The Significance of the Caucasus Traditions

Luiza Sardalova

Chechen State University Named After A.A. Kadyrova, Grozny, Russian Federation

Keywords: Customs and Traditions, National Culture, Education of People, Deep Respect, Close Ties, Friendship with

Fraternal People, Patriotism, Heroism, Courage, Spiritual Culture.

Abstract: The traditions and customs of the Chechens are imbued with genuine humanism and human ideals. Many of

these traditions fit perfectly into our present reality and are a powerful factor in the formation of consciousness

and the corresponding behavior of people. And one of the manifestations of this true spirit of the people is its

attitude towards other peoples. The customs and traditions of the Chechens are based on a deeply humane

relationship between people, the moral education of entire generations. Over the course of many centuries,

folk customs and traditions inspired by high humanistic ideals have evolved in the North Caucasus. Chechen

patriotism has many faces, it manifests itself in various forms, ranging from difficult times to mass labor

heroism during the years of peaceful construction.

1 INTRODUCTION

An important factor in educating a new person who

understands his involvement in the state of affairs in

society, his responsibility for the fate of the

Motherland, accepting the joys of the country as a

personal holiday, and the troubles of the country as a

personal grief, is not an easy task, but doable and

necessary. This work is impossible without the

fruitful use of national customs and traditions that

have evolved over the centuries.

All peoples have their own, already formed in the

course of a long historical process, spiritual culture,

in which there are universal, moral values, norms and

rules of behavior. These norms and rules of behavior

do not depend on the size of the population, on the

number of people.

Over the course of many centuries, folk customs

and traditions inspired by high humanistic ideals have

evolved in the North Caucasus. It is difficult to

understand the psychology of a people without

knowledge of its indigenous customs and traditions,

without a comprehensive study. Today we are faced

with an important task, as the implementation of the

connection of the continuity of times in the spiritual

development of generations. We need to know the

past in order to correctly navigate the present and the

future. It is necessary to deeply analyze our past, not

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5188-7199

only the bright moments of our life, but also our

mistakes, our mistakes, tragedies.

2 RESEARCH METHODS

The product of the long historical development of the

national spiritual culture is traditions and customs.

They have always played a huge role both in the life

of the whole nation and each person. Attitude to

national traditions, customs is an integral part of the

problem of attitude to the culture of the people, its

identity, to the entire national spiritual heritage of the

past. Moreover, customs and traditions are most

directly related to the main issue - the formation of

personality.

At present, it is quite obvious that one of the

effective ways to form the consciousness of a person

of any nationality is a comprehensive concern for the

preservation, further development and active use of

all that progressive, folk that is in the spiritual culture

of the entire Chechen people.

Modern society has always proceeded from the

need for careful attention and all kinds of support for

progressive elements in the national cultural heritage.

Our society highly appreciates everything beautiful in

nature, in society, in people, actions and relationships

with each other.

Sardalova, L.

The Signiﬁcance of the Caucasus Traditions.

DOI: 10.5220/0011608000003577

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Actual Issues of Linguistics, Linguodidactics and Intercultural Communication (TLLIC 2022), pages 111-114

ISBN: 978-989-758-655-2

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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We are witnessing fundamental changes,

improvements in all spheres of life in our society.

Positive processes create the most favorable

conditions for the further development of national

cultures, as well as traditions and customs, as their

integral component.

The peoples of the North Caucasus have

wonderful customs and traditions. Such ancient

peoples of the Caucasus as the Chechens and Ingush

are no exception. Customs and traditions have always

occupied a large place in the life of the Chechen

people, they have evolved over the centuries. Many

of these traditions fit perfectly into our present reality

and are a powerful factor in the formation of

consciousness and the corresponding behavior of

people. The famous writer V. G. Gogol wrote: "True

nationality does not consist in the description of a

sundress, but in the very spirit of the people."

(Abazatov, 1973)

Not only in the past, but also in the present, it is

difficult to find a person who would not feel a sense

of pride in the progressive traditions and customs of

his people. Therefore, their skillful and active use is

called upon to increase the effectiveness of work in

educating people, especially young people.

People of more than 70 nationalities lived here in

Soviet times, since the Chechen Republic is one of the

national republics of the North Caucasus.

The history of the Chechens is more represented

in legends and stories. legends, due to the poor

development of writing, complete illiteracy.

Although the children knew and spoke the spoken

Chechen language in their native language, literacy

was very low.

The best representatives of Russia treated the

Caucasian peoples with a deep sense of respect.

Tolstoy and Lermontov, Pushkin, Yesenin and other

representatives of the great people devoted many

pages to the Caucasus. The authors carried great love

in their hearts, respect, paid tribute to the courage,

nobility and other best human qualities of the peoples

of the Caucasus, including the Chechens.

M.Yu. Lermontov sang about how much he loves

the Caucasus. And it is not by chance that V.G.

Belinsky noted that the Caucasus was the cradle of

Russian poets, the inspirer, their poetic homeland.

(Bokov, 1992).

The great writer L.N. Tolstoy kept memories of

the fertile land for the rest of his life. He played a huge

role in his life and work. It was here that he had the

ideas for future wonderful works. Lev Nikolaevich

wrote in his diary that it was here that he became

better, as he himself feels it. How firmly I am sure

that whatever happens to him here, everything is for

his good. (Sardalova, 2020).

At the same time, it should be noted that the roots

of the relationship led not only to the Caucasus, but

also back to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Chechens -

Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Pyotr

Zakharov and a participant in the Patriotic War of

1812, military general Alexander Chechensky - are

one of the clearest confirmations of this. Any person

from the peoples of the Caucasus can give such

examples.

For a long time, the Chechens were in close

cultural and religious ties with the geographically,

culturally and spiritually close Georgian people.

Neighbors always came to each other's aid during the

terrible invasions of foreign invaders, shared together

the joy of victory and the bitterness of defeat.

The Chechens also maintained friendly and

fruitful ties with the peoples of the North Caucasus.

There was a cultural, spiritual kinship of the North

Caucasian peoples from the commonality of their

historical development in the past. The history of

these peoples testifies that their ancestors, living in

the neighborhood for centuries, have long been

engaged in intensive mutual cooperation in the field

of economy, trade, and culture. All this contributed to

the development of common features in their culture,

spiritual appearance, mental make-up, traditions and

customs.

Speaking about the history of Russian-Chechen

relations, it should be noted that for centuries these

peoples have been bound by close ties of friendship,

fraternal assistance from the Russian people.

At the same time, an important lever for educating

a new person, imbued with an understanding of his

personal involvement and responsibility for the state

of affairs in society, for the fate of our Fatherland,

who, in joy and trouble, would perceive him as a

personal holiday and personal grief, is the education

of history, the formation of historical memory all

Russian people. It should be noted that such work is

impossible without the active and fruitful use of

progressive national customs and traditions of all

peoples.

All peoples, regardless of the number, have their

own spiritual culture, where there are moral values,

rules of conduct. Indeed, customs and traditions are

the basis of any nation. Russian writers emphasized

the obedience of man to his traditions and customs.

TLLIC 2022 - I INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "ACTUAL ISSUES OF LINGUISTICS, LINGUODIDACTICS AND

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION"

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3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The peoples of the North Caucasus have always

maintained their traditions, which have evolved over

the centuries. Among the inhabitants of the North

Caucasus, including the Chechens, the travelers did

not find any special differences in everyday life, in

the way of life. A. Dumas, a father, a subtle and

observant person, could not emphasize the difference

between the different peoples of the Caucasus. The

writer said that the peoples of the Caucasus are

fearless warriors, reliable friends and generously

receive guests. (Tsutsulaeva, 2020).

A person needs to remember his past, to know it,

in order to correctly build his future, to navigate the

present. Anatoly Ananiev, a well-known author,

wrote that there is a past, present and future, and

between these concepts that define life, there is a

connection that cannot be interrupted. From the

understanding of the connection of times, the

continuity of generations, the brightest feelings grow

- the feeling of the Motherland, patriotism.

(Ibragimov, 2007)

Indeed, without a deep and unbiased analysis of

the history of our society, not only bright moments,

but also mistakes, tragedies associated with enormous

and unjustified human losses during the years of

revolutions and wars, it would be impossible to build

a new life in the name of the future of our Motherland.

In fact, a lot of peoples live in Russia, whose

traditions and rituals are considered wild for a modern

Russian person. However, each culture is interesting

and unusual in its own way. (Ibragimov, 2015)

People have always shared what they have with

their neighbors, it never occurred to anyone to ask

about nationality or religion, if only out of curiosity

or to study culture. In the Caucasus, people have

always lived like brothers, as they say, both in joy and

in sorrow, helping each other, adopting everything

good, useful for life.

Man is a rational creature that strives for unity, for

brotherhood, for good neighborly relations. After all,

if we keep warm,

friendly and trusting relationships, it is easy and

pleasant at heart, our mood improves, we feel

confident and calm.

Here we must note that one of the significant

traditions of the Caucasian peoples is patriotism. This

is a social phenomenon, the root of which is fed by

the source of the native land. After all, wherever

people from the Chechen Republic, from the

Caucasian peoples are, they are kind to their

Motherland, to their native land, they remember and

preserve their original folk customs and traditions.

Without true love for the Motherland, there is

probably no true love for humanity. The motherland

is part of humanity. This is a strong bond that cannot

be broken without suffering.

Chechens, and indeed all Caucasian peoples, are

strongly attached to the land of their fathers, to the

land of their ancestors. This is a true feeling of

devotion, love for the native land. All the peoples of

Russia have a feeling of patriotism, including the

Russian people. Patriotism, combined with morality,

is a powerful factor in the courage, steadfastness,

bravery and heroism of the Chechens.

No less courage was shown by the inhabitants in

the post-war restoration of the Chechen Republic.

The population of the republic highly appreciated this

labor feat of the entire Chechen people.

Today the Chechen Republic is a flourishing land,

with beautiful buildings and alleys, new houses and

squares, where numerous tourists come. This is an

order-bearing republic.

The patriotism of the Chechens, like that of all the

peoples of Russia, has many faces, it manifests itself

in a variety of forms, ranging from difficult times to

mass labor heroism during the years of peaceful

construction. It should be noted that for a person, the

land where he was born, grew up, where he spent his

childhood, where he felt parental warmth - this is the

place with which the brightest memories are

associated, this is the most valuable feeling that a

person sacredly keeps throughout his life.

Memories of one's small homeland are always a

strong support for a person in a difficult moment of

his life. Before our eyes there are such psychological

pictures filled with love for the fatherland as a quiet

rustle of leaves after waking up in the morning, a

white birch near the school, a river flowing near the

house, a tree growing in the yard. These memories

gave a person strength in his difficult life path. For

Chechens, love for the motherland is the beauty of the

mountains, transparent and clean rivers, native

forests. Great love for the small Motherland inspires

artists, writers and poets to create beautiful works.

Mankind must understand that the culture of

different peoples must penetrate and live in one

country without infringing on the interests of other

peoples. A careful attitude to the values of another

culture, to their customs and traditions, as well as the

prudent use of natural resources is one of the

manifestations of Chechen patriotism, like all the

peoples of Russia.

The Signiﬁcance of the Caucasus Traditions

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4 CONCLUSIONS

Traditions form the basis of a family society. This is

an important part of our culture. Traditions and

customs remind us that we are part of a history that

shapes our past, present and future. Humanity should

not ignore the significance of its traditions, for it is

fraught with the loss of human identity. We must seek

to reinforce values and beliefs by every means

available to us. Otherwise, values will dissolve in

time and we will lose our history.

Culture, customs, traditions are inseparable

concepts from each other. We understand that culture

is the lifeblood of any living society. Culture is the

source of life, the way we imagine our future,

remember the past, our creative expression helps our

friends see the world through our eyes. People

participate in human cultural life in different ways: as

professionals or spectators. Thanks to better

education, great tolerance and the opportunity to unite

with other peoples, culture, traditions improve the

quality of our life, our general well-being.

An important feature of the upbringing of a new

person who understands his involvement in the state

of affairs in society, his responsibility for the fate of

the Motherland, accepting the joys of the country as a

personal holiday, and the troubles of the country as a

personal grief, is not an easy task, but doable and

necessary. This work is impossible without the

fruitful use of national customs and traditions that

have evolved over the centuries.

Most peoples have their own, already formed in

the course of a long historical process, spiritual

culture, in which there are universal, moral values,

norms and rules of behavior. These norms and rules

of behavior do not depend on the size of the

population, on the number of people.

One of the urgent scientific problems is the study

of the traditional culture of raising children, a

comprehensive analysis of the folk traditions of

education, folk pedagogy of the Chechens, as well as

other peoples of the Caucasus. (Sardalova, 2020)

From such positions it is necessary to consider and

evaluate the role and significance of the progressive

national customs and traditions of the peoples of the

North Caucasus, including the Chechens.

Simplicity, dignity, sociability, fidelity to friends

were considered pronounced character traits of the

Chechen people. (The peoples of the Caucasus in the

Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, 2005)

These customs and traditions, if used correctly,

can be an important factor in the formation of people's

moral consciousness. The Caucasian peoples have a

lot of good things. They have an extreme respect for

old age; the advice of an experienced old man always

has a great influence on young people, and hospitality

is the most important part of their life. In conclusion,

it should be noted that the people as a whole cannot

but be wise. His aspirations are always imbued with

genuine humanism, high human ideals. And one of

the manifestations of this true spirit of the people is

its attitude towards other peoples.

REFERENCES

Abazatov, M. A., 1973. Chechen-Ingush ASSR in the Great

Patriotic War of the Soviet Union.

Bokov, H. H., 1992. Road of sorrow and courage: On the

deportation of the peoples of the North Caucasus in

1944. p. 26.

Tsutsulaeva, S. S., 2020. Chechen warriors at the final

stage of the Great Patriotic War. 2 (46). pp. 57-62.

Ibragimov, M. M., Khatuev, I. Z., 2007. The truth about the

participation of the peoples of the Chechen Republic in

the Great Patriotic War.

Ibragimov, M. M., Khatuev, I. Z., 2015. Feat for the

Motherland (The contribution of the Chechen people to

the victory over fascism during the Great Patriotic War

of 1941-1945.

Sardalova, L. R., 2020. Features of the study of foreign

culture and language. pp. 83-88.

The peoples of the Caucasus in the Great Patriotic War

1941-1945, 2005. p. 3.

Sardalova L.R., 2020. Features of the study of foreign

culture and language. Humanities and social sciences -

Rostov-on-Don, № 2, pp.257-264.

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INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION"

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