FOLK GAMES

FOLK GAMES, historically established fun and entertainment activities, sports, dances, song contests and other types of competitions. They entertain and at the same reflect the traditional worldview, beliefs, customs, folklore, social relations and household activities of a people. The Bashkirs F.g. were based on the nomadic cultural traditions of Turkic peoples. They contained elements typical for the agricultural tradition of Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples. They comprised the basic components of traditional holidays, and rituals. F.g., considered as public and family holidays, can be conventionally divided into the holidays and rituals, dedicated to the key phases of a person’s life (birth and death, transition from one age category to another, marriage) and those marking the key calendar-based dates and ceremonies (ref. Folk calendar). Most of the F.g. contain the elements of rivalry and competition. Depending on the gender and age of the participants there were games for children, juniors and adults, men and women. In terms of cognitive content there are F.g., reflecting the surrounding animal world, various phenomena of nature and social life, labor processes, household life. In terms of structure there are the following types of F.g.: with a plot (Witch, Bear and Hares, Hide the Handkerchief, etc) and without a plot, based on competition (Burners, Sticky Hemps, etc); individual (Put the Ring, Pulling a Stick, etc) and team (Banner Game, Middle Ball, etc); making use of certain objects (Ball and a Stick, Accurate Ball, etc) and without them; equestrial (Chase the Girl, etc) and on-foot (Racing Game, Ball in Holes, etc), etc. There was a special category of games where the participants competed in wit, the ability to resist laughter, etc. Depending on the venue, there were domestic games such as Girls’ Night, Star Gazer, etc and field games — Dance in a Round, Scarf Throwing, Ball in the Hole, Ball Play, etc). There were also sport games (Archery, Gray Wolf and many others), which reflected the military skills of the Bashkirs, in particular, the skill of horse riding (ref. Military service of Bashkirs). Solo and group dance games such as Beat the Hemp, Shepherd, Dance in a Round, Black-Rooster Game, etc) were especially popular. In spring and summer time “evening games” and traditional nation-wide holidays took place among young people. In spring they were arranged on the slope of the mountain, in summer — on the bank of the river or on the outskirts of the village. Competitions were held among dumbyr, kubyz, and kuray and other musical instruments players, as well as performers of takmak, solo and group dances. There were games that allowed young people to show their talents, to express kind feelings for each other (White Poplar, Blue Poplar, Beat with a Belt, Catch-up and many others). There was a custom of “taking good luck”: young people were invited for evening games from the neighbouring auls and were offered to participate in a competition in horse riding. Dance competitions (Against Each Other, Dance in a Round, etc) were very popular too. During the girls’ nights there were such games as Blind Ram and others, the girls also competed in needleworks. Men’s nights were accompanied by conversations on everyday topics, funny songs, jokes, playing musical instruments, etc. There are many Bashkir F.g. that are common among other peoples of the region as well. Those are Jugglers, Hide and Seek, Burners, Chizhik, etc.