Report on the life of the Cossacks. Reforms in the Don Army

Cossack dialect. Cloth. Dwellings. XVI-XVII centuries

What did the Don Cossacks look like, what did they live in and how did they dress in the 16th century? XVII century X? As is known, Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles, Turks, Tatars, Georgian Circassians and representatives of many peoples surrounding the Don fell into Cossack brotherhoods, and this could not have any influence on the formation of a unique type of Don Cossack. “Such a fusion of diversity,” noted the historian Sukhorukov, “made the appearance of the Donets some kind of peculiarity and gave them, if one may say, their own – Cossack – physiognomy, quite distinctive from purely Russian people. ... Cossacks have a solid, strong and healthy body build, they are more portly or plump than dry and lean; Mostly dark-skinned with dark hair. Have powerful physical forces. In spirit, most are bold, courageous and courageous; character is lively and cheerful; They are agile and light in their movements.”

And here is a unique description of the Cossack Sergei Dmitriev, caught in Novgorod, preserved in the “Novgorod Bonded Books” for 1599-1600: “A man of average height, about half a third (25 years old), shaves his beard, mustache, russian hair, sulfur eyes, upper Half of a tooth in front was knocked out, the palm of the little finger of the left hand was shot, and there was an earring in the left ear.” This Cossack, in all likelihood, was from the upper towns, or the Verkhovtsy were distinguished by their gray eyes and brown hair. As for the lower-ranking Cossacks (Nizovtsy were considered to be Cossacks starting from the Kachalinsky town), they, for the most part, were dark-haired, black-eyed and black-haired, sharp-eyed...

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The language of the Cossacks was unique. “The language on the Don is mixed,” wrote Sukhorukov, “and contains two dialects: Great Russian and Little Russian – much spoiled and changed... In addition, there are many Tatar and Kalmyk words mixed in, relating to household utensils and horse harness.” Another Don historian, Evlampy Katalnikov (1774-1854), on the question of the language and origin of the Don Cossacks, believed that “the Don Verkhovtsy can be recognized as originating from that part of Russia where they use the words: what, what, yago and the like, instead of: what, what, him.” The Middle Donets, according to Katalnikov, are more suitable “to the correct Russian”, and the “Nizov Donets... are noted to originate from Maly Russia. The words still used today: hiba, nema, buv and others testify.”

The Cossacks initially lived in dugouts, and then began to build wooden houses called kurens. This term, according to some historians, comes from the Mongolian “kurya” - camp, circle; and the arrangement in such a house went in a circle, around the stove. Don sources who dealt with this problem came to the conclusion that the kuren “in terms of the type of construction is certainly of Novgorod origin, and its usual yellow color was established, probably, successively from the Novgorodians.”

The kurens were originally covered with chakan, reeds, bast or planks, and later with iron. There was a small balcony around the house - a baluster. Inside the smoking room there were at least three rooms: a cooking room, a bedroom, a clean room, or a living room.

Cossack kurens in the 16th-17th centuries were, as a rule, wooden, but according to some researchers, “some towns had stone castles.” Since the 18th century, the Cossacks also built stone houses-kureni.

The clothing of the Cossacks was also unique. At home in everyday life and on campaigns the Don people wore “homemade clothes”: zipuns, raincoats, burkas, trousers, shirts, leather boots, belts... For friendly feasts they dressed up in a festive way. Some appeared in luxurious azure satin caftans with frequent silver stripes, additionally decorated with pearl necklaces. Others sported damask (silk thick fabric with patterns) or sleeveless velvet caftans and dark clove zipuns, trimmed with blue damask with a silk, clove-colored stripe. Many Cossacks dressed in damask caftans with gold Turkish buttons and silver and gilded clasps. An azure zipun completed the outfit. The Cossacks wore morocco boots on their feet, and on their heads were marten hats with a velvet top. However, the famous Cossack historian and writer P.K. Krasnov wrote that the Cossacks had “hats made of kurpei with cloth shlyk,” and “the shoes were different - ... bast shoes, pistons and boots.”

A wide silk Turkish sash with knives tucked into it gave the Don people an impressive appearance. Everyone was armed: some with a Russian arquebus, some with a Persian saber with a Turkish bow-saadak, some with a slingshot and a pistol, and some with all of them at once.

Many Cossacks preferred Basurman clothes to Russian ones, because these clothes, wide and spacious, did not restrict movement and were comfortable in everyday life and in battle.

As for the clothing of the Don atamans, judging by the inventory of 1630, when a Cossack passenger village was arrested in Moscow by order of the tsar, the ataman dressed in a gold caftan with silver buttons, a satin or silk robe, and pants made of the same fabric; In winter, this outfit was supplemented with a warm fur coat made of marten or other equally valuable fur.

Women's clothing was similar to Turkish and Tatar. It is not known exactly how Cossack women dressed in the first half of the seventeenth century; With a high degree of reliability, one can judge the clothing of Don Cossack women from the second half of the seventeenth century.

Marital status of the Cossacks. XVI-XVII centuries

Cossacks often married captives, although family life was not held in high esteem among them. In the 16th century, family Cossacks were rarely found on the Don: the conditions were too harsh for creating a normal family, and the Cossacks did not manage households, spending all their time on campaigns and battles.

The picture of family life changed in the 17th century, especially in its second half. The population of the Don by this time had increased significantly, greater security of residence was ensured than a century ago, the Cossacks began to engage in farming and start families. Growing successors of our family and business.

Weddings in those days took place, in most cases, without the mediation of the church, for there were few priests on the Don land, and the first churches appeared only in the middle of the 17th century, when the Cossacks built a wooden cathedral in Cherkassk in the name of the Resurrection of Christ. It was enough to announce the marriage to the people, for which the bride and groom came to the Cossack Circle, bowed from the waist in all directions, and the Cossack groom publicly addressed his future wife and said, calling her by name: “You, Katerina, be my wife!” " The bride, bowing at his feet, humbly answered: “And you, Mikhailo, be my husband!”

Would you like, well done atamans, to bless a new husband and wife? – the ataman asked the Cossacks and was the first to shout: “Lyubo!”

Love! - the Cossacks assented to him, and the marriage accomplished in this way was considered valid. Since the time of Peter 1, marriages on the Don were sanctified exclusively by the church, and only church marriage was considered real, legal.

Divorce in Peter's time on the Don was as simple as marriage. If the Cossack, for some reason, no longer needed a wife, he led her to the military circle, where in the presence of his comrades he said:

Friends! My faithful comrades, the Cossacks! For some time I had a wife, Katerina, she was a helpful and faithful wife to me, but now she is no longer my wife, and I am not her husband! Whoever of you desires her, let him take her as his wife. It’s not all the same to me...

After such words, the Cossack removed his hand, and the recent wife became a stranger, a divorcee. Any of the Cossacks present at the Circle, which often happened, could immediately take her as his wife. To do this, it was enough just to cover her with the hem of his caftan, removing the shame of divorce, and utter the words required in such a case.

Of course, passing from hand to hand, a woman in those distant times was little valued and respected by the Cossacks, and her position was accordingly unenviable. The life of a married Cossack woman was usually limited to her family and acquaintances with neighbors. When meeting a Cossack, a woman in any case had to give way to him, without forgetting to bow to the male warrior. But this does not mean that among the Don Cossacks there were no happy full-blooded families, there were, and documents from those distant years speak about this...

Raising children, especially boys, among the Don Cossacks had one goal: to make a warrior out of a Cossack girl, capable of defending his native Don and Mother Russia.

Relatives and acquaintances brought bullets for the newborn, and placed a saber, a pistol, a bow and a gun at the baby’s head: join the military craft, Cossack! Constantly hearing conversations from relatives and friends about campaigns, battles and wars, observing this in practical life, the Cossack children began to speak not with the words “father” and “mother”, but with the words “pu” - shoot and “chu” - ride a horse. Three-year-old Cossack children already knew how to ride a horse around the yard, and five-year-olds fearlessly and skillfully rode on a dashing Donchak horse through the streets of a Cossack town.

The customs and morality of the Cossacks of that time were quite peculiar and represented, as historian Vasily Sukhorukov notes, “a mixture of virtues and vices characteristic of people who lived by war and robbery. Greedy for booty, ferocious in raids on enemy lands, the Cossacks in their community were tied to each other, like brothers, and abhorred theft among themselves; but robbery on the side and especially from enemies was an ordinary thing for them. Religion was revered sacredly. Cowards were not tolerated and in general chastity and courage were considered the primary virtues. The Cossacks were cruel in punishing crimes. The main execution for treason, cowardice, murder and theft was in the water; it is the drowning of a man tied in a bag in a river.”

Life, customs, rituals of the Don Cossacks. XVIII century

It was interesting and original everyday life Don Cossacks in the eighteenth century. The customs and rituals of the Donets could be observed especially clearly on holidays. So, let's look into the eighteenth century...

Nowhere are the customs of any nation more clearly and prominently displayed than on holidays. It was the same on the Don. As soon as the holiday arrived, already in the morning the narrow and cramped streets of the Don capital were crowded with festively dressed people. Young Cossacks had fun with wrestling, playing ball, leapfrog, babki, and aidanchiki (a game of mutton bones). Adult Cossacks, gathered in circles, sang epic songs and danced to the cheerful and playful balalaika.

Elderly Cossacks, veterans of the war, sat decorously near the lockers - staircases facing the street. In front of them there was usually a valley of digested honey, which was highly valued among the Cossacks for its strength and excellent taste (especially the so-called triple porridge honey).

Near another locker, on a rich Persian carpet, the wives of the Don elders sat for an intimate conversation. Captured Tatar and Turkish women (yasyrs), who lived in Cossack families as junior members, relatives, served the elders' wives, pouring sweet honey into silver charms and serving it with a bow. The Cossack women sedately, without haste, tasted the honey, praised their grandfather's antiquity and, slightly tipsy, sang soulful songs about the exploits of their grandfathers, fathers and husbands.

As the Cossacks almost passed by, the senior wives bowed and invited them: “Come, dear, to us!” and treated them with honey. Very flattered by the attention of noble ladies, the Cossacks usually bowed and put a handful of coins on the tray. The elders' wives, who spent their time in this way, loved to express themselves in conversations among themselves in Tatar, taking over the knowledge of this language from the yasyrks. Speaking the Tatar language was in great fashion among Cherkassy Cossack women.

Young Cossack women in festive clothes walked separately. By cracking fried watermelon and pumpkin seeds, they were going to show off their company and see others. Imitating their elders, the girls soulfully sang psalms and cheerful songs.

If an older Cossack passed by the youth, then a few meters before him the youngsters would respectfully jump up and bow to him. They could sit down only when the Cossack bowed away from them at a respectful distance. This unfeigned respect for elders was brought up in Cossack families from childhood. If a youngster showed disrespect for an elder, then he could discipline the boy with a heavy slap in the face, which was met with approval by everyone, including the parents of the discourteous Cossack boy.

Cossack women had to treat men with respect and yield to them in many everyday situations. If, for example, on a narrow bridge, of which there were many in Cherkassk, a woman and a Cossack man met, then the weaker half in any case had to give way to the Cossack, even if she had to jump off the bridge.

Companies of boys and young men went out to play outside the city, to the palisade and fortress walls. Here a homemade target was set, and the Cossacks, some with bows, others with guns, competed in shooting accuracy. The most trained could knock out a coin placed on its edge with a bullet at a considerable distance. After the shooting, funny fights were usually held.

The Cossacks liked to spend their free time in the so-called stanitsa huts, of which there were nine in Cherkassk at that time, and they stood on the banks of the Don not far from each other. Cossacks from two or three village huts, at the same distance from each one, placed a wooden float with a target on the water. By conventional sign A specially selected judge-executive began shooting at this target. The winners were the Cossacks of that village kuren, who managed to sink the target. The losers treated the winners to triple porridge honey and drank to the winners' health.

Groups of old people loved to gather at the Preobrazhenskoye cemetery, where many prominent Don residents were buried. Among the glorious graves, in a leisurely conversation, the valleys of strong honey were emptied, and the funeral heroic song flowed quietly and steadily among the cemetery silence.

But the Cherkassy Cossacks especially loved the song about the priest Quiet Don, about clear falcons - Don Cossacks who went on long and dangerous campaigns.

After each song, the old warriors, looking around their native graves with misty eyes, exclaimed with feeling and tears in their eyes: “Yes, our Cossacks deserve eternal memory!”

The Don people celebrated Maslenitsa with special joy. For a whole week Cherkassk and the Don villages had a lot of fun. Except noisy feasts, all over the Don, grandiose horse races and shooting competitions were organized. The Cossack youth prepared for this holiday for a long time and carefully, not getting enough sleep, but grooming their faithful horse friend for the upcoming races and preparing weapons for the competition.

As soon as the first day of Maslenitsa arrived, armed riders gathered in advance at a designated place. Everyone tried to show off their horse, harness and weapons. Many people came to admire the breathtaking spectacle.

In an open place, in a field, there was already a pre-prepared target made of reeds. At a distance of three to four hundred meters, Cossacks fussily clustered together, wanting to enter into the competition.

The first to open the game was a Cossack experienced in combat. At full gallop, throwing the reins at the very target, he deftly set fire to the reeds with a shot from his weapon. A young Cossack flew behind him headlong. At full gallop, skillfully jumping off the horse, holding the horse's mane with one hand, with the other he snatched a pistol from his belt and hit the target with a well-aimed shot. Another moment - and the amazed spectators already saw the Cossack on his horse safe and sound. And then other Cossacks were already galloping, jumping on horses over the fire.

The highlight of the competition was horse racing, the winners received weight awards, becoming heroes of the day.

An indispensable element of Maslenitsa celebrations was game hunting, which abounded in the Don at that time. Hundreds of Cossacks gathered for the hunt, which was opened by a triple rifle shot from the captain.

Here a group of successful hunters raised a ferocious-looking wild boar in the bush. Cutting off the reeds with its fangs, the boar bursts out of the thickets, its small eyes glinting angrily. Struck by several well-aimed shots, leaving a bloody trail behind him, the enraged cleaver rushed at the hunters in desperate rage. The Cossacks, accustomed to such turns of events, deftly parted and finished off the boar with pikes.

In another place, a group of horsemen quickly pursued a seasoned wolf, who, raising his fur on end and constantly looking around, was trying to get away from the tireless hunters. However, the Cossacks caught up with the gray robber and killed the predator with long whips, the ends of which were sewn with lead. In the same manner they hunted hares and foxes, and caught fleet-footed goats using lassos.

After hunting and racing, shooting competitions, the Don people sat down to festive tables. At that time they ate deliciously and plentifully. First, they served rounds - pies with minced meat and quail. Then eighty dishes followed in turn: jelly, sec - boiled sirloin beef, licks (tongues), seasoned with pickles; dishes of pig, goose, turkey, served on colorful trays. Then impressive pieces of boiled wild pig were served, followed by swan, salted crane and other appetizers.

After the cold dishes, they served hot cabbage soup, chicken soup cooked with Saracen millet and raisins, lamb soup seasoned with carrots, shurubarki (ears), borscht with pork, wild duck soup and other equally appetizing dishes.

Then came the roast: goose, turkey, stuffed pig, whole lamb with garlic, part of a wild goat, bustard, wild ducks, waders and other game. Next, they served blintzes, noodle soup, kashnik, milk porridge and, finally, ure-porridge: porridge made from simple millet, seasoned with syuzma (sour milk).

According to Cossack customs, in order not to offend the host, each of the guests had to try every dish. Each new dish was preceded by a toast.

The first toast was proclaimed by the host, then they drank to the health of the ataman, all guests and relatives.

The family life of the Don Cossacks in the 18th century was peculiar. If in the seventeenth century a large number of Cossack marriages were concluded without the mediation of the church, then at the beginning of the eighteenth century Peter I forbade marriage and divorce according to Cossack customs (on the Circle) and ordered marriages to be performed according to church statutes, and strictly prohibited concubinage.

IN early XVIII centuries, Peter's orders began to penetrate the Don: a woman hostess was no longer forbidden to show herself to guests. However, the Cossacks continued to marry and divorce several times, and then Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, with a letter dated September 20, 1745, prohibited the Cossacks from “marrying from living wives and in fourth marriages.”

How did the ceremony of matchmaking and marriage take place among the Don people?

Usually, first there were bridesmaids, when the groom with two or three relatives, under a plausible pretext, appeared at the bride’s house. They sat and talked about different things, slowly looking at the bride. If the elders liked her, then, when leaving, they said meaningfully: “God willing, she will love us!”

A few days after the viewing, matchmakers were sent to the bride’s parents, who, having received their consent, shook hands, exclaiming: “Good hour!” Then, before the wedding, a “conspiracy” took place, during which they had fun, drank wine and danced the “Cossack” and “crane” dances.

The day before the wedding, they looked at the dowry, celebrating, as the Cossacks said, pillows. And on the eve there was a “bachelorette party”.

The wedding was celebrated on Sunday. The bride was dressed in a rich brocade jacket and a brocade shirt. A tall hat made of black smokka with a red velvet top, decorated with flowers and feathers, was put on the head. The best jewelry made of gold and silver shone on her. The groom, also dressed in his best, having received his parents' blessing, together with his groomsmen and matchmakers headed to the bride's kuren, who was already modestly sitting under the icons, waiting for her betrothed. From here the young people went to the temple. In its vestibule, the bride was prepared for the crown: after taking off her hat, they unbraided the girl’s braid in two, as married Cossack women usually wore.

After the wedding, the newlyweds' parents met them on the porch of the groom's house. Over their heads they held bread and salt, under which the newlyweds passed, showered with wheat mixed with hops, nuts and small money. The parents, having treated the retinue of the newlyweds, sent the newlyweds themselves to the wedding room, from which they emerged only before serving the roast.

In the second half of the eighteenth century, the position of Cossack women changed: from now on they could freely appear in society not only during major holidays, but also on ordinary days, although it was not approved if they interfered in men’s conversation. Girls could only be in the company of men at weddings; the rest of the time they had to be with friends or alone at home, doing sewing, working in the kitchen, playing flapjacks, blind man's buff, and rounders.

The clothing of the Don Cossacks and Cossack women was distinctive. Concerning men's clothing, then, as the village ataman Savva Kochet noted in his testimony in Moscow in 1706, “we wear dresses according to our ancient custom, which anyone will like: one dresses as a Circassian, another as a Kalmyk, another in a Russian dress of an old cut, and we have no complaints and We don’t make fun of each other; None of us wear German dress and have no desire for it at all.” If we clarify these words of the ataman, then on the Cossacks of the first half of the eighteenth century one could see azure satin caftans with frequent silver stripes and a pearl necklace. Others dressed in sleeveless velvet caftans; dark-clove cloth zipuns, trimmed with blue damask with a silk patch. Still others wore brocade caftans with gold Turkish buttons and silver and gilded clasps. All Cossacks had silk Turkish sashes. They usually wore boots on their feet yellow color, on his head is a marten cap with a velvet top.

TO early XIX centuries, the clothing of the Cossacks was unified. According to the description of the Frenchman de Romano, who visited and lived for some time on the Don, “all the Don people wore a blue uniform of the same cut, so on the street you cannot immediately distinguish a retired general from a Cossack if both are wearing national Cossack hats.”

The main part women's clothing a kubilek ball, made from spoil and shaped like a Tatar caftan. It went down below the knees, but high from the heels. Kubileki were fastened on the chest with a row of silver and gilded buttons. There was another row of buttons, much larger, gold or strung with pearls. Under the kubilek there was a shirt and trousers that reached right down to the shoes, made of morocco. Cossack women girded themselves with belts decorated with stones and precious metals. A brocade hat decorated with precious stones and pearls.

About the piles of Cossacks late XVIII centuries, especially the lower ones, one of his contemporaries wrote: “They are almost all of a dark and ruddy complexion, black hair and black blond, sharp eyes, bold, brave, cunning, witty, proud, proud, sneaky and mocking. Few people know about diseases; most die from enemies and from old age.” As priest Grigory Levitsky, who served in the Starocherkassk Resurrection Cathedral, wrote, after death the Cossacks always rang the bell, but due to the frequent and devastating fires that happened on the Don in the eighteenth century, ringing the bells in this case was prohibited by decree of the military ataman, so as not to cause panic on the Donets.

A week-long tour, one-day hiking and excursions combined with comfort (trekking) in the mountain resort of Khadzhokh (Adygea, Krasnodar Territory). Tourists live at the camp site and visit numerous natural monuments. Rufabgo waterfalls, Lago-Naki plateau, Meshoko gorge, Big Azish cave, Belaya River Canyon, Guam gorge.

Remember, brother, that the Cossacks have:

Friendship is a custom;

Fellowship - traditions;

Hospitality is the law

Traditions and customs of the Cossacks

A Cossack cannot consider himself a Cossack if he does not know and observe the traditions and customs of the Cossacks. Over the years of hard times and the destruction of the Cossacks, these concepts were fairly weathered and distorted under alien influence. Even our old people, born in Soviet time, the unwritten Cossack laws are not always interpreted correctly.

Merciless to their enemies, the Cossacks in their midst were always complacent, generous and hospitable. There was some kind of duality at the core of the Cossack’s character: sometimes he was cheerful, playful, funny, sometimes he was unusually sad, silent, and inaccessible. On the one hand, this is explained by the fact that the Cossacks, constantly looking into the eyes of death, tried not to miss the joy that befell them. On the other hand, they are philosophers and poets at heart - they often thought about the eternal, about the vanity of existence and about the inevitable outcome of this life. Therefore, the basis for the formation of the moral foundations of Cossack societies was the 10 Commandments of Christ. Accustoming children to observe the commandments of the Lord, parents, according to popular perception, taught: do not kill, do not steal, do not fornicate, work according to your conscience, do not envy others and forgive offenders, take care of your children and parents, value maiden chastity and female honor, help the poor , do not offend orphans and widows, protect the Fatherland from enemies. But first of all, strengthen the Orthodox faith: go to Church, keep fasts, cleanse your soul - through repentance from sins, pray to the one God Jesus Christ and added: if someone can do something, then we can’t - WE ARE COSSACKS.

Extremely strictly in the Cossack environment, along with the commandments of the Lord, traditions, customs, and beliefs were observed, which were the vital necessity of every Cossack family; non-compliance or violation of them was condemned by all residents of the farmstead or village. There are many customs and traditions: some appear, others disappear. Those that remain are those that most reflect everyday and cultural characteristics Cossacks, which are preserved in the memory of the people from ancient times. If we briefly formulate them, we get some kind of unwritten Cossack household laws:

1. Respect for elders.

2. Immense respect for the guest.

3. Respect for a woman (mother, sister, wife).

Cossack and parents

Honoring parents, godfathers and godmothers was not just a custom, but an internal need for a son and daughter to take care of them. Filial and daughter's duty to parents was considered fulfilled after the commemoration of the fortieth day was celebrated, after their departure to another world.

The godmother helped her parents prepare a Cossack girl for a future married life, teaching her to housekeeping, needlework, frugality, and work.

On godfather The main responsibility was assigned to prepare the Cossack girl for service, and for the military training of the Cossack the demand from the godfather was greater than from his own father.

The authority of father and mother was not only indisputable, but so revered that without the blessing of their parents they did not begin any work, did not make decisions on the most important matters. It is characteristic that this custom has been preserved in Cossack patriarchal families to this day. The world-famous artist-singer Shakhmatov says that his 90-year-old father has 8 sons who begin their working day by receiving parental blessings.

Disrespect for father and mother was considered great sin. As a rule, issues of creating a family were not resolved without the consent of parents and relatives: parents took a direct part in its creation. Divorce among the Cossacks in the past was a rare occurrence.

Restraint, politeness and respect were observed in dealing with parents and elders in general. In Kuban, they addressed their father and mother only with “You” - “You, mother”, “You, tattoo”.

Seniority was way of life Cossack family and the natural necessity of everyday life, which strengthened family and kinship ties and helped in the formation of the character required by the conditions of Cossack life.

Attitude towards elders

Respect for elders is one of the main customs of the Cossacks. Paying tribute to the years lived, the hardships endured, the Cossack share, the advancing weakness and inability to stand up for themselves - the Cossacks always remembered the words of the Holy Scripture: “Rise up in the face of the gray-haired one, honor the face of the elder and fear your God - I am the Lord your God.”

The custom of respect and veneration for the elder obliges the younger, first of all, to show care, restraint and readiness to help and demand adherence to some etiquette (when the old man appeared, everyone had to stand up - Cossacks in uniform put their hand on their headdress, and without uniform - remove hat and bow).

In the presence of an elder, it was not allowed to sit, smoke, talk (enter without his permission), and even more so - to express himself obscenely.

It was considered indecent to overtake an old man (senior in age); it was necessary to ask permission to pass. When entering somewhere, the eldest person is allowed in first.

It was considered indecent for a younger person to enter into conversations in the presence of an older person.

The younger one must give way to the old man (senior).

The younger one must show patience and restraint, and not argue in any case.

The elder's words were binding on the younger.

During general (joint) events and decision-making, the opinion of the elder was necessarily sought.

At conflict situations, disputes, discord, and fights, the word of the old man (senior) was decisive and its immediate execution was required.

In general, among the Cossacks and especially among the Kuban people, respect for elders was an internal need in the Kuban, even in address you can rarely hear - “grandfather”, “old”, etc., but it is affectionately pronounced “batko”, “batki”.

Respect for elders was instilled in the family from an early age. The children knew which of them was older in relation to whom. The elder sister was especially revered, gray hair younger brothers and the sisters called nanny, nanny, since she replaced the busy homework mother.

Cossacks and guests

Immense respect for the guest was due to the fact that the guest was considered a messenger of God. The most dear and special guest was considered to be a stranger from distant places, in need of shelter, rest and care. In the humorous Cossack drinking song - the ditty "Ala-verda" - the veneration of the guest is most accurately expressed: "Every guest is given to us by God, no matter what his environment, even if he is in a poor shirt - ala-verda, ala-verda." Those who did not show respect to the guest were deservedly subjected to contempt. Regardless of the guest’s age, he was given the best place at meals and on vacation. It was considered indecent to ask a guest for 3 days where he was from and what the purpose of his arrival was. Even the old man gave up his seat, although the guest was younger than him. The Cossacks had a rule: wherever he went on business or to visit, he never took food either for himself or for his horse. In any farm, village, village he always had a distant or close relative, godfather, matchmaker, brother-in-law or just a colleague, or even just a resident who would greet him as a guest, feed both him and his horse, the Cossacks stopped at inns on rare occasions when visiting fairs in cities. To the credit of the Cossacks, this custom has not undergone any significant changes in our time. In September 1991, when the leadership of Kazakhstan, led by Nazarbayev, refused to accept Cossacks in hotels who arrived in the city of Uralsk on the occasion of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the service of the Yaik Cossacks to the Russian state, several hundred Cossacks were sorted into Cossack families and received with the inherent Cossack hospitality.

In September 1991, while traveling to the city of Azov to celebrate the anniversary of the Azov seat, a group of Cossacks of 18 people stopped for a rest with the relatives of the centurion G.G. Pelipenko in the village of Oktyabrskaya (formerly Novo-Mikhailovka) and were not released until they were fed rich Kuban borscht, homemade food with a glass of vodka, and were warned that on the way back they did not think of not stopping by and telling about the holiday.

Cossack hospitality has long been known not only to historians, but also to ordinary people. One of the memoirs of contemporaries, now stored in the archives, says:

“I served for 2 years in Boguslav (now Kherson region), and Cossack fish factories are not far from there. It used to be that you would come to a factory, and they wouldn’t even ask you what kind of person you were, but immediately: let the Cossack eat and give him a glass of vodka, maybe he came from afar and was tired, and when you had eaten, they would also suggest you rest, and then they will only ask: “Who is this? Are you looking for a job?

- Well, you say, I’m looking for

- So we have work, pester us.

Along with their hospitality, the Cossacks were distinguished by their extraordinary honesty. As Catholic priest Kitovich testifies, in Sich one could leave money on the street without fear that it might be stolen.

It was considered the sacred duty of every Cossack to feed and treat a passerby with his wine.

Attitude towards a woman

A respectful attitude towards a woman - mother, wife, sister - determined the concept of honor of a Cossack woman, the honor of a daughter, sister, wife - the dignity of a man was measured by the honor and behavior of a woman.

IN family life The relationship between husband and wife was determined according to Christian teaching (scripture). “Not a husband for a wife, but a wife for her husband.” “Let the wife fear her husband.” At the same time, they adhered to age-old principles - a man should not interfere in women's affairs, a woman - in men's. Responsibilities were strictly regulated by life itself. Who should do what in the family is clearly divided. It was considered a shame if a man was engaged in women's affairs. They strictly adhered to the rule: no one has the right to interfere in family affairs.

No matter who the woman was, she had to be treated with respect and protected - for a woman is the future of your people. A typical example of protecting a woman is described in the story of the Cossack writer Gariy Nemchenko.

In 1914, in the morning, a Cossack with a red flag galloped through the village of Otradnaya, announcing the war. By evening, the Khopersky regiment was already moving in a marching column to the gathering place. Naturally, mourners rode with the regiment - old men and women. One of the women drove a horse harnessed to a chaise and drove one side of the wheels across the landowner's field. One of the officers, known throughout the regiment by the name Erdeli, drove up to the woman and whipped her for this. A Cossack rode out of the column and cut him down.

Such were the Cossacks, they revered their customs so sacredly.

Custom did not allow a woman to be present at the gathering (circle) even to resolve issues of her personal nature. Her father, elder brother, godfather or ataman interceded or presented a petition or complaint on her behalf.

In Cossack society, women were so revered and respected that there was no need to give them the rights of a man. Almost in the past, housekeeping was the responsibility of the Cossack mother. The Cossack spent most of his life in the service, in battles, campaigns, at the cordon, and his stay in the family and village was short-lived. However, the leading role both in the family and in Cossack society belonged to the man, who was responsible for main responsibility material support for the family and family support strict order Cossack life.

The word of the owner of the family was indisputable for all its members, and an example of this was the Cossack’s wife - the mother of his children.

Not only parents, but everyone showed concern for the upbringing of the younger generation. adult population farms, villages. For indecent behavior of a teenager, an adult could not only make a reprimand, but also easily “punch his ears”, or even “treat” him with a light slap in the face, and report the incident to his parents, who would immediately “add.”

Parents refrained from clarifying their relationship in the presence of their children. The wife’s address to her husband, as a sign of honoring his parents, was only by name and patronymic, just as the husband’s father and mother (mother-in-law and father-in-law) were for the wife, so the wife’s mother and father (father-in-law) were God-given parents for the husband.

A Cossack woman addressed an unfamiliar Cossack with the word “man.” The word "man" was considered offensive among the Cossacks.

A Cossack woman considered it a great sin and shame to appear in public (society) with her head uncovered, to wear male type clothes and cut hair. In public, oddly enough, today it seems that restraint with elements of aloofness was observed between husband and wife.

A Cossack, as a rule, addressed an unfamiliar Cossack woman as “mama”, the eldest in age, “sister” as an equal, and “daughter” (granddaughter) as the youngest. To the wife - individually, each learned from a young age: “Nadya, Dusya, Oksana,” etc. by older years - often “mother”, and even first name and patronymic. To greet each other, the Cossacks slightly raised their headdress and, with a handshake, inquired about the family’s health and the state of affairs. The Cossack women bowed to the man when he greeted him, and embraced each other with a kiss and conversation.

When approaching a group of people standing and sitting, the Cossack took off his hat, bowed and inquired about his health - “Great, Cossacks!”, “Great, Cossacks!” or “Great fellow Cossacks!” The Cossacks answered: “Thank God.” In the ranks, at reviews, parades of regimental and hundred formations, the Cossacks responded to greetings according to the military regulations: “I wish you good health, sir...!”

During the performance of the Russian Anthem, the region's troops, in accordance with the Regulations, removed their hats.

When meeting, after a long separation, and also when saying goodbye, the Cossacks hugged and touched cheeks. They greeted each other with kisses Great holiday The Resurrection of Christ, on Easter, and kissing was allowed only among men and separately among women.

Among Cossack children, and even among adults, it was customary to greet (greet) even stranger appeared in a farm or village.

Children and younger Cossacks addressed themselves as relatives, acquaintances and strangers, calling them “uncle”, “aunt”, “aunt”, “uncle” and, if they knew them, they called them by name. An elderly Cossack (Cossack woman) was addressed: “father”, “father”, “didu”, “baba”, “grandmother”, “grandmother”, adding a name if they knew it.

At the entrance to the hut (kuren) they were baptized in the image, the men first took off their hats, and did the same when leaving.

Apologies for the mistake were made with the words: “Please forgive me,” “Forgive me for God’s sake,” “Forgive me for Christ’s sake.” They thanked you for something: “Thank you!”, “God bless you,” “Christ save you.” In response to thanksgiving they answered: “You’re welcome,” “You’re welcome,” “You’re welcome.”

Without prayer they did not start or finish any task or meal - even in the field.

A characteristic feature of the Cossack soul was the need to show kindness and service in general, and especially to a stranger (to give something dropped, to help lift, to bring something along the way, to help when getting up or leaving, to give up a place to sit, to serve something to a neighbor or nearby during a general feast to the person sitting.Before he himself could eat or quench his thirst, he had to offer it to the person standing next to him (sitting).

It was considered a sin to refuse the request of a beggar and to refuse alms to a beggar (it was believed that it was better to give all your life than to ask). They were careful not to make a request to a greedy person, and if they showed greed at the moment of fulfilling the request, they refused the service, remembering that this would not serve any good.

As a rule, the Cossacks preferred to make do with what they had, and not with what they would like, but not to be in debt. Debt, they said, was worse than bondage, and they tried to immediately free themselves from it. The kindness shown to you was considered a duty, selfless help, respect. For this, the Cossack had to pay in kind.

Drunkards, as in any nation, were not tolerated and despised. Those who died from overdrinking (alcohol) were buried in a separate cemetery along with suicides, and instead of a cross, an aspen stake was driven onto the grave.

Deception was considered the most disgusting vice in a person, not only in deed, but also in word. A Cossack who did not fulfill his word or forgot about it, deprived himself of trust. There was a saying: “A man would not believe in a ruble, but he would not believe in a needle.”

Children under the age of majority were not allowed to be at the table during celebrations, receiving guests, or generally in the presence of strangers. And it was not just forbidden to sit at the table, but also to be in the room where there was a feast or conversation among elders.

In Old Believer Cossack families there was a ban on smoking and drinking, except wine.

For a long time there was a custom of abducting the bride, in the event of the bride’s parents disagreeing with the marriage to a groom they did not like. The kidnapping, as a rule, was by prior agreement between the young people.

For defamation of a girl, if the settlement of the conflict did not end with the creation of a family (wedding), the culprit was expected to take revenge from the relatives, cousins ​​and second cousins ​​of the defamed woman (often leading to bloodshed).

Cossack in everyday life

Another characteristic detail of Cossack life: the Cossack perceived clothes as the second skin of the body, kept them clean and tidy and never allowed himself to wear someone else’s clothes.

The Cossacks loved feasts and socializing; they also loved to drink, but not to get drunk, but to sing songs, have fun, and dance. At the Cossack table, vodka was not poured, but served on a spread (tray), and if someone had already grabbed the “excess,” they simply carried him around, or even sent him to sleep it off.

It was not customary to force: if you want, drink. If you don’t want to, don’t drink, but you have to pick up the glass and sip, the saying said “you can serve, but you can’t force.” The drinking song reminded: “Drink, but don’t drink away your mind.”

In the everyday life of the Cossacks there were many other features of life that were generated by the conditions of their life. Often, especially from people interested in the past (more often from women), one could hear: “You Cossacks, like savages, never appeared on the street arm in arm with your wife - she walks behind or from the side, you don’t even hold a child in your arms on the street.” wore" and so on.

Yes, this once happened, but it was determined by concern for the woman, so as not to harm her. once again mental trauma. Spending their lives in battle, the Cossacks naturally suffered losses, often significant ones. And imagine a Cossack walking in an embrace with his beloved, and towards him is another young Cossack mother who has lost her husband - with one child in her arms, and the other holding the hem. What is going on in the soul of this Cossack girl when the baby asks: “Mom, where is my dad?”

For the same reason, the Cossack did not appear in public with a child in his arms.

For a long period, the Cossacks had a custom of both men’s conversations (walking separately from women), and women’s conversations without men. And when they got together (weddings, christenings, name days), the women sat on one side of the table, and the men on the other. This was caused by the fact that, under the influence of an intoxicated Cossack, he could take some liberties in relation to someone else’s wife, and the Cossacks, quick to punish, used weapons.

Characteristically: in the past, the Cossacks wedding celebrations Only married people could participate. For unmarried youth, separate parties were held both in the house of the groom and in the house of the bride before the main wedding - this was a concern for the morality of the foundations of the youth - because at the wedding certain liberties were allowed in celebrations and wishes.

The cult of gifts and gifts was in great demand. A Cossack never returned after a long absence from home without gifts, and when visiting guests they did not go on a visit without a present.

Among the Terskys and partly among Kuban Cossacks a custom was adopted: before sending matchmakers, the groom threw his stick into the bride’s yard.

Among the Yaitsky Cossacks, the father of the bride did not pay the dowry; by agreement, the father of the groom paid money for the dowry - the so-called “masonry”.

Funeral in a Cossack family

A Cossack girl who died in her maiden years was carried to the cemetery only by girls, not women, and especially not men. This was a way to pay tribute to chastity and purity. The deceased was carried to the cemetery on a stretcher, the coffin was covered with a dark blanket, and the girls with a white one. The graves were dug deep. A niche was dug (equipped) on the side of the grave. Two or even three Cossacks placed the coffin there.

Cossack's horse

It was not customary for the Yaik Cossacks to have a combat (combat) mare horse.

Among the Terek Cossacks, when the Cossack left the house, the horse was saddled and led to the Cossack by his wife, sister, and sometimes mother. They met, unsaddled the horse, if necessary, and made sure that the horse cooled down completely before it was put in the stable for water and feed.

Among the Kuban residents, before leaving home for war, the Cossack’s wife led the horse, holding the reins in the hem of her dress. According to the old custom, she passed on the reins, saying: “On this horse you are leaving, Cossack, on this horse you are returning home with victory.” Having accepted the occasion, only after that the Cossack hugged and kissed his wife, children, and often grandchildren, sat in the saddle, took off his hat, and made the sign of himself sign of the cross, stood up in his stirrups, looking at the clean and cozy white hut, at the front garden in front of the windows, at The Cherry Orchard. Then he pulled his hat over his head, warmed his horse with his whip, and left the quarry to the gathering place.

In general, among the Cossacks the cult of the horse prevailed in many respects over other traditions and beliefs.

Before the Cossack left for war, when the horse was already under the marching pack, the wife first bowed at the horse’s feet to protect the rider, and then to the parents, so that prayers would be constantly read for the warrior’s salvation. The same thing was repeated after the Cossack returned from the war (battle) to his farmstead.

When seeing off the Cossack on his final journey, his war horse walked behind the coffin under a black saddle cloth and his weapon strapped to the saddle, and his relatives followed the horse.

Cossack has a dagger

Among the linear (Caucasian) Cossacks and Kuban people, in the past, of course, it was considered a disgrace to buy a dagger. The dagger, according to custom, is either inherited, or as a gift, or, oddly enough, it is stolen or obtained in battle. There was a saying that only Armenians (who bought them for resale) bought daggers.

Cossack and Cossacks

The Cossacks in their community were tied to each other like brothers, they abhorred theft among themselves, but robbery on the side and, especially from the enemy, was an ordinary thing among them. Cowards were not tolerated and generally considered chastity and courage to be the primary virtues. They did not recognize eloquence, remembering: “Whoever loosened his tongue, he sheathed the saber.” “Excessive words make your hands weak”—and the will was revered most of all. Longing for his homeland, the Cossack poet of the first Turover emigration wrote:

Muse is only freedom and will,

The song is only a call to rebellion.

Faith is only in the wild field.

Blood - only for the country of the Cossacks.

Birth of a Cossack

The Cossacks appreciated family life and married people were treated with great respect, and only constant military campaigns forced them to be single. Single Cossacks did not tolerate libertines in their midst; libertines were punished with death. The single Cossacks (who had taken a vow of celibacy) nursed the newborn baby, and when his first tooth appeared, everyone certainly came to see him and there was no end to the delight of these battle-hardened warriors.

A Cossack was born a warrior, and with the birth of a baby his military school began. All the father's relatives and friends brought a gun, cartridges, gunpowder, bullets, a bow and arrows as a gift to the newborn. These gifts were hung on the wall where the mother and baby lay. At the end of forty days after the mother, having taken a cleansing prayer, returned home, the father put a saber belt on the child, holding the saber in his hand, put him on a horse and then returned the son to his mother, congratulating her on becoming a Cossack. When the newborn’s teeth were cutting through, his father and mother put him back on the horse and took him to church to serve a prayer service to Ivan the Warrior. The baby’s first words were “but” and “poo” - to urge the horse and shoot. War games outside the city and target shooting were favorite pastimes for young people in their free time. These exercises developed accuracy in shooting; many of the Cossacks could knock out a coin held between their fingers with a bullet at a considerable distance.

Three-year-old children could already freely ride horses around the yard, and at the age of 5 they were galloping across the steppe.

Cossack woman

Cossack girls enjoyed complete freedom and grew up together with their future husbands. The purity of morals, which was monitored by the entire Cossack community, was worthy of the best times of Rome, where special censors were elected from the most trustworthy citizens for this purpose. Until the first half of the 16th century, the spirit of the east still persisted - the power of the husband over his wife was unlimited. At the end of the 17th century, housewives, especially older ones, began to acquire great influence in household life and often animated the conversations of old knights with their presence, and when they got carried away in the conversation, with their influence.

Cossack women for the most part are a type of beauties that has developed over the centuries as natural selection from captive Circassian women, Turkish and Persian women, he amazed and amazes with his comeliness and attractiveness. In his story “Cossacks” already in the first half of the 19th century L.N. Tolstoy wrote:

The beauty of the Grebenskaya Cossack woman is especially striking due to the combination of the purest type of Circassian face with the powerful build of a northern woman. Cossack women wear Circassian clothes - Tatar shirt, beshmet, chuvyaki, but they tie scarves in Russian. Elegance, cleanliness and grace in clothing and house decoration constitute a habit and necessity of life.

It is to the credit of Cossack women housewives that they take care of the cleanliness of their homes and the neatness of their clothes. This distinguishing feature remains to this day. Such were the mothers and educators of the formidable Cossacks of old.

Soul of a Cossack

Such were the Cossacks of old: terrible, cruel and merciless in battles with the enemies of their faith and persecutors of Christianity, simple and sensitive, like children, in everyday life. They took revenge on the Turks and Crimeans for the inhuman treatment and oppression of Christians, for the suffering of their captive brothers. For treachery, for non-compliance peace treaties. “A Cossack will swear by his Christian soul and stand his ground, a Tatar and a Turk will swear by his Mohammedan soul and lie,” said the Cossacks, standing firmly for each other. “All for one and one for all,” for their ancient Cossack brotherhood. The Cossacks were incorruptible, there was no betrayal among them, among natural Cossacks. Once captured, they did not reveal the secrets of their brotherhood and died under torture as martyrs. History has preserved the unprecedented feat of the ataman of the Zaporozhye Sich Dmitry Vishnevetsky, who was captured during the Crimean campaigns and the Turkish Sultan ordered his worst enemy on a hook. And the Russian hero, hooked under his ribs, hung over the abyss. Despite the terrible torment, he glorified Christ and cursed Mohammed. They say that when he gave up the ghost, the Turks cut out his heart and ate it, in the hope of learning from Vishnevetsky’s fearlessness.

Cossack and wealth

Some historians, not understanding the spirit of the Cossacks - ideological fighters for faith and personal freedom, reproach them for self-interest, greed and a penchant for profit - this is out of ignorance.

One day, the Turkish Sultan, driven to the extreme by the terrible raids of the Cossacks, decided to buy their friendship by issuing an annual salary, or rather an annual tribute. The Sultan's ambassador in 1627-37 made every effort to do so, but the Cossacks remained adamant and only laughed at this idea, even considered these proposals as an insult to the Cossack honor and responded with new raids on Turkish possessions. After that, in order to persuade the Cossacks to be peaceful, the Sultan sent with the same ambassador four golden caftans as a gift to the army, but the Cossacks indignantly rejected this gift, saying that they did not need the Sultan’s gifts.

Sea voyages

Sea voyages or searches of the Cossacks amaze with their courage and ability to take advantage of all kinds of circumstances. Storms and thunderstorms, darkness and sea fog were common occurrences for them and did not stop them from achieving their intended goal. In light plows, accommodating 30-80 people, with sides lined with reeds, without a compass they descended into Azovskoye, Chernoye, Caspian Sea, destroyed coastal cities right up to Farabad and Istanbul, freeing their captive Cossack brothers, boldly and daringly entered into battle with well-armed Turkish ships, boarded them and almost always emerged victorious. Scattered by the storm on the waves open sea, they never lost their way and, when there was a lull, they united into formidable flying flotillas and rushed to the shores of Colchis, or Romania, awe-inspiring the formidable and invincible, at that time, Turkish sultans in their own capital, Istanbul.

Cossack honor

The good fame of the Cossacks spread throughout the world; both the French kings and the German electors, but especially the neighboring Orthodox peoples, sought to invite them to serve. In 1574 The Moldavian ruler Ivan invited Hetman Smirgovsky, Ruzhinsky's successor, to ask for help against the Turks. In such a matter, brothers of the same faith, of course, could not refuse. Smirgovsky set out for Moldova with a small detachment of one and a half thousand Cossacks. The ruler himself and the boyars rode out to meet the hetman. As a sign of joy, the Moldovans fired their cannons. After a noble treat, the Cossack elders were presented with silver dishes full of chervonets, and it was said: “After a long journey, you need money for a bath.” But the Cossacks did not want to accept the gifts: “We came to you, Volokhi, not for money, not for a salary, but only to prove to you our valor and to fight with the infidels, if there is a chance,” they answered the puzzled Moldovans. With tears in his eyes, Ivan thanked the Cossacks for their intention.

Disadvantages of a Cossack

There were also shortcomings in the character of the Cossacks, for the most part inherited from ancestors. For example, they couldn’t help but joke around, listen to the stories of others, and even talk about the exploits of their comrades themselves. It happened that in these stories they would boast and add something of their own. The Cossacks, returning from an overseas campaign, loved to show off their character and decoration. They were distinguished by carelessness and carelessness, and did not deny themselves drinking. The Frenchman Beauplan wrote about the Cossacks: “In drunkenness and carousing they tried to outdo each other, and in all of Christian Europe there are hardly such carefree heads as the Cossacks, and there is no people in the world who could compare with the Cossacks in drunkenness. However, during the campaign, “prohibition” was declared; anyone who dared to get drunk was immediately executed. But also in Peaceful time Only ordinary Cossacks could be familiar with vodka, for “ initial people", who essentially leads the Cossacks, drunkenness was considered a serious shortcoming. There were no drunkards among the atamans of all levels, and there could not have been, because they would have been immediately denied trust. There were, of course, among the Cossacks, as in every nation, people with a dark past - various murderers, criminals, rogues, but they could not exert any influence, they had to either radically change or accept cruel punishment. The whole world knew that the laws of the Cossacks, especially the Cossacks, were extremely strict and punishment was swift.

Cossack word

The Cossacks were by nature a religious people without hypocrisy and hypocrisy; they kept their oaths sacredly and this word believed, honored the feasts of the Lord and strictly observed fasts. The people are straightforward and knightly proud, they did not like unnecessary words and matters in the circle (Rada) were decided quickly and fairly.

In relation to their guilty Cossack brothers, their assessment was strict and correct, punishments for crimes - treason, cowardice, murder and theft were cruel: “To the sack, and to the water.” Killing an enemy and stealing from an enemy were not considered crimes. Particularly cruel and severe punishments were in the Zaporozhye Sich. Of the crimes, the murder of a comrade was considered the greatest; the fratricide was buried in the ground while alive in the same coffin with the murdered one. In the Sich theft and concealment of stolen goods, relationship with a woman and the sin of Sodom were punishable by death. A Cossack who joined the Sich brotherhood took a vow of celibacy. Execution was also imposed for simply bringing a woman to the Sich, even if she was the mother or sister of a Cossack. The offense of a woman was equally punished if a Cossack dared to discredit her, for, as the “knights” rightly believed, such an act would lead to the disgrace of the entire Zaporozhian army. Those who committed violence in Christian villages, unauthorized absence and drunkenness during a campaign, and insolence against their superiors were also punished with death.

The military judge usually played the role of investigator, while the executors of sentences were always convicts who were obliged to execute each other one by one. For theft they were usually chained to pillory, where the criminal was beaten to death with cues (sticks) by his own comrades. For insulting superiors and failing to repay a debt to a comrade, they were chained to a cannon and only in Lately in the Sich, this resulted in exile to Siberia. For great theft, or as they would say today, theft on an especially large scale, the perpetrators faced the gallows. It was possible to get rid of the Šibenica only if some woman or girl expressed a desire to marry the convict.

In addition to the shibenitsa, the Cossacks in rare cases used a hook (hook) borrowed from the Poles, on which the convicted person was suspended by the rib and remained in this position until his bones crumbled. They sometimes used a sharp stick or stake. Such were the morals and customs of the old Cossacks.

One who does not respect the customs of his people

does not keep them in his heart, he disgraces

not only your people, but above all

does not respect himself, his family,

their ancient ancestors.

Traditions and customs of the Cossacks collected

Chairman of the Council of Old Men of the Kuban Cossack Army,

Cossack colonel

Pavel Zakharovich Frolov

Don Cossacks known as a distinctive branch of the Russian armed forces. For hundreds of years, Cossacks were considered unsurpassed horsemen. We couldn’t do without a Cossack saber Russian-Turkish wars 18-19 centuries, Don Cossacks took part in campaigns in the Caucasus, conquered lands Central Asia, mastered Far East and Siberia. Even while at home, on the Don, they covered the borders of the troubled south of Russia. In fact, the Don Cossacks waged a daily war for centuries, which served to form a special way of life for them.

Democracy the Cossack way

The Don Cossack Army is considered the largest Cossack association in Russian Empire. Since receiving the Tsar's charter from Ivan the Terrible in 1570, the Don Cossacks became the first in seniority among all Cossack troops. From that time on, they, along with the royal army, participated in all major battles.

Holding the saddle correctly is a matter of honor even for a 5-year-old child.

Until the suppression of the Bulavinsky uprising in 1708, when the territory of the free Cossacks was included in the Russian Empire, it was completely independent of politics outside world people. But, being surrounded by militants after the collapse of the Golden Horde Crimean Tatars, Nagais, Kalmyks, Don Cossacks were forced to remain in constant combat readiness. Such tension required high responsibility and a clearly functioning system of internal subordination.

Sergei Vasilkovsky. In a Cossack village.

The way of life of the Don Cossacks was subordinated to the Military Circle, in which the chief ataman, atamans of villages and individual towns were elected by the majority. This democratic approach to the nomination of leaders was in sharp contrast to the usual traditions. The long isolation of the Cossack Don from the center of Russian government saved the Cossacks from the serfdom that existed in those days. Even after Peter 1 abolished the election of Cossack atamans and the introduction of compulsory service in tsarist army Don Cossacks persistently defended their freedoms before the imperial authorities, seeking partial preservation of their privileges. The Don Cossacks were exempt from tax duties and also had the right to duty-free trade in military territories.

Orders in the Cossack family

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything important in the life of the Don Cossacks was decided on the Circle. A man who gave his word at a general meeting was obliged to keep his promise. Over time, the Circle began to approve of marriage unions. The bride and groom publicly made promises to each other, and with popular consent a new family was born.

Cossack traditions forbade marrying a relative closer than the seventh generation. It was also impossible to create a family with godparents' children. By Orthodox tradition Kuma and godfather on the Don were considered close relatives. There was another unspoken rule: the groom must be older than his bride. Cossacks were not forcibly married. The young man came with his father to the Cossack woman he liked, and the further course of events depended on the bride. She could approve the matchmaking or make it clear that there would be no wedding. In the event of an unsuccessful marriage, the wife had the right to seek the support of the Cossack Circle in a divorce, which traditional Russian families did not know.

The attitude of the Cossack family towards the elderly was special. Old man among the Cossacks he enjoyed honor and respect. He was considered the bearer of traditions and family memory. Disrespect for the elderly was equated with a sin. With older Cossacks, it was considered inappropriate to sit (only with their permission), quarrel, or appear not fully dressed.

Raising a real Cossack

In Cossack towns, the boy was prepared for military service from the cradle. Initiation into the Cossacks took place in several stages, starting from infancy. In the first year of life, the baby’s classic Cossack forelock was cut, and the eldest Cossack in the family could give the child his first weapon. After 3 years, the Cossack was taught to ride a horse and taught all the intricacies of hand-to-hand combat.

Respect for elders was in the Don Cossacks' blood.

The learning process was difficult, the child was regularly tested. After 5 years, fathers took boys into replacement regiments, hundreds of them, taking them with them even to war. Upon reaching the age of 7, the Cossack learned to shoot, and a little later, to chop with a saber. First, the children trained on the water jet, practicing correct positioning blade. Next, they practiced the force of the blow on the vine, and having achieved a certain skill, they practiced in the saddle.

Family of Don Cossacks, 1875.

In addition to mastering the military profession, boys from the age of 5 worked in the fields, herded cattle, and controlled oxen in the plowing. There was little time left for traditional children's fun. But even games came down to either training or military art, for which the Cossack, in fact, was born. As teenagers, the boys mastered military strategy, building models of battles and analyzing enemy tactics. To do this, funny fights were organized between one group of children against another, as a result of which the winners captured the banner of the “enemy.”

Cossack before a military campaign.

Boys aged 17-19 were finally accepted into the Cossacks. They underwent full training in military camps, and demonstrated the results of their skills at a public competition. Cossack women on horseback crossed the river, fought each other on horseback, shot at targets and cut down obstacles with a saber. Entire villages came to the competition. This was a significant event of that time.

What were Don women like?

Don Cossacks. XIX century. Photo by Ivan Boldyrev.

In the dangerous conditions of border life, not only the Cossack warrior was formed, but also a special type of woman - the Cossack woman. History says that the Cossacks developed large-scale lands of the Don, Terek and Kuban. But since men were more often on military campaigns, a considerable share of the merits belonged to Cossack women. The female half had to take care of livestock, harvest their own crops, grow lush gardens, do winter preparations, cook for the elderly and children, trim family members, weave, knit, heal and even trade.

If in the image of the Cossacks history has witnessed such qualities as courage and fearlessness, then the image of the Cossack woman is associated with a strong indomitable character, devotion to the family hearth, fidelity in marriage, diligence in raising children and efficiency in the household. Girls began to be taught to work early. At the age of 4, Cossack girls worked in the garden and fed poultry, and at five they began to sew, embroider and knit. At the age of seven, girls were responsible for keeping the yard clean, cultivating the garden, learning to cook, and looking after younger children.

The female half of the Cossack family.

It happened that Cossack villages were attacked by the enemy. Women were responsible for sheltering children and livestock, reloading their husband's guns, helping to build fortifications, extinguish heat, and rescuing the wounded. And if the main defender of the house was not there, the Cossack woman, without hesitation, grabbed her husband’s saber, protecting own house. In 1641, 800 Cossack women, along with men, defended the Azov fortress from the Turks, showing unprecedented courage in difficult battles. This heroic operation is known in history as the “Azov Standing”.

Social composition of the Cossacks

1. Bourgeois - residents of castles, fortresses and towns that bordered the Wild Field. Some of them went to the southern steppes in the spring to hunt, where they surrendered to hunting, fishing, and beekeeping. they were called vykhidniki. In the fall they returned home, paying a tenth of their own earnings to the elders.

Some of the migrants eventually did not return home for the winter. They began to unite into communities, detachments and build different parts Wild Field fortifications (sich).

2. People from the boyars who did not have letters of grant for their possessions. From them the prosperous part of the Cossacks and the Cossack administration - the foreman - were formed.

3. Peasantry. With the arrival of Lithuanian and Polish feudal lords on the Ukrainian lands, the exploitation of peasants intensified significantly, and with the creation of estates, their mass enslavement. One of the forms of struggle was mass escapes of peasants to the steppe, where they replenished the ranks of the Cossacks.

Economic activities of the Cossacks

At first the Cossacks led economic activity, which was seasonal in nature and did not require outbuildings or residence.

These were various crafts:

Beekeeping;

Fishing.

Subsequently, in places that were safest from attacks by the Tatars, winter huts (Cossack farms) appeared in fishing areas, which consisted of two or three houses and outbuildings.

Sometimes such a farm had a mill or a forge.

Anyone who wanted to could be the owner of the winter hut.

In the winter huts only personal or hired labor was used.

In addition to crafts, the Cossacks' occupations were:

field farming,

cattle breeding,

gardening,

Popular crafts:

shipbuilding (construction of "gulls"),

production of gunpowder and ammunition (bullets, cannonballs, etc.),

blacksmithing and the like.

The Cossacks did not disdain trade - they sold the products of their activities and loot, bought bread, clothing, and weapons.

Position of the Cossacks

The social composition of the Cossacks was not homogeneous.

1. There were prosperous Cossacks, owners of large farms.

2. Numerous Cossack bastards.

There was no serfdom; hired and personal labor was practiced.

Admission to Zaporizhzhya Sich

The conditions for admission to the Sich were:

Knowledge of Ukrainian language;

Orthodox faith;

Ability to wield a weapon.

The Sich Cossack had to:

Adhere to the traditions of society and the oath of allegiance to it;

Be unmarried.

Family Cossacks were not allowed into the Sich.

They lived outside the territory of the Sich, on farmsteads; their occupations were agriculture, cattle breeding, crafts, and trade.

The Cossacks valued loyalty to the law and society above all else.

For violating the customs of the Zaporozhye Sich, the Cossacks were tried and severely punished, in particular:

Theft was punishable by death;

If someone killed a comrade, then he was buried alive together with the murdered person in the ground;

Drinking alcohol during a hike could result in a murder sentence;

Cossacks were severely punished if they brought a woman to the Sich.

There was no place in the Sich society for treason, cowardice, meanness, or fraud.

The heaviest punishment for a Cossack was his expulsion in disgrace from the Sich.

The Cossacks were fearless warriors who treated death with contempt, knew no fear in battles with the enemy, and heroically defended their native land.

Cossack nationality

Solidarity and friendship between sons is growing in the Sich different nations- Sich brotherhood.

In addition to the Ukrainians, who made up the overwhelming majority, there were many Russians and Belarusians, Jews, Lithuanians and Poles, immigrants from South Slavic lands.

Italians and French, even Tatars and Arabs, ended up in the Sich.

Life of the Cossacks

In the Sich, the Cossacks cared about physical training and military skill.

We swam every morning, regardless of the time of year.

In the morning, the Cossacks applied for housekeeping and combat training.

Cossack clothing

Until the middle of the 17th century. Cossack clothing was varied.

Ordinary Cossacks dressed simply: shirts, trousers, poor scrolls and hats.

They also wore cloaks (kobenyaki).

Subsequently, typical Cossack clothing appeared: a long caftan (caftan), girded with a soft belt, to which a saber was attached on the left side, a hat lined with fur, the bottom hanging down slightly.

A noble Cossack wore a wide kirey, lined with fur, over his caftan, sometimes with a rich collar. Dress clothes among the Cossacks it was rich and luxurious.

Appearance of the Cossacks

The Cossacks shaved their heads and left only one forelock above their forehead - a herring that the Cossack put behind his ear.

The mustache was not trimmed, but it was smeared with something and curled up to the eyes. If someone grew a very long mustache, they curled it and put it right behind their ears. This was the special pride of the Cossacks.

In each kuren there were tables, and around them there were benches on which the Cossacks sat.

The cooks poured food into large wooden bowls and placed them on each table, and next to the food there were all sorts of drinks in large buckets on which wooden scoops were hung. The chieftain sat down in the first place, the Cossacks surrounded the table and began to eat.

Cossack dishes:

grouse, tripe, dumplings, fish, pork head to horseradish, noodles, buckwheat and millet porridge, rye bread, wheat cakes, milk.

Teterya was a dough made from rye flour diluted with milk or water with honey.

The Cossacks adopted the use of garlic and onions from the Tatars.

After lunch, the Cossacks bowed to the ataman, to each other and thanked the cooks.

The chieftain left the table and threw money into the box. All the Cossacks did the same: the cook took out this money and used it to buy food at the market on the second day.

Cooks cooked food in separate huts in copper or iron cauldrons.

The Cossacks were famous for their fun, jokes, and ridicule.

They especially liked to come up with last names for their comrades.

In the Sich, schools were created at churches.

1. It is known about 6 schools that existed in the Sich.

2. Two schools specialized in physical and military training.

3. There was a school that trained scribes, military clerks, and leaders of palankas and kurens.

4. I was alone in the Sich School of Music(school vocal music And church singing). It was led by the “reader and scribbler” (as recorded in the documents of that time) Mikhail Kathisma.

The schools trained readers and singers for churches, and trained trumpeters, trumpeters, and dovbishivs.

At the school, a group of performers-actors was created who staged a nativity scene folk puppet drama. They also organized various celebrations and carnivals during holidays and in honor of the return of the Cossacks from military campaigns.

Kobzari on the Sich

Kobzars also lived in the Sich. From historical sources It is known that the kobzar went on campaigns, composed songs and thoughts.

Many kobzars visited Crimea and Turkey. No one touched the musicians; the borders were open to them. That's why folk singers from Ukraine could be found in Cafes and Istanbul. It was they who brought news about the slaves to their homeland, created thoughts about the prisoners, their horrific torment in a foreign land. “The Cry of the Slaves”, the thoughts “The Flight of the Slaves” and “The Death of the Cossacks in Azov” have reached us.

Kobzars were officially part of the Zaporozhian Army and, together with dovbish, trumpeters and other performers, played Cossack regimental music. Such warriors wore a bandura next to a spear and saber. They created many songs and thoughts during their hikes.

Cossacks who lost their sight in battles or in captivity, but were musically and poetically gifted, also became bandura players.

Kobzars were highly respected in the army and among the people.

Church in the life of the Cossacks

The Sich Church became the center of the spiritual life of the Cossacks. The Zaporozhye Cossacks were deeply religious people.

There were about 60 churches within the Liberties of the Zaporozhian Army.

The Cossacks constantly attended services, read the Bible, and when they returned from the campaign with trophies, they gave a significant part of them to the church.

Each kuren had icons - rich, beautifully decorated, luxurious candlesticks and lamps hung in front of them. During the reading of the Gospel in the church, the Cossacks held their sabers at the ready, as a sign that they were ready to defend the Orthodox faith at any moment.

Each Cossack, dying, signed an icon, an ingot of gold and silver, money and the like to the church.

Kuban studies lesson

“Peculiarities of work and life, traditions of the native land”

“The life of the inhabitants of their native land.”

I think you will be interested in learning about how the Cossacks lived. And it all started with the Decree of Queen Catherine II. She gave the Kuban lands to the Cossacks in gratitude for their conscientious service. And the carts stretched along the dusty steppe roads. And settlers from the Zaporozhye Sich - Cossacks - Cossacks - began to flock to the uninhabited lands. This is how our Cossack ancestors appeared in Kuban. The Cossacks began to settle in the Kuban lands. It was a real military fortress. They built an earthen rampart around it and installed watchtowers and guns. The wild Kuban River surrounded the fortress on three sides and reliably protected it from enemies.

While settling the lands, the Cossacks built houses (dwellings) for themselves; they were called mud huts, huts. The huts were built from adobe. Adobe is a building material made from clay, straw and water. Horses kneaded adobe.

Hut It must be whitewashed inside and out. For what?

White color is a symbol of cleanliness and neatness (neatness). The roofs were covered with reeds and straw. The floor was covered with clay. The hut was fenced off with this kind of fence.

We knock on doors, hospitable hosts open for us; in Kuban guests were always greeted cordially (hospitality is a cordial, affectionate attitude towards people). All guests who entered the house crossed themselves at the right corner, it was called the red corner, where the icons were located, decorated with an embroidered towel. Towels were a decoration of the Kuban home. They were made from fabrics, trimmed with lace at both ends and embroidered with a cross or satin stitch along the edge of the towel. Floral patterns predominated geometric figures, paired image of birds. The same towels were hung on the walls for decoration. Napkins, tablecloths, and curtains were embroidered.

The house usually had two rooms: a great and a small hut.

In every house there was a stove in a small hut. The stove was heated, food was cooked on it, old people and children slept. An old Cossack proverb says “The stove is the queen in the house.” She was the center of the home and embodied the idea of ​​well-being in the home, family warmth; long wooden benches on which one could not only sit, but also sleep; in the middle there was a wooden table. The table was one of the most traditional and revered objects in a Cossack’s house. “The table is the same as the throne in the altar” (the altar is the eastern elevated part of a Christian church; the throne is a high table standing in the middle of the church altar), and therefore you need to sit at the table and behave as in church. The table is unthinkable without bread - as food, as a symbol of well-being.

It has long been the custom that the main smell of Kuban is fragrant Kuban bread. Kuban residents greet guests with bread and salt. Bread and salt are symbols of hospitality and cordiality.

— Salt, according to ancestors, protects against evil forces and spirits. If a person treats himself to bread and salt, it means that he is not plotting evil.

Previously, the floor in the Cossacks’ hut was earthen; it was called “dolyvka.”

- In every house there was "slide"- a china cabinet where the housewife proudly displayed the most valuable and beautiful dishes.

- Pay attention to the dishes that are on the table:

(Words are hung on the board and explained)

Glechik- a vessel for storing milk, in which the milk does not sour for a long time.

Makitra is a large vessel in which cabbage was fermented and jam was kept.

A bowl- dishes from which the whole family ate borscht and dumplings. The first to start scooping the borscht was the head of the family, a Cossack, the father of the family.

The first dishes were made of clay and wood. It was festive and everyday. Festive dishes could be made of glass or earthenware decorated with ceramics.

The great house had custom-made furniture: a cupboard, a chest of drawers for linen. One of the decorations of the house were photographs on the wall.

What did they treat you to in Kuban?

c) — In Kuban we were treated not only to pancakes, but also to pies with zucchini, beans, pies with cabbage, and apples. And, of course, uzvar from dried Kuban fruits or tea, but instead of tea leaves, viburnum or fruit twigs.

The decoration of the table in the hut was a samovar. With your hot tea winter evenings he warmed the souls and bodies of his household, gathering everyone together at the table.

And here are the cast irons that were in the furnace. The smell of aromatic borscht and delicious porridge once emanated from them, delighting children and adults. Old-timers claim that there is nothing more flavorful than borscht cooked in the oven.

There was everything in the Cossack hut, but each item had its own purpose and was treated with care.

Cossack clothing.

On the head of the Cossack is a kubanka - a headdress, he is wearing beshmet- a shirt, a blue kuntush (jacket) is put on top, with hanging Gazyri, they used to serve as a measure of gunpowder, but now for decoration. A belt is required - decorated with metal plates; a dagger and a saber were hung on it; harem pants and boots were also worn.

The Cossack woman was wearing an undershirt - speed girl, the sleeves and bottom of which were cross-stitched. Topped with blouses and skirts with embroidery and frills.

Married women wore a headscarf or slits- a cap was put on the hair gathered into a bun.

The work of the Cossacks

The Kuban land was famous for its craftsmen and gifted people. From simple materials- wood, metal, stone, clay - works of art were created, but the value of the product was determined not by the material, but by skill and imagination.

“It’s not the value of red gold, but the value of good craftsmanship,” says the proverb.

People were engaged in pottery making. Every Kuban family had the necessary pottery: makitra, bowl, jug.

Many Cossack families purchased pottery from out-of-town potters; in the Kuban they were called potters.

They were engaged in blacksmithing - every sixth Cossack was an excellent blacksmith. They forged horseshoes, weapons, and sabers. Plows, shovels, pitchforks, etc.

They were engaged in weaving. They knew how to weave rugs for a treat and embroider towels. In every yard, women knew how to weave lace. Yes, how beautiful! They decorated towels and capes. There were lace napkins everywhere.

They were doing weaving. Weaved from reeds, reeds, twigs. Craftsmen wove baskets, baskets, cradles, chairs, and fences. There was nothing like this in stores at that time. Comfortable, light, roomy. More for adults, less for children.

It’s a nice house, but if the Cossack doesn’t work, the family will remain hungry.

What were the Cossacks doing?

— The main trade of the Cossacks was animal husbandry.

— What animals did the Cossacks keep?

Answer: They kept cows, goats, sheep, geese, chickens, and ducks.

- What did you get from these animals?

Answer: This type of fishing provided the population with meat, leather, furs, milk, eggs, and feathers.

— Hunting for wild animals and beekeeping played an important role in people’s lives.

— Krasnodar region washes two seas, which ones?

“That’s why the Cossacks were also engaged in fishing, since there are many estuaries, two seas, and rivers in our region.

There were a lot of fish in these waters.

— What types of fish do you know?

Answer: Happens sea ​​fish and river.

— The Cossacks were also engaged in growing grain crops.

What grain crops were grown in Kuban?

Answer: Wheat, oats, barley, sunflowers, corn, and rice were and are grown in our region.

— Wooden plow (agricultural implement for plowing land), the Cossacks plowed the land,

— harrow (agricultural implement for finely loosening the soil)(in the form of a rake) leveled the ground,

- and then they stood in a row and, holding a small bag of grain in their hands, scattered it across the field.

(The words are posted - plow, harrow).

“No matter how bitterly people lived in the past, they couldn’t take a step without a song.” A song is a healer, a song is a cry, a song is a dance. Song saved me from all troubles and sorrows.

And the next station is about outstanding people edge "Our fellow countrymen".

- Guys, I started first rice cultivation Dmitry Zhloba (photo). This is our fellow countryman.

In 1922, Dmitry Petrovich Zhloba settled in the village of Pavlovskaya and began the development of the Kuban floodplains. No one believed that the centuries-old reed jungle could be turned into beautiful rice plantations. The team under the leadership of D.P. Zhloba gave the country tons of rice, instilled faith in the enormous possibilities of land reclamation in the Kuban: that is why the Kuban people remember D.P. Zhloba and associate labor victories in the development of waste lands in the floodplain zone with his name.

— Here, on Kuban soil, the greatest scientists grew up and became known throughout the country: Pavel Panteleimonovich Lukyanenko and Vasily Stepanovich Pustovoit (show portrait), they were engaged in growing high-yielding varieties of wheat and sunflower seeds.

Customs and traditions

There are many customs and traditions: some appear, others disappear.

The Cossacks kept the Lord's commandments, the main church holidays, and regularly attended church. Each hut had a holy corner where icons hung. In Kuban they honored and celebrated calendar holidays: Christmas, New Year, Maslenitsa, Easter.

Main traditions:

Respect for elders, respect for women (mother, sister, wife), honor for the guest.

Respect for elders is one of the main customs of the Cossacks. In the presence of an older person, it was not allowed to sit, smoke or talk (without his permission). It was considered indecent to overtake an old man; you had to ask permission to pass. The younger one must give way to the older one. The words of the older man were obligatory for the younger. In case of conflicts, disputes, fights, the word of the elder was decisive (the main one) and it was required to fulfill it.

When meeting a young lad (guy), the Cossack boy must bow and take off his hat. If he passed with his head up, without bowing, then a passer-by, even a stranger, could beat the proud young man. The father will later thank him for raising his son.

The Cossack is hungry, but the horse is full. Without a horse, a Cossack is an orphan. Before leaving home for war, the Cossack's wife brought his horse. The wife bowed at the horse's feet to protect her husband. When seeing off the Cossack on his final journey, a war horse followed the coffin, and his relatives and friends followed him.

The guests were very respected. The guest was considered a messenger of God. The most precious and desirable was considered the stranger from distant places who needed shelter and rest. The guest was given the best place at the table and on vacation. Even the old man gave up his seat, although the guest was younger than him. The Cossacks had a rule: wherever he went. He never took food for himself or his horse. In any village he will be greeted as a guest, both he and his horse will be fed.

The Cossack was born a warrior, and with his birth his military school began. The child was given gifts: cartridges, bullets, a bow, arrows, a gun. When the child turned 40 days old, the father put him on a horse and returned him to his mother, congratulating her on becoming a Cossack. When his teeth appeared, he was again put on a horse and taken to church. At the age of 3, children were already free to ride a horse, and at five they were galloping across the steppe.

And the mother put an amulet around her son’s neck, into which was sewn a handful of earth and a prayer from the enemy. This amulet was a kind of talisman, and it was believed that it protected the Cossack from evil.

Girls from the very early childhood They got used to housekeeping: sewing, embroidering, and doing handicrafts. They loved to decorate their clothes with embroidery. The boys helped their father.