Interesting traditions of the Avars. Areas of historical residence of Avars

PEOPLES OF RUSSIA

A wolf with a standard is a symbol of the Avar khans

"Our environment online"— Avars - self-name maarulal (magIarulal), literally “highlanders” - are one of the most significant peoples of Dagestan. In total there are 912,090 people, including 850,011 in Dagestan. The Avar language belongs to the Avar-Ando-Tsez group of the Dagestan branch of the Caucasian languages. The area of ​​distribution of the Avar language stretches from north to south in a strip dividing Dagestan into two parts. The length of this strip is about 170 km to the south, and its greatest width is about 70 km.

The structure of the Avar language is characterized by a complex system of consonants, the presence of nominal classes, numerous local cases, and ergative construction. Phonetics is characterized by movable stress, which plays a meaningful role.
The Avar-Ando-Tsez group, in addition to the Avar language itself, also includes Andean and Tsez languages. The population of Avaria speaking them is related to the Avars not only in language, but also in the main features of culture and way of life, and is currently united with the Avars themselves. The basis of the literary Avar language is the so-called military language - Bolmats, which has long been used in oral communication between the Avarians and Ando-Tsezians.

The first version of Avar writing on a Cyrillic basis was created by Baron Pyotr Karlovich Uslar in 1861 in Tiflis. In 1928, a decision was made to translate the Avar language into the Latin alphabet, and in 1938 a new alphabet on a Russian graphic basis was introduced.

The village of Khunzakh, once the capital of the Avar Khanate

The history of the appearance of the Avars is complex and has not yet been fully elucidated. One of the ancient Georgian chronicles tells the biblical version of the birth of this people: it names the great-great-grandson of Noah, Lekos, as the first ancestor of all the highlanders of Dagestan. One of the sons of Lekos, Khozonikh, founded a city in a mountain gorge and named it by his own name, Khozanikheti. It is believed that this is a distorted word Khanzakh - the ancient capital of the Avar khans.

If you do not delve into the complex vicissitudes of the history of numerous nomadic peoples who lived on the territory of Eurasia thousands of years ago and constantly formed new ethnic groups, then the history of the Avars can be briefly told as follows. Thousands of years BC, the ancestors of the Avars were nomads, but around the third millennium BC. they began to lead a sedentary life, raise livestock and engage in agriculture. The life of the Avar tribes (ancient sources mention the Savar tribes, who, most likely, were the ancestors of modern Avars) took place in the mountains, in relative isolation from other tribes and peoples, which made it possible to preserve not only the language and distinctive external features people, but also many traditions and customs.

In the first millennium AD, the kingdom of Sarir is mentioned in Arab chronicles, and in its place a little later the Avar Khanate was formed. It was a union of independent tribes and societies that united under the leadership of the khan only in case of military necessity. The Avar Khanate existed until the 18th century, for several last centuries being dependent on neighboring Iran. By the time the Khanate annexed Russia in 1813, the Avars had their own written language, similar to Arabic, and professed Sunni Islam. IN early XIX centuries, the Avars took part in the war, in which, under the leadership of Shamil, the mountaineers tried to defend their freedom. However, the Avars began to actively consolidate as a people after the formation of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921.

The leading sectors of the Accident economy in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. were in the highlands - cattle breeding, lower in the mountains, as well as in river valleys - agriculture (field cultivation and gardening).

Co second half of the 19th century V. Trade is especially developing in Avaria. In every village of any significance there was a local merchant - a bazaargap, who bought goods from fellow villagers and resold them in Temir-Khan-Shur, Petrovsk, Kizlyar and other cities. Ordinary house Avar peasants was a quadrangular building with a flat roof. Its walls were made of untreated stone of various shapes, and a solution of local soil was sometimes used as a fastening material. The house was built either on a foundation or on rocky ground. One or more beams were placed on the steppes, on top of which boards or poles were laid, and brushwood, hay were placed on them, and thin layer earth and clay. The main beams of the ceiling were supported by special pillars. The earthen flooring was carefully compacted with a roller. This roof needed to be rolled down after every rain.

On the lower floor of the house there were utility rooms - a barn, a hayloft, a storage room - and a winter living room. An external stone staircase led to the upper floor. They housed living rooms- in the houses of wealthy Avars there are usually three, in poor ones - one, less often - two. From each room there was access to a gallery hanging over the first floor or overlooking the roof of the lower house. The roof of the gallery was supported by several pillars. The gallery usually contained a wooden carved sofa and several small benches.

In some houses, in the middle of the room, on a clay floor, there was an open hearth, above which hung a chain for the boiler. The place near the fireplace was considered the most honorable in the house; there was a wooden carved sofa - the place of the eldest in the family, on which the guest was usually seated. The fireplace divided the room into four parts: men were placed on the right side, women on the left, children during meals between the pillar and the hearth; the space between the hearth and the outer wall of the house was intended for storing firewood and brushwood. In the old days, such a house was the home of a large family, which was designated by the same term tso ruk'alul gIadamal as a group of related families. At the beginning of the 20th century. it already housed a small family.

Today, the absolute majority of Avars are Sunni Muslims. It is interesting that the already mentioned medieval state of Sarir in the Caucasus chose Orthodox Christianity as its official religion. There is an opinion that before the adoption of Islam, a small part of the Avars’ ancestors professed Judaism, but there is no sufficient evidence for this. Be that as it may, Islam began to penetrate the territory of modern Dagestan already in the 7th century AD, and finally settled here around the 15th century.

The centuries-old history, as well as the freedom-loving nature of the Avars, allowed them to preserve their own customs and traditions. In many ways they are similar to the traditions of other Caucasian peoples. But there are also some features that are unique to them, relating, first of all, to ethics of behavior.

Addressing elders with respect is the main ethical tradition of the Avars. Moreover, elders still play a dominant role at public gatherings when making any decision. The more authoritative the elder, the more opportunities he has to make his vote decisive.

In addition, the customs include strict adherence to etiquette when communicating. For example, if Avar men talk to each other, they comply with certain age requirements. The younger person, having greeted the older one, must take two steps back and maintain this distance throughout the conversation. If a woman communicates with a man, then this distance becomes even greater and reaches two meters.

Avar traditions are quite chaste in everything related to communication, and the representatives of the ethnic group themselves are courteous. At the same time, folk traditions Various holidays are not ignored - here the already mentioned chastity and politeness are emphasized by the brightness of costumes and festive rituals.

The most common men's outerwear is the beshmet, in winter time it was insulated with a lining. A shirt is worn under the beshmet, and a large hat serves as a headdress. As for women's costumes, they are quite diverse. Avar women wear clothes decorated with local ethnic elements - by the decorations, colors of the scarves, and patterns, you can guess what village the woman comes from. At the same time, married and older women prefer clothes in muted colors, but girls are allowed to dress up in more bright colors.

It’s worth visiting an Avars’ wedding to be convinced that this is one of the most colorful spectacles. Traditionally, residents of the entire village gather here. During the first day, the fun takes place in the house of one of the groom's friends, and the guests must organize the table. Only on the second day does the wedding take place in the house where the groom lives, and in the evening the bride, wrapped in a wedding veil, is brought here. On the third day, gifts are given and traditional dishes are eaten, which includes the obligatory porridge.

By the way, the Avars have a wedding custom of kidnapping, but here they kidnap not the bride, but the groom. This is carried out by the bridesmaids, so the groom's friends must vigilantly ensure that he is not kidnapped.

Like other Dagestanis, Avars still adhere to the custom of blood feud. Of course, today this tradition is becoming a thing of the past, but in remote mountain villages it can still be practiced today. In the old days, blood feud captured entire families, and the reason could be kidnapping, murder, or desecration of family shrines.

At the same time, Avars are hospitable people. The guest here is always the main person in the house, and they are always ready for the arrival of even unexpected guests, leaving them food for lunch or dinner.

The Avars made a great contribution to the culture of the Caucasus and Russia. First of all, this folk art. Performances of national groups are always a great success among the audience. The songs of the Avars are very poetic and melodious. The rich possibilities of the language and the national musical flavor are equally widely used here. Therefore, a lot of listeners always gather to listen to them sing.

No less colorful and national holidays. Each such festival becomes a brilliant spectacle. Here there are songs, dances, and bright costumes - everything merges together. It is worth mentioning that the Avars, like other local peoples, know how to amuse themselves and others. They are quite sharp-tongued and well aware of the peculiarities of their mentality. Therefore, according to experts, jokes about the Avars are composed by representatives of this people themselves.

Their language, which belongs to the Nakh-Dagestan group of languages ​​of the North Caucasus, is bright, melodious and full of poetic phrases. At the same time, it contains many local dialects. In many ways, this phenomenon reflects the peculiarities of Avar history, when free societies of mountaineers arose.

However, even though they live in different parts lands can always understand each other. There are also common linguistic and cultural traditions that are identical for the entire Avaria. For example, many are interested in why Avars treat wolves with special reverence. This is because among them the wolf is considered a symbol of courage and nobility. Therefore, the image of the wolf is repeatedly sung in folklore, and in literature.

Rasul Gamzatov

Famous Avar writers made a great contribution to the culture of Russia. Among them, of course, is Rasul Gamzatov, one of the most famous poets of Dagestan. It was he who created a kind of anthem, composing the poem “Song of the Avars.” Since then, this work has become the unofficial anthem of the people. The poetess Fazu Aliyeva also brought glory to the Avars.

The achievements of athletes are also known - first of all, Jamal Azhigirey, a master of sports in wushu, 12-time European champion, as well as Khabib Nurmagomedov, a professional UFC fighter (he is a world champion).

Today, the Avar nationality speaks volumes. They are a proud and independent people who, over the course of many centuries of their development, have repeatedly proven that they know how to fight for their own freedom. Despite the fact that they were once considered warlike, the Avars developed cattle breeding, agriculture, and various crafts. On many national festivals exhibitions of traditional carpets, boxes, dishes, and jewelry are being created.

Sources and photos: tanci-kavkaza.ru/avarcy/, www.anaga.ru/avarcy.htm, etokavkaz.ru/nacionalnosti/avarcy

Avars today live on the territory of Dagestan and are the largest ethnic group in this republic. These lands were inhabited during the late Neolithic (4-3.5 thousand years BC). The Avars are direct descendants of these peoples, who spoke a common Dagestan-Nakh language.

At the end of the 3rd millennium BC. The ancestors of the Avars switched to a sedentary agricultural and pastoral type of economy. The ethnogenesis of the Avars took place in conditions of mountain isolation, which contributed to the conservation of certain features of the economy and culture, the anthropological appearance of the population, and linguistic features. Already antique sources I-II centuries n. e. mention "Savars", who are most likely the ancestors of modern Avars. Those known from the 2nd half of the 1st millennium BC are also associated with the Avars. tribes of Legs, Gels, Caspians, Utians.

In the 1st millennium AD, the Avars achieved great success in terrace farming. Arabic sources (9th-10th centuries) contain data about the kingdom of Serir, on the site of which the Avar Khanate arose. The Avar Khanate is depicted by sources as a union of free societies that united under the central authority of the khan only for military purposes. Later, the Mehtuli Khanate arose here, which included about forty “free societies”.

In the 15th century Sunni Islam established itself in the 16th century. There was a written language based on Arabic graphics. Until the 18th century. The Avar Khanate was dependent on. After the annexation of Dagestan to Russia in 1813, the Avars took part in the liberation struggle of the highlanders of Dagestan and Chechnya under the leadership of Shamil. In the second half of the 19th century. Commodity-money relations began to penetrate the Avars. The national consolidation of the Avars accelerated with the formation of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1921, since 1991 - the Republic of Dagestan).

In the 14th-15th centuries, the invasions of nomads ceased, great attention paid, the Avars begin to grow commercial grain. In the lowland areas, the Avars grew barley, wheat, hulless barley, rye, oats, millet, legumes, corn, potatoes, flax, and hemp. In the mountainous regions and foothills, agriculture was combined with cattle breeding; in the highlands, the leading role belonged to cattle breeding (mainly transhumance sheep breeding).

Traditional sheep breeds are coarse-wooled; in Soviet times, fine-wooled sheep breeds appeared. Existing state entities usually maintained friendly relations with each other, which ensured the unhindered movement of cattle from the mountains to the plain and back. The herd usually consisted of 2/3 sheep and goats and 1/3 cattle, horses and donkeys. At all times, Avars were engaged in gardening and viticulture, practiced terracing of mountain slopes, fallowless crop rotation, alternation of crops, and three-tiered use of plots. There was an irrigation system.

The Avars used wooden and metal tools: a wooden plow with an iron share, a hoe, a pick, a small scythe, a sickle, threshing boards, drags, pitchforks, rakes, and a wooden shovel. Among the main trades and crafts are weaving (cloth making), the production of felt, carpets, copper utensils, and wooden utensils. The Avars were engaged in leather processing, jewelry, blacksmithing, weapons business, stone and wood carving, metal chasing (silver, copper, cupronickel).

The traditional occupations of the Avars are cattle breeding and arable farming. Agriculture played a leading role until the XIII-XIV centuries, from the XIV-XV centuries. The main focus of the economy in most areas is horticulture, although in many villages, primarily in the Koisu valleys, gardening occupies a significant place.

The lowland villages were built according to the modern type. Traditional dwellings Avars are stone buildings of 1, 2, 3 floors with a flat earthen roof or 4-5-story tower-like buildings with a separate entrance on each floor. Often houses were built on such a principle that the roof of one served as a yard for the other. Characteristic feature The dwelling consisted of a central support pillar decorated with carvings. Currently, the Avars have houses made of stone, one or two floors with a glazed terrace, covered with iron or slate.

The traditional costume of the Avars is a tunic-like shirt, trousers, a beshmet, a hat, a bashlyk, a sheepskin coat, a burka, and a leather belt. Women wore pants, a shirt dress, long dress with double sleeves, a “chokhto” headdress, which was a cap or hood with a bag for braids, colored bedspreads, factory-made scarves, sheepskin coats. The costume was decorated with embroidery, silver, and complemented with silver jewelry. The Avars had leather, felt or knitted shoes.

Family relationships were based on Sharia law, social life was regulated by the customs of mutual assistance, hospitality, and blood feud. Remnants of pre-Muslim beliefs have been preserved (veneration natural phenomena, holy places, rituals of causing rain and sun and others).

Many epic and lyrical tales, songs, fairy tales, proverbs and sayings have survived to this day. The Avars played various musical instruments: chagchan, chagur, tamur-pandur, lalu (a type of pipe), zurna, tambourine, and drum. There are a variety of dances: fast, slow, men's, women's, pairs.

In the high mountainous regions, the Avars lived in small settlements of 30-50 houses, in the mountainous regions - in settlements of 300-500 houses. The houses formed a continuous wall along narrow streets, which were often covered with a canopy and formed tunnels. Battle towers were erected in many villages.

The current state of the Avars

According to the 2002 population census, more than 814 thousand Avars lived on the territory of the Russian Federation. Most of them live in the Republic of Dagestan. Over the past 35 years, the number of Avars in Russia has increased 2.5 times.

The birth rate and the level of natural increase of the Avars remain very high, despite the tendency towards their stabilization that has emerged in recent years. The share of the urban population is growing rapidly. The number of city dwellers among the Avars has increased 7 times over the past 35 years, to a large extent due to migration from the village. However, in cities the birth rate is falling quite slowly.

Despite the rapid process of migration to cities, agricultural activities predominate. The share of people with higher education is relatively small, but the number of students is above the Russian average. Due to the weak development of industry, the sphere of higher education and intellectual pursuits for a long time was a kind of “outlet” that absorbed excess labor resources in a weakly industrialized republic. Currently, opportunities for development of the education sector are declining and the threat of unemployment is increasing.

Assimilation does not threaten the Avar ethnic group. This is evidenced by the high rates of choosing the language of one’s nationality as a native language, and quite high level endogamy (intra-ethnic marriages), apparently increased in lately. Special studies have shown that in Dagestan there is neither assimilation of the indigenous peoples of Dagestan by the Russian population, nor the formation of a single “general Dagestan” ethnic group, but rather the formation of several relatively large ethnic communities as a result of their assimilation of small groups.

The language of the Avars belongs to the group of Ibero-Caucasian languages ​​of the Nakh-Dagestan language family. It has two dialects: northern and southern, each of which includes a number of dialects.

The Avars are the indigenous people of Dagestan, most of whom live on the territory of the republic; many representatives of this people also call eastern Georgia and Azerbaijan their home. Residential complexes of the Avars are mainly located in the mountainous part. The people were first mentioned by Ananie Shirakatsi in his work “Armenian Geography”. The Avars profess Islam, which explains many of the traditions in their behavior and way of life.

Wedding customs

1 day. By invitation, the entire village gathered at the house of the groom’s friend at the festive table, which was covered at the expense of the guests. Here the head of the feast and the toastmaster were immediately chosen: they had to lead the celebration and entertain the audience.

Day 2. All guests went to the groom's house and continued the celebration. In the evening, a procession led by the bride, who was wrapped in a veil over her wedding dress, headed to the groom's court. Several times the bride's retinue was blocked and ransom was demanded. The mother-in-law met the daughter-in-law first, gave her valuables, then took the girl and her friends to a separate room where none of the men dared to enter. At this time, the groom was closely watched by friends so that he would not be “stolen” by the bridesmaids, but if this happened, a ransom had to be paid. The wedding was fun, accompanied by dancing and music. Late at night, the bride met the groom in her room.

Day 3. The last day of the wedding is the day of gifts from the husband's relatives to the bride. After the donation procedure, the guests ate a traditional dish - ritual porridge.

Sacrament of birth

The birth of a child was considered the greatest happiness for an Avar family. The desire of every Avar woman was to give birth to a healthy first-born boy, because this event automatically increased her authority in the eyes of all her relatives and the village in which she lived.

Fellow villagers learned about the birth of a child by the sounds of gun shots: they came from the yard of the parents of the newborn. The shots served not only as a means of communicating the news, they were also supposed to scare away evil spirits from the baby's cradle.

The name of the child was chosen by all the relatives gathered at the festive table.

Blood feud

For such crimes as murder, kidnapping, adultery, desecration of a family shrine, one could fall out of favor with an entire family of Avars. Revenge knew no bounds and sometimes turned into endless bloodshed and enmity between clans.

Since the 19th century, the ritual of blood feud has been “adjusted” to the norms of Sharia law. These rules provide for a peaceful resolution of the issue by paying compensation to the affected family for the harm caused.

Some customs of hospitality

A guest is always a welcome person in an Avar’s home. Many houses have a special room for visiting male friends and relatives. At any time of the day, a guest could arrive and settle there, without even notifying the owner of his arrival.

Safety comes first. All guests, upon entering the house, handed over their weapons to the owner; they were only allowed to keep a dagger with them. This ritual in no way humiliated the visitors; on the contrary, the owner thereby indicated that he took full responsibility for the health and life of his guests.

Feast. It was impossible to seat younger and older brother, father and son, father-in-law and son-in-law at the same table. As a rule, guests were divided into two groups according to age. Maternal relatives had more privileges at the table than paternal relatives. During the feast there were polite conversations “about nothing.” According to the rules of Avar etiquette, the owner was forbidden to ask the visitor about the purpose of the visit; it was necessary to wait until the guest himself raised this topic.

Taboo for the guest. At the table, the guest was not supposed to express his wishes about the dishes. Visitors were not allowed to visit the women's rooms and kitchen, or influence the owner's family affairs. The guest had no right to leave without the permission of the head of the house. If a guest liked any thing in the house, the owner had to give it to him, so it was very tactless on the part of the guest to praise the items he liked.

The majestic, strict Caucasus is an original nature, breathtaking landscapes, austere mountains and flowering plains. The peoples inhabiting its territory are just as strict, strong in spirit and at the same time poetic and spiritually rich. One of these peoples are people whose nationality is Avars.

Descendants of ancient tribes

Avars are Russian name people who mainly inhabit the north of Dagestan. They call themselves “maarulal”, which translates very simply and accurately: “highlanders”. The Georgians called them “leks”, the Kumyks called them “tavlu”. Statistics include more than 900 thousand Avars, including 93% of them living in Dagestan. Outside the region, a small part of this people lives in Chechnya, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. There is an Avar community in Turkey. Avars are a nationality that is genetically related to Jews. According to the chronicle, the sultan of ancient Avaria was the brother of the ruler of Khazaria. And the Khazar khans, again according to the chronicle, were Jewish princes.

What does history say?

In the first mentions in historical manuscripts, these North Caucasian tribes are presented as warlike and powerful. Their settlement high in the mountains contributed to a number of successful victories over the Khazars, who settled on the plains. The small kingdom was called Serir, later renamed Avaria after the king respected in the area. The accident reached its peak in the 18th century. Subsequently, the Muslims created the theocratic state of the Imamate, which existed in this form before joining Russia. Nowadays it is an independent Republic of Dagestan with its own cultural, political and religious characteristics.

Language of the people

Avars are a nationality with their own separate language, which belongs to the Avar-Ando-Tsez subgroup of the Caucasian group. The southern and northern regions of the territory of residence are characterized by two dialects of their own, differing in some phonetic, morphological and lexical characteristics. Both dialects have a number of dialects characteristic of individual regions of the republic. The literary Avar language was formed by the merger of two main dialects, although the influence of the northern one still became significant. Previously, Avars used an alphabet from the Latin script; since 1938, the Avar alphabet has been letters based on Russian script. The majority of the population speaks Russian fluently.

Avarian nationality: characteristics of the genotype

The isolation of the place of residence, the spread of warlike tribes throughout the East European Plain, right up to Scandinavia, led to the formation of external characteristics of the Avars, significantly different from the main population of the Caucasus. For typical representatives of this mountain people, it is not uncommon to have a purely European appearance with red hair, fair skin And blue eyes. A typical representative of this people is distinguished by a tall, slender figure, a wide, medium-profile face, and a high but narrow nose.

Strict natural conditions survival, the need to conquer arable land and pastures from nature and from other tribes formed the persistent and warlike character of the Avars over the centuries. At the same time, they are very patient and hardworking, excellent farmers and artisans.

Life of the mountain people

Those whose nationality is Avars have lived in the mountains for a long time. The main occupation in these areas was and still is now sheep breeding, as well as all trades related to wool processing. The need for food forced the Avars to gradually descend to the plains and master agriculture and animal husbandry, which became the main occupations of the lowland population. Avars build their houses along turbulent mountain rivers. Their structures are very interesting and unusual for Europeans. Surrounded by rocks and stones, the houses look like an extension of them. A typical settlement looks like this: one large stone wall stretches along the street, making it look like a tunnel. Different levels heights contribute to the fact that often the roof of one house serves as a yard for another. Modern influences This nationality has not been spared either: the Avars of today build large three-story houses with glazed terraces.

Customs and traditions

The religion of the people is Islam. Avars are Sunni Muslims. Naturally, the rules of Sharia dictate all the traditions and family rules, which the Avar strictly adheres to. The people here are generally friendly and hospitable, but they immediately defend their beliefs and customs and issues of honor. in these places this is still common practice. The beliefs of the local population are somewhat diluted with some pagan rituals - this often happens in territories whose peoples have led a separate way of life for a long time. The husband is the head of the family, but in relation to his wife and children, his duty is to show respect and provide financially. Avar women have a persistent character that they do not hide from their men, and they always get their way.

Cultural values

Every Avar, whose people are very attached to their national traditions, honors their ancestors. Cultural traditions go back centuries. In the mountainous expanses, unique melodic songs were born, fiery dances and wise tales of Caucasian centenarians. Musical instruments of the Avar people are chagchan, chagur, lapu, tambourine, drums. Traditional Avar culture is the source and fundamental basis for modern Dagestan art and painting. Living in a remote location, far from trade routes and centers, the residents of Avaria made household items, clothing, and decorations for themselves and their homes with their own hands, from scrap materials. These handicrafts have become real masterpieces, the basis for today's masters.

Avars who glorified their people

(nationality - Avar) - boxer, champion of Russia, prize-winner of the World Boxing Championship, holder of the WBA belt, champion of the International Boxing Organization.

Amir Amayev is a Dagestan nuclear scientist, the founder of a new scientific direction in the development of nuclear reactors.

Jamal Azhigirey is an international master of sports in wushu, ten-time Russian champion, twelve-time European champion.

Fazu Alieva - Dagestan folk poetess, was the editor of the magazine "Women of Dagestan".

Rasul Gamzatov is an Avar poet, a member of the Union of many famous and popular songs today.

List Dagestan celebrities with world-famous names takes up more than one page. They are the true glory of their small but stubborn people.

Avars are brave and independent mountain people, which has maintained its independence throughout its history: no one has been able to conquer it. In ancient times, their totem animals were wolves, bears and eagles - strong in spirit and body, free, but loyal to their native lands.

Name

The exact origin of the name of the people is unknown. According to one version, it is associated with the ancient nomadic Avars people from Central Asia, who in the 6th century migrated to Central Europe and then to the Caucasus. This version is supported archaeological finds on the territory of modern Dagestan: rich burials of people of the Asian type.

Another version is associated with the ruler of the early medieval state of Sarir named Avar. Some researchers agree that the ancestors of the kings of Sarir were the same Avar tribes. During the period of settlement throughout Europe, they traveled to the Caucasus, where they founded Sarir or, at least, had a significant influence on its formation.

According to the third version, the name of the nationality was given by Turkic tribes, who brought it to the Russians. IN Turkic language the words “avar” and “avarala” mean “restless”, “anxious”, “warlike”, “bold”. The definitions correspond to the Avar character, but in the Turkic language these words were common nouns and could refer to any people, objects or groups.
The first reliable mention of the name dates back to 1404. Diplomat, writer and traveler John de Galonifontibus in his notes included the “Avars” among the peoples of Mountainous Dagestan, along with the Alans, Circassians and Lezgins.
The Avars themselves called themselves Maarulal (in the Avar language MagIarulal). The origin of the word is unknown, and most researchers consider it an untranslatable ethnonym. However, there is a version that the word is translated as “highlander” or “supreme”.
Interestingly, the Avars themselves never called themselves that. They either used the word “magIarulal”, common to all Caucasian peoples, or introduced themselves by the name of the area or community in which they lived.

Where do they live?

The vast majority of Avars live in the Republic of Dagestan, which is a subject of the Russian Federation and is part of the North Caucasus Federal District. They occupy most of mountainous Dagestan, where they lived historically. Some Avars live on the plains in the Kizilyurt, Buynak and Khasavyurt regions. 28% of the population lives in cities, but the main settlement area can be considered the basins of the Avar Koisu, Kara-Koisu and Andean Koisu rivers.
A significant part of the Avars live in other regions of Russia and foreign countries. Among them:

• Kalmykia
• Chechnya
• Azerbaijan
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan

The descendants of the Avars, who have significantly assimilated, but retained their national identification, live in Jordan, Turkey and Syria.

Although the Avars considered themselves united people, they identified smaller ethnic groups within the community, named after the place of residence. Of those surviving up to today stand out including:

• Bagulals, Khvarshins and Chamalins - live in the villages of the Tsumadinsky district;
• Botlikhs and Andians - live in the Botlikh region;
• Akhvakhians - live in the Akhvakh region;
• Bezhta and Gunzib residents - villages of the Bezhta section.

Number

There are more than 1 million representatives of the Avar nation in the world. Most of the nation is located on the territory of the Russian Federation: 912,000 people. 850,000 of them live in their historical homeland - Dagestan.
About 50,000 people live in Azerbaijan - this is one of the largest foreign diasporas. The Avars diaspora in Turkey numbers about 50,000 people, but it is difficult to document this, since the laws of the country do not require indicating nationality.

Language

The language of the Avars belongs to the North Caucasian superfamily, distinguished within it by the Nakh-Dagestan family. There are pronounced dialect differences in different areas, but all Avars easily understand each other. 98% of the population speaks the national language.
Avar writing began to take shape during the Islamization of the region. It was based on the Arabic script, which was taught by educated church ministers to the children of wealthy Avars. Since 1927, the letters were changed to Latin, and at the same time they began to improve the level of education. The alphabet was finally formed only in 1938: it was created on the basis of the Cyrillic alphabet.
Today, the Avar language is taught in primary schools in the mountainous regions of Dagestan. From the fifth grade, teaching is conducted in Russian, and Avar is studied as an additional subject. Along with others national languages it is one of the official languages ​​of the Republic of Dagestan.

Story

The first people appeared on the territory of modern Dagestan as early as 8 thousand years BC. in the Upper Paleolithic-Mesolithic era. In the Neolithic era they already had stone dwellings, and cattle breeding, animal husbandry and agriculture were actively developing. It is believed that the ancestors of the Avars were the tribes of Albanians, Legs and Gels, who were part of the most ancient state in the Eastern Caucasus - Caucasian Albania.

The first stage, which laid the foundation for the national identity of the Avars, dates back to the 6th century new era. During this period, the state of Sarir (also Serir) was born, which existed until the 13th century and was considered the largest and most powerful in early medieval Dagestan. Crafts flourished here, agriculture, passed trade routes. Neighboring states paid tribute to the rulers of Sarir in gold, silver, fabrics, furs, food, and weapons. The unification of the Avars during this period also occurred on religious grounds: in return pagan mythology Orthodoxy has arrived.
Starting from the 12th-13th centuries, Islamic preachers began to have an increasing influence on Sarir, who soon converted almost the entire population to the new faith. At the same time, Sarir is split into small feudal settlements, living independently and uniting only in case of war.
The Mongols repeatedly tried to capture the Avar lands, but they met serious resistance and changed their tactics. In 1242, during the Golden Horde's campaign against Dagestan, an alliance was concluded, supported by dynastic marriages. As a result, the Avars retained their own independence, but under the influence of their allies they formed a new Avar Khanate, which lasted for more than five centuries.

Period of wars

In the 18th century, a new threat loomed over the Avars: the invasion of Nadir Shah, the ruler of the powerful Persian empire, which occupied territories from Iraq to India. The Persian army quickly captured all of Dagestan, but the Avars' resistance could not be broken for several years. The result of the confrontation was a battle in the fall of 1741, which lasted 5 days and ended in victory for the Avars. Nadir Shah's losses were enormous: out of 52 thousand, only 27 thousand soldiers remained alive. The battle was widely described in folk epics. It is also striking that the Persian army used the entire arsenal of weapons of those years, while the Avars used only muskets and sabers.

In 1803, the Avar Khanate ceased to exist, and part of the Avar territories became part of Russian State. However, the Russians did not take into account the freedom-loving mentality of the people: they sharply taxed them, began to cut down forests and develop land. As a result, a national liberation revolution took place, as a result of which the people regained their independence. The Avars and other peoples of the Caucasus rallied under the banner of Sharia, and the supreme imams took on the role of leaders. One of folk heroes Shamil, who led the movement for 25 years, became the leader of the Holy War against the Russians.
Over time, his popularity began to decline, and the Avars again became part of Russia. Remembering past unsuccessful experiences, Russian rulers did their best to encourage the people and soften taxes for them. And a special Avar unit was even part of the elite guard guarding the chambers of the royal family.
After the revolution, part of the Caucasian peoples was united into the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Representatives of the republic bravely showed themselves on the battlefields of the Second World War and made a significant contribution to the development of industry and culture of the republic.

Appearance

Avars are classified as the Caucasian anthropological type, which belongs to the Balkan-Caucasian race. To the main external signs this group includes:

• white skin;
• eyes of green, brown or blue, as well as transitional shades, for example, green-brown;
• “eagle” or even high nose;
• red, dark brown, dark brown or black hair;
• narrow and protruding jaw;
• large head, wide forehead and middle part of the face;
• tall;
• large or athletic build.

Many Avars to this day have retained an appearance that is not similar to the appearance of other Caucasian peoples. However, the influence of neighboring Alans, Chechens, and Lezgins could not but affect the appearance of the Avars. Haplogroups I, J1 and J2 classify the ancestors of the Avars as Semitic peoples and “northern barbarians”, who later had a significant influence on the formation of the Croatian and Montenegrin nations.

Cloth

The clothing of Avar men is similar to the costumes of other Dagestan peoples. Everyday attire consisted of a simple undershirt with a stand-up collar and loose pants. The look was necessarily complemented by a beshmet - a quilted national fitted semi-caftan. The Circassian coat was also widely used - a longer, fitted caftan with a cutout on the chest. Burkas and sheep's coats served as winter clothing; in the off-season, a lining was attached to the beshmet. The look was complemented by a papakha - a tall fur headdress.

Women's clothing varied significantly depending on the region: it could be used to determine not only place of residence, but also social and family status. Most often, the outfit consisted of a long, loose shirt, cut from straight pieces of fabric, with gathered sleeves and a round neckline.
In some areas, it was belted with a bright sash, the length of which reached 3 m. Rich Avarks used a leather belt with silver clasps for this, and wore flared silk capes over their shirts. Young girls preferred green, blue, and red fabrics, while older and married women chose black and brown colors. The traditional headdress is chukta: a cap with bags for braids, over which a scarf was tied.

Men

The man occupied a dominant position and decided all social and financial issues. He fully provided for the family and was responsible for the children, including their upbringing, choice of bride and future profession. Only men had the right to vote, and the age of majority was 15.

Women

Despite the patriarchal structure, the Avars did not have the tyranny of women; they were revered and incredibly respected. Even touching a stranger was considered a disgrace for her, and rape meant blood feud, so it almost never happened.
A woman’s kingdom is the home, here she was in charge and decided all household issues without asking her husband’s opinion. Avar women were valued for hard work, submissive character, decency, honesty, cleanliness, and cheerful disposition. Avarks were distinguished by their slender figure and attractive appearance, which was noted more than once by foreigners who saw them.

Family life

The life of the Avars was based on veneration and respect for the older generation. Thus, the daughter-in-law, coming to her husband’s house, did not have the right to be the first to speak to her father-in-law. Usually the mother-in-law started a conversation the very next day, and the father-in-law's silence could last for years. However, more often the young people lived alone: ​​according to tradition, the husband’s parents built for their son new home and after the wedding they sent him to live there.
There has always been a clear gender division in Avar families. Boys and girls were not allowed to be alone, touch each other, or communicate closely. There was always a male and a female half in the house, and even after the wedding, the woman slept and lived in the same room with the children, and not with her husband. When the boys turned 15, they went to live in their father's bedroom. Children were loved, but from childhood they were taught to work and morality, they were taught military affairs, since the Avars themselves considered themselves a warrior people.

Housing

The Avars lived in houses made of processed stone, located crowded together, which was due to the lack of space in the mountains and for defensive purposes. The houses were quadrangular, one-, two- or three-story with a gallery-terrace equipped for relaxation.

In some villages, the house consisted of one room with an area of ​​80-100 m2, in the center of which there was a hearth and a pillar decorated with carvings, around which they ate and received guests. In multi-room houses, they had to equip a room with a fireplace, carpets and a carved sofa: this is where they rested and received guests.
The Avars settled in related communities - tukhums. They, in turn, united into large settlements - from 30-60 households in the highlands to 120-400 in the foothills and mountains. Each village was headed by an elder, decisions were made jointly in the council. All men took part in it; the heads of the tukhums had the decisive votes.
Most of the villages were surrounded by walls and fortified defensive towers. In the center of the village there was a central square where general meetings and celebrations were held.

Life

Since the Neolithic era, the ancestors of the Avars were actively engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Most of the herds were sheep, about 20% were cattle. For auxiliary needs they kept horses, goats, and poultry.
Farming was terraced and arable. In the highlands it was much more difficult to cultivate the land than in the plains, and due to the limited territory it was more valuable. The main crops grown were wheat, barley, rye, millet, and pumpkin. Plums, cherry plums, peaches, apricots, corn, beans, lentils, and beans were planted in gardens and orchards.

Crafts flourished, among which blacksmithing, jewelry, weapons, pottery, and weaving stood out. The graceful ones were especially famous jewelry from silver and handicrafts of Avar craftswomen:

• warm wool socks
• shawls and scarves
• felt saddle bags
• clothmaking
• embroidery with gold threads
• woven carpets

Military training played a special role in the life of the Avars. Boys with early childhood trained in stick and saber fighting, close combat, and tactics. Later, all types of training moved into the direction of freestyle wrestling, popular throughout Dagestan.

Culture

Avar folklore is represented by legends, fairy tales, proverbs and sayings, as well as songs:

• love
• military
• crying
• heroic
• historical
• lyroepic
• lullabies

All songs, except love songs and lullabies, were sung by men in one voice, melodiously and soulfully. To accompany singers and dancers it was used large number traditional musical instruments. Among them:

1. String instruments: chagur and komuz.
2. Reed: zurna and balaban yasty.
3. Percussion: tambourine and drum.
4. Bowed: chagana.
5. Pipe type: lalu.

The art of chasing silver jewelry and weaving patterns was widely developed. Traditional ornaments and images of wolves and eagles, spiral swastikas, labyrinths, Maltese crosses, solar signs were considered symbols.

Religion

Before the adoption of Christianity, Avars believed in white and black spirits. They asked the former for mercy, recovery, good luck, and from the latter they wore amulets. Totem animals of different ethnic groups there were wolves, bears and eagles. The wolf was called “God's watchman” and was respected for his courage, independence and desire to live by his own rules. Eagles were revered for their strength and love of freedom, and they said that, just as eagles do not fly away to winter in warm regions, so the Avars will never leave their homeland.
During the reign of Christianity, people adhered to Orthodox faith. The ruins of temples and Orthodox burials have survived to this day: one of the well-preserved ones is located near the village of Datuna and dates back to the 10th century. Today, most of the Avars profess Sunni and Shafi'i Islam.

Traditions

Avars' weddings were always held on a grand scale and lasted from three to five days. There were the following options for choosing a bride:

1. By agreement of the parents. They practiced “cradle marriages”, but more often they wooed cousins and sisters, preferring to marry within the tukhum.
2. By the young man's choice. To do this, he came to the house of his chosen one and left his things in it: a knife, a hat, a belt. If the girl agreed, matchmaking began.
3. Against the will of the parents. If the young people fell in love with each other, but their parents did not approve of the choice, the bride and groom ran away and got married. I had to pray for parental blessings after the fact: although such a wedding was considered a shame, forgiveness new family received.
4. At the insistence of society. Those who had spent too much time as girls and widows were taken to the central square and asked to name the free man she liked. The chosen one had to marry if he was not in cahoots with anyone else.

On the first day of the wedding, a noisy feast was held at the groom's friend's place, and only on the second day - in the house of the hero of the occasion. The bride was brought to the evening, wrapped in a carpet, and taken to another room, where she spent the evening with her friends. On the third day, the husband's relatives honored the newlyweds and gave them gifts.

A special rite of passage new family existed among the bride and was called the “rite of the first water.” On the morning of the 3-5th day, the groom's sisters and daughter-in-law gave the daughter-in-law a jug and, singing, went with her to fetch water. After that, she was obliged to get involved in everyday household affairs.

The Avars had a special attitude towards guests: they were received with honor, even if they did not know the purpose of the visit. Any stranger who came to an Avar village was assigned by the elder to stay. In the house he was placed in the best room, cooked holiday dishes, did not pester with questions. The guest, in turn, was not supposed to speak negatively about the food or the host, get up from the table without asking and go to the women's half of the house.

Food

It is a mistake to believe that the main diet of the Avars was meat: it was only an addition to other dishes. The main one is khinkal, which is in no way similar to Georgian khinkali. The dish consisted of large pieces of dough cooked in meat broth with herbs and vegetables. In many villages, instead of khinkal, soups were cooked, the main of which was churpa based on sorrel, beans or lentils.
Every house had flatbread made from thin dough - botishalas. The fillings were meat, cottage cheese with herbs, and cheese with seasonings. The Avars also have an analogue of dumplings: kurze. They are distinguished by their drop-shaped shape, large size and the obligatory pigtail tuck, which allows the filling not to leak out.

Famous Avars

A famous Avar is the poet and prose writer Rasul Gamzatov, who composed a unique Avar hymn: “Song of the Avars.” His works have been translated into dozens of languages; for his special contribution to culture, in 1999 he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree.

The Avars have always been famous for their excellent physical fitness and mastery of martial arts. These titles are confirmed by fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, the current UFC lightweight champion in mixed martial arts.

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