Naasmise motiiviga rituaalid tšuvaššide nekrutiks saatmise kombestikus

Though recruit rites have been formed since the beginning of the XVIII century after the introduction of a recruit duty, seeing off soldiers was strongly approved in family ceremonies of the people of Russia. In the thoroughness of ceremonial forms and representations, ceremonies of seeing off soldiers make considerable concessions to wedding and funeral rituals. However, thus they find a close connection with them and represent a rather developed ceremonial complex. Now many of the traditional customs of seeing off soldiers are not actively used; however, the ceremonial of recruit complex continues to occur, though in a truncated view. Also many magic beliefs and the ritual actions concerning recruit rites retain relevance. Among them scientific interest is represented by rituals with the motif of the return of the soldier from military service. In the real work on the example of Chuvashs of the Ural-Volga region the author considers various ritual actions the purpose of which was ensuring the safe return home of the soldier. Cases in point chronologically belong to the middle of XIX – the beginning of the XX century when these representations still actively occurred and retained their importance. The article is written on the basis of literary and archival sources and field materials of the author.