MALE AND FEMALE COMMUNITIES OF YOUTH OF THE EASTERN SLAVS IN THE ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF THE 19TH – BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

In the article, features of creation of male and female communities of Eastern Slavs have been considered on the basis of the analysis of ethnographic research of the 19th– beginning of the 20th century. The author has highlighted the main functions of youth communities, in particular: a) development relations between rural youth and local authorities: parish, elder; b) establishment of normal life in the community, resolving all conflicts that were arising between boys and girls, and among the youth; c) participation in the organization of celebrations in the community: celebration of traditional community holidays. Attention has been drawn to the peculiarities of the process of admission to the community, which was accompanied by special rituals, which are original initiations. Characteristics of the importance of community’s social institutions in the process of education and socialization of the individual has allowed the author to conclude that they developed an effective system of forms, means, methods of folk education, which ensured the preservation of the custom-ritual
culture and contributed to the formation of the ethnic group.