BENEVOLENCE

BENEVOLENCE is a set laconic verbal formula­expression of ceremonial folklore. It exists in the folklore of many peoples. Its origin is connected with ancient beliefs in the magic of words. It is uttered in crucial moments of a person’s life (birth, wedding, funeral, start of end of important business) or during the celebrations of calendar holidays (Great day, Nauruz, etc.) There are universal B.: “May your bright day come!” (Bashk.), “May you (always) prosper in spheres you need the most! (Udmurt), “May you always be happy like spring, healthy like water, rich like earth” (Ukr.), etc.; and special B. (dedicated to household activities, buying of new clothing, etc.): “May we have much honey and let swarm come after swarm!” (Bashk.), “May you wear it until it is worn out on your body!” (Udmurt), etc. B. were an integral part of kolyadkas and wedding songs for Eastern Slavic peoples of Bashkortostan. The texts of B. exalted the hosts to the status of a royal family, compared to heavenly bodies: “Oh you, Osip­tsar, / The master of heaven! / May that Lord / Live long life. / May the cattle bring offspring, / May our harvest grow, / and may our Lord / live without worries” (Ukr. The poetics of the genre often uses the word “may” to make the expression of will more emotional and sincere.   

V.Ya. Babenko, F.G. Galieva, T.G. Minniyakhmetova, M.A. Pilipak