The demon  albasty  in the childbirth rituals of the Kazakhs. Function and attributes

Yuliya Naumova

doi:10.28995/2686-7249-2016-12-65-71

The demon albasty in the childbirth rituals of the Kazakhs. Function and attributes

Yuliya Naumova

https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2016-12-65-71

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Abstract

The article focuses on contemporary notions of the Kazakhs of North Kazakhstan on albasty - a demonic character known to many Turkic peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The article examines this character’s attributes and functions manifested through prohibitions, teachings, and memorates, mostly associated with the traditional maternity cycle. The Kazakhs believe that albasty try to steal some essential organ from a woman’s body, usually during childbirth. In many Turkic peoples’, traditions this character exists in various guises, but it has a number of stable characteristics and functions considered in detail in the article.

Keywords

казахский фольклор, казахская демонология, демонологический персонаж, албасты, родильный обряд, Kazakh folklore, Kazakh demonology, demonic character, albasty, birth ritual,

About the Author

Yuliya Naumova

Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation

References

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Supplementary files

For citation: Naumova Y. The demon albasty in the childbirth rituals of the Kazakhs. Function and attributes. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2016;(12):65-71. https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2016-12-65-71

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