To understand what nepotism is, you need to look into the history of the Slavic peoples. Even before the advent of Christianity, it was a folk tradition, custom, sisterhood, which later the church was endowed with its current meaning, like many folk rites. After all, carols, Shrovetide, the search for
a fern flower, jumping over a bonfire at the
festival of Ivan Kupala take roots from ancient times and were confined to Christian holidays. But still: what does the word “nepotism” mean in the Christian tradition? Kumovya is, first of all, relatives, though not by blood, but by the Sacrament of Baptism.
The relationship is based on the relationship between the godfather and the godmother with the parents of the godson and between them. For many centuries, the traditions of nepotism have developed, now they have entered our lives, and we do not think about their essence and origin. Some church sacraments become an inviolable law, while society simply does not pay attention to others.
Christian rules
Always sexual intercourse between the kuma (kum) and the parent of the child was considered a mortal sin. A husband and wife or a pregnant woman could never become godparents. The refusal of nepotism was also considered a great sin. There are many other prohibitions in the rules of spiritual kinship.
Clicked and buy-in godfathers
It must be said that in Russia and Ukraine there have always been called (clicked) godfathers, counter (cut). They were appointed when the child was dying in the family. Parents invited to christen the next newborn baby of the first people they met that they came across on the way.
In further relations, the oncoming godfather was always more honorable than the called one. But even more respect was the paying godfather, he was invited when the children were often sick. The baptismal rite in the church, of course, was not carried out, but there was another - a home ritual. Redeeming godfathers took the sick child from the hands of their parents, who passed it through the open door of the house - through the threshold. After the transfer ritual, the kid had to change into everything new. In the future, paying parents replaced godparents, whose rights from that moment were ignored.
From this moment in the family there were two godfathers. The sounding was also revered and did not interrupt relations with him.
There is still double, and even triple, nepotism, which is common in Western Ukraine, where it is customary to invite several pairs of godparents.
The responsibilities of the godparents
In many regions of Ukraine, godfathers are now spiritual mentors for godchildren. Unfortunately, in our time it is generally accepted that godparents should simply give gifts to their godson and not take any part in his upbringing and development. If you look at how the godparents are chosen for the baby, you can clearly notice the tendency of parents' interest. But the most important rule when choosing godparents for a child is to be believers who are aware of responsibility and are proud of their trust. They must convey to the child the basics of the Christian religion. Kumovye is a guardian who, in the event of the death of his parents, should take care of his godchildren.
Nowadays, nepotism has acquired some other traditions, now more everyday than spiritual trends are observed. Kumovya are friends who want to be related. New relatives often meet together to celebrate holidays, play weddings, and just communicate more - they are friends of families. Be sure to send birthday greetings to Kumov, in the age of technological progress, television, broadcasting, and mobile communications are connected to the greetings. For the Slavic peoples, the topic of nepotism is an inexhaustible source of sayings, jokes, creativity - this is a storehouse of folk wisdom and folklore.