In ancient times, even before the Eastern Slavs (Novgorodians) penetrated into neighboring territories, the entire tribe lived on the vast area of land on the southern side of Lake Onega. There is a definite opinion regarding the name of this tribe: the ancient "whole" has the same origin as the name of the modern Veps. Over a fairly long period of existence, these people were also called miracles, chukharas and kayvans. Its representatives buried their deceased relatives in dirt pits or built for them "houses of death" - small, log-houses set on the surface.
Veps is a nationality representing the Finnish linguistic group of the Ural family and relating itself to the Karelian branches. The closest relatives of this language are Karelian, Finnish and Izhora.
Vepsian history
There is not much information about the history of the Veps. Quite often there is no information about their life over the centuries.
This is primarily due to the fact that the ancient tribes all lived exclusively in the most remote territories, located among lakes, rivers and swamps in the taiga. Agriculture was not enough for this hardworking people to ensure their existence. Therefore, a significant addition to it was fishing. The Vepsians were also engaged in gathering forest gifts. Among the stocks in the peasant's yard, a significant place belonged to:
- fish
- game birds;
- furs;
- cranberries;
- mushrooms.
They were used not only as food. Tribal residents exported a large number of these supplies to city fairs. There, in exchange for them, people of Veps nationality received a significant amount of bread, salt, cloth, tools, and hunting and other goods necessary for ensuring vital functions.
In winter, the inhabitants of these lands harvested forest and transported it to rafting rivers. To do this, they used sled carts. This lesson was also an additional income.
In addition, the Vepsians were engaged in other activities:
- stone-cutting crafts;
- pottery and catalan craft.
Harsh living conditions
The geographical location of the Veps settlements was also characterized by the fact that they were separated by a considerable distance from trade routes, cities and postal tracts. This is due to the fact that they were not actually involved in the socio-political processes that took place in the state.
Despite the adoption of Christianity, much of the national and original was preserved in the life and rites of the Vepsians. But the constant Russian influence nevertheless made adjustments to their way of life, occupation, and culture.
According to some researchers, at the beginning of the 16th century, residents of the Belozersky-Poshekhonsky Territory spoke their own special language, despite their excellent knowledge of Russian and the Orthodox religion.
The first All- Russian population census of 1897 did not record the Veps nationality.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, the Vepsians lived in very difficult conditions. The writer A. Petukhov noted that their life was characterized by "impassability, lack of food, illiteracy, lack of written language."
Soviet period of the Vepsian life
In the 20-30s, the life of the Vepsians changed radically. In 1932, the Committee of the new alphabet was formed. Before him were set such tasks:
- develop the writing of small nations in their languages;
- train national education staff;
- publish educational literature.
The Latin base was used to develop the Vepsian alphabet. There is the opening of a reading room, 57 schools, the construction of hospitals, feldsher-midwife centers, public canteens, nurseries. The Veps branch is opening at the Lodeinopolsky Pedagogical College.
Of great importance for development were the formed national councils and the Oyat (Vinnitsa) national region.
In the mid-30s, the current accounting authorities recorded the maximum number of representatives of this people in the state - about 35 thousand.
Worsening economic conditions and disunity of the Veps
In the late 30s, a new period begins in the lives of people with Veps nationality. He reflected all the complex socio-political processes that took place at that time in our country.
The administrative-territorial transformations are repeatedly carried out, as a result of which disunity of the Veps lands occurs. These changes had a very negative effect on the development of the people, a significant part of whom were relocated to other areas.
Over time, the Vepsian lands became more and more desolate due to the state of the economy of all northern villages.
Now the number of this people in Russia is approximately 13 thousand people. The place where the modern northern Vepsians live is Karelia, the southern ones are the Vologda region, and the middle ones live in the Leningrad region.
Veps appearance
It is very difficult to talk about what kind of appearance the ancient Vepsians had. Most likely, assimilation affected the changes that occurred in it. For many centuries, they have been in contact with all kinds of nations, so they could not avoid mixing blood.
At first glance, modern Vepsians seem completely ordinary people, whose appearance does not have any pronounced national signs. These people have white and black hair, thin and full physique, small and large stature, they are beautiful and not very.
But, despite this, they are an independent people living on their territory.
Veps women clothes
Vepsian traditional clothing was festive and everyday. On a typical day, women wore a woolen or half-woolen skirt with a longitudinal or striated pattern. Mandatory subject was an apron, which was red for girls and black for women in years. A long linen shirt with sleeves was decorated with a beautiful ornament on the hem.
Women knew how to embroider very beautifully. Therefore, it was often possible to meet a northerner dressed in 2 or 3 shirts. At the same time, they were lifted in such a way that their edges formed a wide pattern. This greatly improved the appearance of the Veps women, their appearance and self-esteem.
In order to sew a daily sundress, they used homespun canvas. For festive clothing, fabrics were bought. Complete with a sarafan, they also wore a gascoat (vest), and in the cold they put on a shugai (jacket with buttons) made of cloth.
In winter, women wore a fur coat or short fur coat made from sheepskin. The festive version of this clothing was made of rabbit hair and was covered with bright silk or woolen fabrics that have large patterns.
What men wore
Veps men's suits consisted of shirts and two pants, which were pulled by a cord at the waist. Shirts were let out and girdled with leather or woven belts. Ancient shirts are embroidered, while more modern ones are painted.
In the 19th century, they began to use dark purchased fabric for sewing upper pants. Shirts also changed, which began to be sewn from purchased chintz or kumach. Winter men's clothing of this nation is represented by cloth caftans, sheepskin sheepskin coats, covered with cloth, straight fur-free coats.
Since the mid-19th century, the Vepsian holiday clothing included a poddevka - a kind of demi-season coat that has assemblies and knee-length.
Features of Veps housing and life
Most likely, the housing of the ancient Vepsians was practically no different from Karelian houses. These were log cabins of wooden half-dugouts with a hearth. Over time, the construction of individual outbuildings began:
- a barn for storing food;
- rigs for threshing grain;
- stall;
- baths.
The construction of the latter was most often carried out by the Northern Vepsians. The southern part of this people for a very long time used ordinary household sands for such purposes. Traditional Vepsian housing was a whole complex that combined the house and all the outbuildings.
In addition to the corner connection of the buildings, the main feature of the Veps house was the presence of an even number of windows and the absence of a covered porch. They had such Veps household items as:
- tables, benches and beds made of wood;
- cradle for children;
- Russian stove;
- tub with a washstand;
- weaving mill.
Traditions and customs of the Veps people
Vepsians belong to the Orthodox peoples. But for quite a long time they were characterized by signs of paganism. Among the Vepsians there were sorcerers who communicated with spirits, healed and sent damage. With the advent of churches and monasteries, they disappeared, but the healers and witches remained.
Veps is a nation that has its own signs and beliefs. In order to build a house or bury a person, it was necessary to “buy out” the land. Clothing for the deceased person was chosen only white and always washed.
The Vepsians took a special approach to building a house. The customs of this event were as follows:
- a cat was let into the new house on the first night;
- the first to enter the house was the head of the family with bread and an icon;
- after the head, his wife entered the house with a cock and a cat;
- they brought a hot coal from the old house to the new;
- never started building a hut on the trail.
The traditions of the Vepsians are closely related to their beliefs:
- the spirits of heaven
- brownies;
- water;
- the spirits of the forest, yard, barn and others.
For example, the water in their view was a living being, because the spirit dwelt in it. If you do not read it, he will not give fish, drown or find a disease. Therefore, they did not throw anything into the water, nor did they wash their boots in it.
Vepsian food was also traditional. The main place in it belonged to fish. Besides her, they also used rye bread, which was baked on their own, ear. Locals quenched thirst with turnip kvass, oat jelly, wild berry drinks, milk and whey. Tea, like home-made beer, were festive drinks. And meat dishes were prepared only for the holidays and hard physical work.
This distinctive people, having an interesting culture, customs and folklore, had to endure many troubles. The fate of the inhabitants of the northern regions of Veps nationality has never been easy. But, despite this, they remained an independent people living in their tribal territory.