WEDDING GIFT EXCHANGE AMONG THE PEOPLES OF DAGESTAN: TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show the state of modern exchange relations in the wedding ceremonies of the peoples of Dagestan and to trace the variants of their transformation at different stages of the wedding. Ceremonies of wedding gift exchange of Dagestanis today have similar features with traditional customs and ceremonies. However, over time, under the influence of ethno-cultural and other processes, modern exchange relations within wedding customs have undergone certain transformations, adapting to the modern way of life of the people. It is known that exchange relations are the most archaic tradition of social life of any nation, originating in ancient times. It is believed that the traditions of gift exchange were created to preserve existing or create new kinship and social relations within or between communities. However, in recent years, its main functions are increasingly becoming a thirst for profit, i.e., gift exchange acquires utilitarian functions. Many of the symbolic wedding gifts of the past have now been replaced by money, and their value is increasing every year. Since the post-Soviet period, the expressed interest and return of the peoples of Dagestan to their traditional customs and rituals (including wedding) can be traced. However, the moral and ethical side of these customs remained in the past. To solve these problems and facilitate the wedding (reduce costs) and all its stages, it is necessary to introduce into modern rites of wedding gift exchange reasonable ethical standards to regulate these rituals. It is necessary to rethink the current traditional customs of gift exchange, bringing material and moral damage to the family, to choose and preserve the most important of them, corresponding to the modern way of life of Dagestanis, discarding unnecessary and irrelevant rituals.

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