Celebration of Georgab at Ossetians. History of the holiday, customs

The celebration of Georhoub among the Ossetians is dedicated to St. Uastyrdzhi. For the help to him, mostly men are addressed. He also protects the disadvantaged and can guide the true path of those who have lost their way. This celebration is one of the most important in Ossetia. To prepare and conduct it responsibly. Moreover, Ossetians are so honored by the tradition that the holiday remained the same as it was decades ago.

general information

In the last week of November, there is a responsible day, to which all Ossetians are carefully trained. Georhuba is celebrated at the end of agricultural work and passes the same way in both the northern and southern regions. Moreover, other nations and ethnic groups living in Ossetia are also positive about the triumph - for them it has become a native one.

On the eve of the holiday, which always comes on Monday and lasts until the end of the week, each family pins an animal for sacrifice. The pre-holiday Sunday is called "the day of the bull's stabbing."

On Monday, the celebration is focused only on the family circle. The head of the killed animal is delivered to the table, as well as three pies called prayer. The elder in the family says words of gratitude, after which they start the celebration. Women sit at a separate table, since Uastyrji is the patron of men.

All the rest of the week Ossetians visit their neighbors, friends and relatives. On the last day of the holiday, they say goodbye, and it happens again with the family.

Principles of celebration

Djeorgub is an Ossetian folk festival, the history of which dates back to the past. To the table at this time you can not serve fish, pork or poultry. The main diet is beef or lamb. The main dish is the head of a bull or sheep cooked according to a national recipe.

At the beginning, the elders of the family proceed to the meal. They leave large and juicy pieces of meat to young boys so that the new generation grows healthy and strong. Women have not previously participated in the celebration, but today they also celebrate it with the rest.

Even when the week of celebrations ends, no one forgets about St. Uastyrdzhi. Toasts and prayers in his honor are uttered constantly, no matter what happens. It can be a birthday, an anniversary, a wedding or even a corporate party.

History of occurrence

Georhoub's feast among the Ossetians is based on the Nart epic. He came to the country from the distant past, and today no one can say for sure exactly when the tradition began to celebrate the day of St. Uastyrji. It is only known that the celebration itself did not change at all. The same dishes are served on the table, the principles and traditions are similar.

Since Georhuba is a holiday in honor of the Ossetian saint, on this day it is customary to turn their prayers only to him. But markers do not forget about God. Despite the fact that the saint patronizes men, toasts are raised in honor of women.

Who is Uastyrdzhi?

As you know, the Georhoub holiday of Ossetians is dedicated to one of the saints of this nation. This is the great Uastyrdzhi, who came to their Nart epics. He is often compared to St. George, who appears in Christian writings. He is the patron saint of men, travelers and warriors.

Most likely, such an attitude towards Ustyrdzhi is based directly on the fact that the saint lived just like the rest of the people. He led a habitual way of life, was a mountaineer. Even before his death did a lot of good. Being the messenger of the Most High, he always guided the true path of everyone who addressed him. It can be unequivocally said that even today any Ossetian will always get his support before starting to do anything.

In 1995, Uastyrdzhi put a monument - the image of a man on horseback. This once again proves that the holiday of Djeorgub in Ossetia is really revered. The weight of the monument is 28 tons. Usually, when cars pass by him, drivers stop to bow before the main of their saints.

Traditions and Rites

Every year the Georhoub Festival is held approximately equally. The only difference is that not all families can afford a large scale. After he is celebrated with his family, the Ossetians visit their neighbors. Usually those people who are friendly with each other, agree on who, when and to whom comes into the house. There are often cases when all celebrating people drop off at a celebration. But in modern times there are no old problems with money, therefore this tradition has remained only in villages and small settlements.

During the celebration directly at the table, the senior member of the family says a toast to the Almighty. The second glass is drunk for the divine envoy of Uastyrji. To each of them during the utterance of a toast they are treated with words, so that they preserve the whole family and each of its members in particular.

In modern times, women also take part in the celebration, only they sit down for another part of the table. Toasts and prayers are not pronounced, but they can drink and rejoice along with the rest.

Conclusion

The Ossetians greatly respect each of their saints. However, there is one that has become closer to the people, to ordinary people. Men, travelers, destitute, unfairly offended - each person could turn to St. Uastyrji in his prayers. And for many decades he always helped the needy. And the fact that the holiday of Djeorgub among the Ossetians is still celebrated with great scope and observance of national traditions and rituals is a direct confirmation of this.