The research history, sources and typology of georgian folk holidays

The research of the folk holidays became one of the main directions of studies for the Georgian ethnologists. Since the very beginning of the ethnographic researches to nowadays there are elaborated plenty of scholarly works, which are the excellent examples of ethnographies. According to the Georgian scholars the system of Georgian folk holidays is an integral part of traditional Georgian culture. A large group of holidays originates from the archaic system of thought. Some of them have disappeared throughout the centuries, while others continue to be practiced in a transformed form: the elements of archaic beliefs are attached to the beliefs and representations of Georgians. After the spread of the new religion Christianity, Christian theology becomes the guiding and nourishing source of spiritual culture of Georgians. Georgian national culture is formed by the synthesis of rich local culture and Christian knowledge. The Christian worldview appears as the guiding mechanism of the spiritual, social and even economic culture of the people in the Middle Ages. The church calendar and the main dogmas of Christianity guide the daily life of Georgians: law, ethics and etiquette issues, kinship system, marriage relations, funeral traditions, nutrition system, annual economic cycle, etc. This system existed in the 19th century and until the 20s of the 20th century, before Sovietization. Since this time the Christian religion was declared a superstition, and the state apparatus and its ideology openly fought against the Christian worldview and practice. The church calendar of the Orthodox Georgians was originally based on Jerusalem practice, and then the calendar reformed by Giorgi Mtatsmindeli was introduced. The difficult political situation of the late Middle Ages changed the religious situation of Georgians. As a result of the Ottoman conquests, a part of Georgians gradually became followers of Sunni Islam, while a part of Meskhetians joined the Catholic denomination. Later, due to various circumstances, one group of Georgians became the adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Despite such changes, the majority of Georgians still follow the Orthodoxy and the system of Georgian folk holidays appears as a vivid element of culture. Some Georgian folk holidays were also preserved by Muslim Georgians, for example, Shuamtoba, Marioba, New Year celebrations, Gargnoba, etc. The traditional system of folk celebrations is still partially valid, and their scientific research is ongoing process.