UDMURT CLOTHES IN TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES

Abstract

This article discusses the role of traditional clothing in Udmurt ritual practices. The way garments are worn, the use of items and rites and, most of all, the semantics of costume patterns tell us about the inseparable connection between costumes and ritual ceremonies, and about the deep symbolic significance attributed to the costumes by the participants of the ritual. The main familial cult of the Udmurts is vorshood. The vorshood complex is multifaceted and polysemantic. It is embodied in the area, in poetry, in prayers, in legends and in rituals. The vorshood family tree has the highest sacral significance to Udmurts. Tree symbols prevail in items of embroidery and decorations. One can see embroidered trees on the śulyks (kerchiefs), belts, headscarves, sleeves of a shirt and on breastplates. The holistic woman figure in the costume is compared to the world tree not only in the Udmurt traditions. The costume, with its ’magic’ symbolism, in a traditional society is inseparable from ritual activities, whereas costume patterns act like ‘guides’ for human beings to the supreme powers of nature. It is vividly seen by the example of Udmurt costume ornaments.