Inuit customs. Eskimos: interesting facts from the life of the northern people

Number of people: 1718 people. The language is the Esco-Aleut family of languages. Settlement - Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Magadan Region.

Most eastern people countries. Live in the northeast Russia, on the Chukotka Peninsula. Self-name - yuk - "man", yugyt, or yupik - " real man". The Eskimo languages are divided into two large groups - Yupik (western) and Inupik (eastern). On the Chukotka Peninsula, Yupik is divided into Sirenik, Central Siberian, or Chaplin and Naukansky dialects. Chukotka residents, along with their native languages, speak Russian and Chukotka.

The origins of the Eskimos are controversial. are direct heirs ancient culture widespread from the end of the first millennium BC. along the shores of the Bering Sea. Earliest Eskimo culture- Old Bering Sea (before the 8th century AD). It is characterized by the prey of marine mammals, the use of multi-person leather kayaks, and complex harpoons. From the 7th century AD until the XIII-XV centuries. was going on development whaling, and in the more northern regions of Alaska and Chukotka - hunting for small pinnipeds.

Main view economic activity there was sea hunting. Before mid-19th V. The main hunting tools were a spear with a double-edged arrow-shaped tip (pana), a rotating harpoon (ung'ak') with a detachable bone tip. To travel on water they used canoes and kayaks. A kayak (anyapik) is light, fast and stable on the water. Its wooden frame was covered with walrus skin. There were canoes different types- from single-seaters to huge 25-seater sailboats.

They moved on land on arc-dust sledges. The dogs were harnessed with a fan. From the middle of the 19th century. The sleds were pulled by dogs drawn by a train (an East Siberian type team). Short, dust-free sleighs with runners made of walrus tusks (kanrak) were also used. They walked on snow on “racket” skis (in the form of a frame of two slats with fastened ends and transverse struts, intertwined with sealskin straps and lined with bone plates at the bottom), on ice with the help of special bone spikes attached to shoes.

The method of hunting sea animals depended on their seasonal migrations. Two hunting seasons for whales corresponded to the time of their passage through the Bering Strait: in the spring to the north, in the fall - to the south. Whales were shot with harpoons from several canoes, and later with harpoon cannons.

The most important hunting object was the walrus. WITH late XIX V. new fishing weapons and equipment appeared. Hunting for fur-bearing animals spread. The production of walruses and seals replaced whaling, which had fallen into decline. When there was not enough meat from sea animals, they shot wild deer and mountain sheep, birds with a bow, and caught fish.

The settlements were located so that it was convenient to observe the movement of sea animals - at the base of pebble spits protruding into the sea, on elevated places. Most ancient type dwellings are a stone building with a floor sunk into the ground. The walls were made of stones and whale ribs. The frame was covered with deer skins, covered with a layer of turf and stones, and then covered with skins again.
Until the 18th century, and in some places even later, they lived in semi-underground frame dwellings (nyn`lyu). In the XVII-XVIII centuries. frame buildings (myn`tyg`ak) appeared, similar to Chukchi yaranga. The summer dwelling was a quadrangular tent (pylyuk), shaped like an obliquely truncated pyramid, and the wall with the entrance was higher than the opposite one. The frame of this dwelling was built from logs and poles and covered with walrus skins. Since the end of the 19th century. light plank houses with a gable roof and windows appeared.

The clothing of the Asian Eskimos is made from deer and seal skins. Back in the 19th century. They also made clothes from bird skins.

Fur stockings and seal torbas (kamgyk) were put on the legs. Waterproof shoes were made from tanned seal skins without wool. Fur hats and mittens were worn only when moving (migration). Clothes were decorated with embroidery or fur mosaics. Until the 18th century Eskimos, piercing the nasal septum or lower lip, they hung walrus teeth, bone rings and glass beads.

Men's tattoo - circles in the corners of the mouth, women's - straight or concave parallel lines on the forehead, nose and chin. A more complex one was applied to the cheeks geometric ornament. They covered their arms, hands, and forearms with tattoos.

Traditional food is meat and fat of seals, walruses and whales. The meat was eaten raw, dried, dried, frozen, boiled, and stored for the winter: fermented in pits and eaten with fat, sometimes half-cooked. Raw whale oil with a layer of cartilaginous skin (mantak) was considered a delicacy. The fish was dried and dried, and eaten fresh frozen in winter. Venison was highly valued and was exchanged among the Chukchi for the skins of sea animals.

Kinship was calculated on the paternal side, and marriage was patrilocal. Each settlement consisted of several groups of related families, which in winter occupied a separate half-dugout, in which each family had its own canopy. In the summer, families lived in separate tents. Facts of working for a wife were known, there were customs of wooing children, marrying a boy to an adult girl, the custom of “marriage partnership”, when two men exchanged wives as a sign of friendship (hospitable hetaerism). There was no marriage ceremony as such. Polygamy occurred in wealthy families.

They were practically not subjected to Christianization. They believed in spirits, the masters of all living things and inanimate objects, natural phenomena, localities, wind directions, various human states, into a person’s relationship with any animal or object. There were ideas about the creator of the world, they called him Sila. He was the creator and master of the universe, and ensured that the customs of his ancestors were observed. The main sea deity, the mistress of sea animals, was Sedna, who sent prey to people. Evil spirits were represented in the form of giants or dwarfs, or other fantastic creatures, which sent illnesses and misfortunes to people.

In each village there lived a shaman (usually a man, but female shamans are also known), who acted as an intermediary between evil spirits and people. Only one who heard the voice of a helping spirit could become a shaman. After this, the future shaman had to meet privately with the spirits and enter into an alliance with them regarding mediation.

Fishing holidays were dedicated to the hunt for large animals. Especially famous are the holidays on the occasion of whale catching, which were held either in the fall, at the end of the hunting season - “seeing off the whale”, or in the spring - “meeting the whale”. There were also holidays for the beginning of sea hunting, or “launching the canoes” and a holiday for “walrus heads,” dedicated to the results of the spring-summer fishery.

Eskimo folklore is rich and varied. All types oral creativity They are divided into unipak - "message", "news" and into unipamsyuk - stories about events in the past, heroic legends, fairy tales or myths. Among fairy tales, a special place is occupied by the cycle about the raven Kutha, the demiurge and trickster who creates and develops the universe.
The earliest stages of development of the Eskimo Arctic culture include thread on bone: sculptural miniature, and artistic engraving of bone. Hunting equipment and household items were covered with ornaments; images of animals and fantastic creatures served as amulets and decorations.

Music (aingananga) is predominantly vocal. Songs are divided into “large” public ones - hymn songs sung by ensembles and “small” intimate ones - “songs of the soul”. They are performed solo, sometimes accompanied by a tambourine.

The tambourine is a personal and family shrine (sometimes used by shamans). He takes central place V

Eskimos

Number of people: 1718 people. The language is the Esco-Aleut family of languages. Resettlement - Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Magadan region.

The easternmost people of the country. They live in the northeast of Russia, on the Chukotka Peninsula. The self-name is yuk - “man”, yugyt, or yupik - “real person”. The Eskimo languages are divided into two large groups - Yupik (western) and Inupik (eastern). On the Chukotka Peninsula, Yupik is divided into Sireniki, Central Siberian, or Chaplin and Naukan dialects. The Eskimos of Chukotka, along with their native languages, speak Russian and Chukotka.

The origins of the Eskimos are controversial. The Eskimos are the direct heirs ancient culture, common from the end of the first millennium BC. along the shores of the Bering Sea. The earliest Eskimo culture is the Old Bering Sea (before the 8th century AD). It is characterized by the prey of marine mammals, the use of multi-person leather kayaks, and complex harpoons. From the 7th century AD until the XIII-XV centuries. whaling was developing, and in the more northern regions of Alaska and Chukotka - hunting for small pinnipeds.

The main type of economic activity was marine hunting. Until the middle of the 19th century. The main hunting tools were a spear with a double-edged arrow-shaped tip (pana), a rotating harpoon (ung'ak') with a detachable bone tip. To travel on water they used canoes and kayaks. A kayak (anyapik) is light, fast and stable on the water. Its wooden frame was covered with walrus skin. There were different types of kayaks - from single-seaters to huge 25-seater sailboats.

The most important hunting object was the walrus. Since the end of the 19th century. new fishing weapons and equipment appeared. Hunting for fur-bearing animals spread. The production of walruses and seals replaced whaling, which had fallen into decline. When there was not enough meat from sea animals, they shot wild deer and mountain sheep, birds with a bow, and caught fish.

The settlements were located so that it was convenient to observe the movement of sea animals - at the base of pebble spits protruding into the sea, on elevated places. The most ancient type of dwelling is a stone building with a floor sunk into the ground. The walls were made of stones and whale ribs. The frame was covered with deer skins, covered with a layer of turf and stones, and then covered with skins again.

Until the 18th century, and in some places even later, they lived in semi-underground frame dwellings (nyn`lyu). In the XVII-XVIII centuries. frame buildings (myn'tyg'ak) appeared, similar to the Chukchi yaranga. The summer dwelling was a quadrangular tent (pylyuk), shaped like an obliquely truncated pyramid, and the wall with the entrance was higher than the opposite one. The frame of this dwelling was built from logs and poles and covered with walrus skins. Since the end of the 19th century. light plank houses with a gable roof and windows appeared.

The clothing of the Asian Eskimos is made from deer and seal skins. Back in the 19th century. They also made clothes from bird skins.

Fur stockings and seal torbas (kamgyk) were put on the legs. Waterproof shoes were made from tanned seal skins without wool. Fur hats and mittens were worn only when moving (migration). Clothes were decorated with embroidery or fur mosaics. Until the 18th century Eskimos, piercing the nasal septum or lower lip, hung walrus teeth, bone rings and glass beads.

Men's tattoo - circles in the corners of the mouth, women's - straight or concave parallel lines on the forehead, nose and chin. A more complex geometric pattern was applied to the cheeks. They covered their arms, hands, and forearms with tattoos.

The Eskimos were practically not Christianized. They believed in spirits, the masters of all animate and inanimate objects, natural phenomena, localities, wind directions, various human states, and in the kinship of a person with any animal or object. There were ideas about the creator of the world, they called him Sila. He was the creator and master of the universe, and ensured that the customs of his ancestors were observed. The main sea deity, the mistress of sea animals, was Sedna, who sent prey to people. Evil spirits were represented in the form of giants or dwarfs, or other fantastic creatures that sent illness and misfortune to people.

In every village there lived a shaman (usually a man, but female shamans are also known), who acted as an intermediary between evil spirits and people. Only one who heard the voice of a helping spirit could become a shaman. After this, the future shaman had to meet privately with the spirits and enter into an alliance with them regarding mediation.

Eskimo folklore is rich and varied. All types of oral creativity are divided into unipak - “message”, “news” and unipamsyuk - stories about events in the past, heroic legends, fairy tales or myths. Among fairy tales, a special place is occupied by the cycle about the raven Kutha, the demiurge and trickster who creates and develops the universe.

The earliest stages of the development of the Eskimo Arctic culture include bone carving: sculptural miniatures, and artistic bone engraving. Hunting equipment and household items were covered with ornaments; images of animals and fantastic creatures served as amulets and decorations.

The tambourine is a personal and family shrine (sometimes used by shamans). It occupies a central place in music.

Bibliography

To prepare this work, materials from the site http://russia.rin.ru were used

The material was found and prepared for publication by Grigory Luchansky

G.A.Ushakov

Eskimo food

“And in the past, that is, before the arrival of Europeans, and now Eskimos eat mainly the meat of sea animals. The first place among them is occupied by the walrus, the second by the seal (nerpa, bearded seal) and the third by the whale. Reindeer meat is considered especially tasty, but it is traded with the neighboring Chukchi reindeer herders, and therefore it rarely makes it onto the Eskimo menu. In addition to the meat of these animals, Eskimos eat bear meat, and in times of need, the meat of arctic fox and even dog.

In summer, poultry meat is a significant help in nutrition. Eskimos eat all the birds found in the North. The exceptions are the raven and the crane, which are treated with prejudice, but not because they are considered “filthy.” “The meat is very strong,” say the Eskimos, but they generally prefer meat that is soft, juicy and fatty. But when a hunger strike occurs, the crow’s meat is eaten eagerly, since it is still no stronger than old walrus skins taken from a yaranga, or belts from sleds and tastier than meat dogs, which had to be fed during increasingly frequent famines.

In general, Eskimos do not know “filthy” animals and birds that should not be eaten.

Before I became acquainted with the Eskimos, I had often encountered the widespread belief that they liked to drink rendered fat. Among the Eskimos I know, I have not met a single such lover, and when they heard about such an opinion, they usually said: “Grot!” (He’s lying!) – or they laughed merrily, taking it as a joke.

Eskimos eat any meat more readily when it begins to smell a little.

The culinary techniques of the Eskimos are remarkably simple. In most cases, meat is eaten raw or frozen, sometimes boiled or dried.

In its raw form, whale skin with a layer of fat adjacent to it is also used for food - “man” tak.” Most Europeans, out of habit, will find “man” tak unappetizing, but in fact it has taste qualities that can satisfy many gourmets. It tastes somewhat like fresh butter, and even more - cream. "Man" is also used boiled. Then it is less tasty and crunches on the teeth, like delicate cartilage. “Man”tak”, which is already beginning to emit a smell, is called “ekwak”.

Eskimos cook both “man” and meat in general in water without salt or any seasonings. Usually the meat is pulled out of the cauldron as soon as it is well warmed up, before it even has time to lose its raw, bloody color. Game is cooked in the same way. When preparing birds for cooking, Eskimos do not pluck them, but tear off their skin. Then the skin is cleaned of fat and discarded, and the fat is used to prepare a special dish called “pug”-nyk.”

During my trips around the island, I often had to sit out from bad weather in Eskimo yarangas, eating “man” tak.” When there was no fresh “man”, the hospitable hosts offered no less tasty dish– dried meat, called “nyfkurak.” “Nyfkurak” includes the meat of walrus, sealed seal, seal and bear. The cooking method is very simple. The ribs, along with the vertebrae, are cut out of the animal’s carcass, cuts are made between them and hung in the sun. The sun, weak in these places, is greatly helped by the wind, and after three to four weeks the “nyfkurak” is ready. “Nyfkurak” made from sealed seal meat seemed especially tasty to me. Walrus and bear are too fat, and fat in the sun takes on an unpleasant bitter taste.

Fish, like game, is of considerable help in the diet of the Eskimos. She, like meat, is eaten for the most part in raw or frozen form, less often - boiled and dried.

Among the plants, Eskimos also eat willow leaves, meadow onions, sweet edible roots and leaves of "nunivak", "syuk"-lyak" (a type of edible root), "k"ugyln"ik" (sorrel) and berries "ak"avzik "(cloudberries), "syugak" (blueberries) and "pagung "ak" (shikshu).

The berries are eaten raw. They are also used to prepare a delicious dish, which my companions spoke of with admiration, but due to the absence of deer on the island, I was not able to try it. According to the description of the Eskimos, this dish is a cross between compote and vinaigrette. To prepare it, take the contents of a deer's stomach and add berries to it - cloudberries, crowberries or blueberries. “Nick”knock”!” (Very tasty!) - said my companions, remembering this dish. Having not tried this delicacy, I cannot express my opinion, but, undoubtedly, it is necessary and useful for the Eskimos, since there is generally very little plant food here.

Eskimos do not eat mushrooms, calling them “tug"nyg"am sigutn"at" - devil's ears.

From seaweed Eskimos eat seaweed washed ashore by the surf, but they eat it with an interesting precaution. The fact is that, in their opinion, seaweed can grow in the human stomach and thereby cause pain. According to the Eskimos, it is very easy to prevent such a phenomenon. All you have to do is pat your bare stomach with the stem, and then you can eat as much as you want.

Eskimos love to eat various sea shellfish. They are collected from the surf or taken from the stomach of a walrus. More than once during a hunt I had the opportunity to observe how Eskimos, skinning a freshly killed walrus and ripping open its stomach, happily eat the mollusks removed from there.”

“Everyone eats with their hands, bending over the kayutak for each piece and making a kind of puff pastry from slices of meat and fat.

Semi-liquid dishes, for example, the above-described treat made from berries and the contents of a deer’s stomach, and on our island - some kind of porridge, are eaten without spoons. The food is poured onto the “kayutak”, and everyone plunges three fingers into it right hand- index, middle and ring - and licks them. After satiation, the hostess hands over a “vyyuk” - a rag, and everyone wipes their lips and hands.

Dishes are usually not washed.

Currently, Eskimos have become accustomed to European products and can no longer live without tea, sugar and tobacco, and have difficulty living without flour. But still, these products are secondary in their diet.

Eskimos drink tea up to ten times a day, mostly brick tea. They brew it very strong and rarely let the water boil. If the water is hot enough to brew tea, then that is enough. When, due to an oversight by the housewife, the water boils, a lump of snow, and sometimes a cold stone, is dropped into it. Sugar is used only as a snack.

Flour is used to prepare hawustak. “Khavustak” is a flatbread cooked in walrus or seal fat. Eskimos do not bake bread, but on occasion they eat it with great pleasure. “Havustak” is prepared as follows: flour is poured cold water, knead - and the dough is ready. If there is, add soda; if not, they can do just fine without it. They make flat cakes from this dough and boil them well in boiling fat. Ruddy in appearance, these cakes are hard and tasteless.”

Among other “achievements” of civilization, vodka took root among the Eskimos. There is no need to talk about the “beneficial” consequences of the penetration of vodka into the life of the Eskimos. We can only welcome the Government’s ban on the import of such products into the Chukotka region.”

Tobacco smoking among Eskimos

“Another no less worthy product is also a gift from civilization - tobacco. The Eskimos now suffer from the lack of tobacco no less than from the lack of meat. An Eskimo who does not smoke or chew tobacco is a rarity. Men not only smoke, but also chew it, women mostly chew it. Even children chew tobacco, and already at the age of ten, you can hardly find ten children out of a hundred who do not have this habit. I have seen many times how Eskimos calmed a crying person. infant, putting tobacco chewing gum in his mouth. “Without tobacco your mouth dries,” the Eskimos justify their addiction to it.”

Eskimo dwelling

The author often stayed in Eskimo yarangas, which he perceived as a familiar home, so he does not give detailed description yarangi, but pays attention to interesting details. “There is no dining table in an Eskimo yaranga. The tableware consists of one narrow, oblong and small wooden dish - “k”ayutak” and a wide semicircular female knife - “ulyak”. “Kyutak” is placed directly on the floor, and the whole family sits around it. Working deftly with the knife , the housewife cuts the meat and fat into thin slices on a platter, and she must eat the first and last slices of each piece herself.

Eskimo clothing

“The main material from which Eskimo clothing is made is reindeer fur. For polar climates this is certainly the most practical material. Clothing made from it is light, soft, does not restrict movement and retains heat perfectly in the most severe frosts.

All polar travelers agree that soft, light, velvety reindeer fur is the best of all furs for clothing and sleeping bags.

No less valuable quality deer fur is its elasticity, due to which the snow that gets into the wool during snowstorms does not freeze, like in any other fur, and is easily knocked out, so the clothes remain completely dry.

In addition, the Eskimos sew clothes from seal skins, walrus and seal intestines, and imported cotton fabric, which they began to use relatively recently.

Hats are usually worn only by men. Women in winter and summer often walk bareheaded. The most common type of headdress is “nasyaprak” (malakhai). In its cut, it is close to a helmet-hat, but is more open at the front. Usually “nasyaprak” is sewn from deer fur, usually taken from the head of an animal. It is trimmed mainly with dog fur, and only the wealthiest Eskimos make trimmings from wolverine fur.

In addition to “nasyaprak”, Eskimos wear “makakak” and “nasyag”ak". The latter are more common among Chukchi reindeer herders. These headdresses are essentially a type of "nasyaprak": "makakak" is somewhat reduced a copy, but the top is cut off, so that the head is open at the top. “Nasyag"ak” resembles our knitted helmet, the front of it goes down to the chest, and the back reaches half of the back; under the arms it is secured with belt ties.

In the summer, as a rule, men do not wear hats, content with a narrow strap holding their hair in place.

Lately, caps and caps have appeared under the general name “luk”-ik.” But there is no great need for them, and they are rather a luxury and an indicator of material well-being.

A man’s outerwear is “atkupik” (kukhlyanka). It is worn double: the lower one - “ilulik” - is put on with the fur inward directly on naked body, and the top one is “k” aslyik” - with the fur facing out. It has a straight cut, resembling a shirt without wedges at the hem, with a neckline into which you can only stick your head. A collar (usually made of dog fur) is sewn to the “ilulik”. When putting on the “kaslyik”, the collar is pulled out over it. “Atkupik” reaches the knees or even covers them; when girding, the Eskimo raises the hem high and gathers it into a large fold under the belt, which is held just above the hips. Thus, the stomach is reliably covered. In addition, folds replace pockets; Eskimos hide in them a pipe, pouch, matches, cartridges, and during trips even a bottle of water for freezing ice on the runners of the sled.

Pants - "k"ulig"yt" - are sewn from different materials: deer fur, deer paws and seal skins, but in cut they are all the same. There is no belt on these pants, and they are tied not at the waist, but at the hips with a drawstring. The pants are also tied at the ankles with a drawstring. They are sewn slightly longer at the back, shorter at the front, so that the entire belly is open. There are no slits on the pants.

Depending on the purpose and quality of the material, trousers are divided into “syupak” - outer ones, made of deer fur, which are worn with the fur facing out; “ilyph"ag"yk” – lower ones, made of the same material, but sewn with fur inside; "k"alnak" - outer trousers made of deer paws; "tumk"ak" - made of seal skins; "tunuk"itylg"i" - made of seal skins, trimmed at the back with embroidery from red and white mandarka.

“Syupak"ak" and "k"alnak" are worn only in the cold season, "ilyph"ag"yk" - all year round, and “tumk”ak” is worn in the summer, “tunuk”itylg”i” is worn only on holidays. This is the ceremonial costume of the strongest wrestlers, so to speak, their distinctive feature...

Mittens are usually sewn with one finger. They are not as beautiful as Eskimo shoes, designed for winter trips and summer hunting, but no less comfortable and practical. In winter they usually wear “ag”ilyugyk” - mittens made of deer paws with the hair up, and in summer - “ayyph”attak”, which are not afraid of water, made of seal skin. The style is the same for both. In spring and autumn, when you need to protect your hands from both dampness and frost, which is often very sensitive, they wear “ag” ilyugyk.” Backside theirs is made of deer paws, and the front one is made of seal skin. Gloves with five fingers are worn very rarely, mostly on holidays. Obviously, they were borrowed from the Russians. The Eskimos call them “ihirag”yk,” which literally means “handbrake” (“ikha” – hand).

IN winter road The Eskimo puts on a bib - "manun" itak". It is usually made of seal or short-haired dog fur and protects the collar from frost freezing. In especially cold times, they also put on a forehead protector - "k"agug" itak" - a strip of thin reindeer fur wide 3 - 4 centimeters."

Eskimo shoes

“In the Eskimo language there are up to twenty terms for various types of shoes. Shoes are generally called “kamgyt”. Judging by the abundance of names, Eskimo shoes were once probably very diverse, but now their range has been significantly reduced. Modern shoes can be divided into three main groups: winter shoes, summer shoes for sea hunting and wet weather, summer shoes for dry weather and household use.

The most characteristic detail of Eskimo shoes is their sole. It is always made from bearded seal skin. The skin is cleaned of fat, stretched and dried. It is not subject to further processing. The soles made from it, when wet, shrink strongly, and if the sole is the size of the foot, the shoes will soon become unusable. Therefore, the sole is always made with a large margin on each side. By bending this reserve upward (the work is done with the teeth), the sole is given the shape of a trough and in this form is hemmed to the boot. Once wet and shrunk, it quickly loses its shape, but lasts a long time.

A particularly large supply is left in summer shoes intended for wet weather.

The most common at present are “stulyug"yk", "akugvig"asyag"yk", "kuilhikhtat" and "mug"nik"ak". "Stulyug"yk" is sewn in the form of a short stocking that goes slightly beyond the ankle, front and short The boot is always made from deer paws. The boot is tucked under the trouser leg and tied tightly with the latter's lace, which eliminates the possibility of snow getting inside. In local climatic conditions, “stulyug"yk” can rightfully be considered ideal winter shoes. The Eskimos also assigned the same name to another type of footwear, which they apparently borrowed from the Tungus and Yakuts, namely torbas. They differ from the “stulyug”yka only in the longer shaft, so that the stocking covers the knee. These shoes are worn over pants. They are not widespread: they are inconvenient for walking and riding a sled, and during a snowstorm, snow fills the shaft.

In summer, the Eskimos mainly wear "kuilhihtat" made of seal skin with fur left on it. Their tops are short and have a drawstring at the top that is tied over the trouser leg. The front is made wide and goes from the toe in a straight line to the ankle. This allows you to put on your shoes even if they get wet and become very dry. The excess front is folded into a fold and tightened with a frill. “Akugvig"asyag"yk" and "akugvypagyt" are very similar to each other. Only the first ones reach to the knee, and are tied at the top with a cord, while the second ones are above the knee and do not have a lace. Both of them sew from seal skin, but the wool is first removed from it. The front is as wide as that of the “cuilhihtat”.

When creating the types of shoes described above, the Eskimo cared entirely about its practicality, and it must be admitted that he achieved this, although at the expense of appearance.

But the shoes intended for household use and the dry season - “payak"yk" and "mug"nik"ak" - are not without grace. These shoes are sewn from seal skin, the front is made of deer fur with hair inside and is decorated with embroidery."

Household customs of the Eskimos

“At night, the Eskimo strips naked. (However, he usually sits completely naked in the canopy during the day.) Waking up, he waits for his wife to prepare breakfast, and only after paying enough attention to the latter does he begin to dress. All the clothes given in the evening to dry are given to him in order by his wife. First of all, he pulls up his pants. If he stays at home, he confines himself to “iliph”ag”yk.” Then, pulling on fur stockings, the Eskimo puts on his shoes, and the toilet is finished. The kukhlyanka is put on only when leaving the canopy and is belted with a leather belt - “tafsi”. A knife – “savik” – and several beads of glass beads always hang on the belt. The latter are in reserve, for sacrifice to the evil Spirit.

When going hunting, Eskimos also take with them a large hunting knife - a “stygmik”, which they wear on the hip and attach with a wooden clasp to the belt of their pants.”

Astronomical knowledge of the Eskimos

According to the author, the astronomical concepts of the Eskimos are very limited. “Their constellations have their own names: Ursa Major - Reindeer, Pleiades - Girls, Orion - Hunters, Gemini - Bow, Cassiopeia - Bear's Trail, Cepheus - Half of the Diamond."

Eskimo time calculation

The Eskimos calculate time by the moon, and “the only unit of time is the month - “tank”ik” (moon). They have no concepts of the week or year; not a single Eskimo knows how old he is.

Months are counted as twelve, but since moon month has only 27.3 days, then the Eskimo month does not represent exactly certain period time, but constantly moves. This creates confusion, and it is not uncommon to hear two old men arguing about what month it is. The dispute is mostly resolved by appealing to the life of nature, which, in essence, is the true Eskimo calendar, as confirmed by the names of the months:

k"uin"im k"alg"ig"viga - the rut of domestic reindeer - October;

tup"tum k"alg"ig"viga - rut of wild deer - November;

pynyig"am k"alg"ig"viga - the rut of wild sheep, or ak"umak" - the month of the sitting sun - December;

kanah "tag" yak - the month of frost in the yarangs - January;

ik "aljug" vik - month of fishing net - February;

nazig "akhsik" - month of birth of the seal - March;

Eskimos- This amazing people, whose culture is fully adapted to the conditions of the Far North. But what else do we know about them? Perhaps the only thing is that all their lives they have been constantly fighting against the harsh elements. Today we invite you to familiarize yourself with amazing facts from the life of the indigenous people inhabiting the territories from the eastern edge of Chukotka to Greenland.

We are already accustomed to the term “Eskimo” being used in a neutral context. However, in English language Another name for the people is used - “Inuit”. The reason for this is that the Eskimos themselves perceive the name of their people as offensive - in translation it supposedly means “one who eats raw meat.”

An Eskimo kiss is not even a kiss, but simply mutual touching and a little rubbing of noses. It is assumed that in the cold, Eskimos do not kiss on the lips because they may freeze to each other. But in fact, only their eyes and nose are not covered with clothes, so they use them to greet each other.

Eskimos eat primarily food obtained from hunting and gathering. The basis of the diet is the meat of walruses, beluga whales, seals, deer, polar bears, musk oxen, meat and eggs of birds. Since farming in the Arctic climate is impossible, Eskimos collect tubers, stems, roots, algae, and berries, which can be found in very small quantities. Vegetarians would have a very hard time in such conditions. The Inuit believe that a diet consisting mostly of meat is healthy and helps keep people warm.

The traditional Eskimo snow dwelling is called an igloo. An igloo built from snow “bricks” in the shape of a hemisphere is the best option for overnight stays in the mountains: no tent can compare with it in terms of comfort and reliability. And, despite the fact that such a home is made of snow, there is a pleasant warmth inside. An igloo is usually about 2 m high and 3-4 m in diameter.

Perhaps every culture has its own specific monsters and beasts about which there are legends. Eskimos are afraid of Qalupalik or Kallupilluk - a ghost that is just waiting to drag unwary people to the bottom of the icy sea. However, such fears are not without common sense– falling into icy water in the north is tantamount to death.

In 1912, Canadian ethnographer and polar explorer Stefansson Villamur discovered the “blond Eskimos” on Victoria Island. This has become one of the most big mysteries in the archeology of the North. Presumably, a Scandinavian tribe previously lived on the island, which was forced out by the Eskimos.

The Eskimo language has over 75 words for snow. In 1911, anthropologist Franz Boas pointed out that the Eskimos have 4 unrelated words for this white substance. Apparently, over time this number has increased by several orders of magnitude.

The absence of iron armor among the Eskimos in ancient times is explained only by one very obvious parameter: they had nothing to make it from. But there was a need for protection. That's why they made armor from what was at hand - from animal bones and fangs.

Contact with other cultures gave the Inuit access to firearms and other modern weapons, but traditional Inuit weapons were primarily made of wood and stone. The main weapon of the Eskimos for sea hunting was a harpoon with a rotating tip.

The Inuit, in fact, live similar to semi-nomadic tribes, for example, the Australian Aborigines. Poor and neglected, many of them suffer from alcoholism. Harsh climatic conditions contribute to the development of numerous diseases, so the fact that the Eskimos still survive and continue to exist cannot but surprise.

In The customs of the Eskimos, which will seem strange to us...

Jack London called them "children of frost." The Eskimos are a group of indigenous peoples of Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Chukotka. There are about 150,000 of them left on Earth. “My Planet” is about the differences between cultures and the paradoxes of national identity.

They can borrow someone else's wife

If the permanent wife is sick or has Small child, it is convenient to change it to a young one and strong woman, which is easier to navigate. After all, on the way, a woman must not only fulfill her marital duty, but prepare food, help the head of the family in every possible way and share the hardships of the road. For exchanging wives for a few days there is special term- "areodyarekput".

They call internet travel

IN beginning of XXI centuries, Eskimos became acquainted with the Internet, and this term needed to be translated into their language. The experts chose the word ikiaqqivik - “journey through layers.” Previously, this was the name for the ritual of a shaman who, in search of an answer to a question, “traveled” through time and space.

They sniff each other when they meet

The traditional Eskimo greeting, used mainly by relatives or lovers, is called "kunik". It looks like this: one of the people greeting presses his nose to the forehead or cheeks of the other and draws in air - as if sniffing, inhaling a familiar smell. They said that the custom arose because severe frost lips freeze - you can’t kiss, and they even called it an Eskimo kiss. In fact, this greeting is purely friendly and is due to the fact that those meeting in the cold may have the lower part of their face covered.

They compete in pulling the thread with their ears.

To the World Eskimo program olympic games includes a special competition - pulling the thread with the ears. Loops are made at both ends of the thread. The opponents sit face to face, and a loop is put on each ear. And just as others pull a rope with their hands, they use their ears (or rather, their heads and even bending their torsos) to try to pull the thread until someone refuses further competition due to pain. It must be said that not every ear can withstand such a struggle.

They risk their lives for a handful of mussels

The monotonous food sometimes becomes so boring that the Eskimos decide to undertake an extremely dangerous undertaking - collecting mussels under the ice. There is a thick layer of ice on the surface of the Arctic seas almost all year round. You need to catch a short time of low tide, when a hollow space is formed under a huge ice sheet, cut a hole in it, go down and harvest mussels from it.

This is a really risky business. The collectors have no more than half an hour to leave the ice cave before the wave arrives - if they don’t have time, death is inevitable. In addition, ice hanging almost in the air at low tide can collapse on desperate pickers. And all for the sake of a handful of mussels, which are eaten in one sitting.

Their women use moss and seaweed instead of pads

Eskimo women use the skins of fur-bearing animals, moss and thin wood shavings made from alder. Those who live near the sea prefer algae.

Their children are afraid of Kalupiluk

Every culture has its own specific monsters and monstrosities that they use to scare children if they don’t go to bed now. Eskimos are afraid of Qalupalik or Kallupilluk - a ghost who is just waiting to drag unwary people under the ice, to the bottom of the sea.

They put iPods on graves

The custom of leaving the deceased his favorite things exists among many northern peoples. By sending the deceased to the “upper people,” the living “sent” with him everything that, in their opinion, could be useful in another life. Previously, these were knives, crafts made from walrus tusk, now - modern Appliances. Most often - video cassettes and players.