Features of rituals and customs of the Cossack era: cultural aspect

This article examines the peculiarities of the rites and customs of the Cossack era from the point of cultural studies. The article describes the customs associated with the departure of the Cossack to war. The success of a military campaign depended on the observance of established customs and the obligatory rites. An example can be the rite of “simplification” – blessing by parents, saying goodbye to them, saying goodbye to neighbors, the community and the environment. Thanks to the heroic Cossack resistance today we have our statehood and independence. State independence gave Ukrainians more opportunities to realize their identity and to study their history and culture more deeply. Cossackism is a special phenomenon in Ukrainian history. First of all, it arises as a resistance to the invading of the enemies. Cossack ritualism and customs are the basis of the way of life of Ukrainians in their everyday life. The history of the Cossacks has bequeathed us wonderful examples of melos, folklore, art, military traditions, customs and rites, examples of Cossacks pedagogy which was built on national priorities, morality and spirituality of the individual.