it can be concluded that they are represented by the dominant components – hospitality (82.5%), maternity (73.3%) and funeral (69.2%). Among the less popular are labor traditions (58.1%) and table traditions (46.3%). These values are determined by the cultural specifics of the development of regions, communication processes in society. The decrease in the importance of table, labor, and wedding traditions will be explained by the weakening of intraethnic ties, the decrease in the value of an officially registered marriage, and labor.

For the Altai respondents, funeral (89.9%), wedding (88.8%), maternity (84.9%) are priorities; for Tuvinians – hospitality (80.1%), maternity (72.0%), wedding (62.5%); for Khakass – hospitality (94.1%), funeral (89.7%), maternity (67.6%). The dominance of certain traditions among ethnic groups is due to the peculiarities of the ethnocultural development of regions, the reproduction of components of family values among ethnic groups.

For respondents of Altai nationality, family traditions are presented as follows: on a gender basis, wedding (89.5%) prevails among women, maternity and funeral (92.9%) are equally significant for men; by area of residence: in rural areas – wedding (89.8%), in urban areas – funeral (92.9%); The funeral tradition dominates in the youth age groups (from 18 to 34 years old), while the older respondents (from 35 years old and older) have hospitality.

The types of traditions surveyed by Tuvans are as follows: among women and men, the importance of hospitality is high (80.1% and 80.2%, respectively); in the area of residence, both villagers and townspeople have a dominant tradition of hospitality (78.3% and 82.0%); among the younger and older generation, the tradition of hospitality is significant.

The family traditions of the surveyed Khakas differ insignificantly, there are no special differences in gender, area and age: women, like men, have significant traditions of hospitality (92.9% and 95.5%, respectively), funeral (87.1% and 92.4%), wedding (62.9% and 69.1%); rural and urban areas of residence The same values are highlighted – hospitality (95.6% and 91.1%, respectively), funeral (89.0% and 91.1%), wedding (60.4% and 66.7%); according to the age of the respondents, the answers are similar among the youth and the older generation.

Among other family traditions, respondents identify joint leisure activities, primarily holidays (41.7%), meeting of childbirth, relatives (6.6%), cooking national dishes (6.6%). Ethnically, respondents of the Altai nationality, unlike other ethnic groups, focus on the veneration of nature, the surveyed Tuvans – joint work, representatives of the Khakass ethnic group – the meeting of families, relatives.

The similarity of the dominant components of family traditions testifies to a single ethnocultural field of Altaians, Tuvinians, Khakas. The difference in priority and other traditions indicated by the respondents is due to the cultural specifics of regional development and communication processes. The continuation of the study of the traditions of the titular ethnic groups will make it possible to reconstruct the historical and cultural processes that took place in this territory in an earlier historical period.