As in Russia women were called, or What was the difference between a girl and a girl

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The fair sex can be called both a girl and a girl. Only the first one sounds worthy, and the second option - dismissive. How was it in the old days? It turns out that earlier in Russia there was a whole social abyss between these words. A representative of the upper class would never call his daughter a girl, but among the common people this was very common. At the same time, the women were not offended, since this option was the usual conversational manner. Read what was put into the concept of "girl", who were called girls and what relation the hay girl had to the hay.

Girl - it sounds proudly and special ceremonies to indicate a new social and age status

In old Russia, the word girl was applied to sexually mature girls who were representatives of the upper class and had not yet married. If you read Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language, then you can understand that the girl is a female in the transitional state from adolescence to youth.

When a teenage girl began to look prettier, she became more seductive, and the physiological processes "screamed" about growing up, special ceremonies were carried out. This was done in order to designate a new social and age status. The young beauty was dressed in beautiful feminine outfits and on some holiday, for example, on Easter, was taken out into society. This was done so that society would know about the appearance of a new bride, who is ready to choose a groom.

The ceremonies were different. For example, in the central provinces, real processions of girls were arranged, in the south, potential brides gathered in church squares to show themselves to people. And in the Ryazan region, it was customary to put a daughter in a carriage, always open, and solemnly carry her through the streets - let everyone admire her beauty and her article. A very original way. But what could have been done in a time when there were no social networks and mobile communications?

Wench: a word of village and bourgeois origin without a negative connotation

The not too respectful-sounding word "girl" was perceived by peasants without offense. This is what was called in the old days serf girls who reached puberty, but have not yet married. It should be noted that this lexeme from about the 18th century was used exclusively for women of bourgeois and rural origin. This is how peasant women addressed each other, not finding any negative in the word. A kind of friendly familiarity that could not upset anyone. "Hey, girl, well, you dressed up today, even marry right now". But it is, of course, impossible to imagine that the Count's daughter would be called that. For them, there was a respectful and proud word girl.

According to the well-known philologist Valery Efremov, the term "girl" refers to the most ancient common Slavic words applied to female representatives. But it was never used in relation to the Virgin Mary.

Who is the hay girl and what was she supposed to be able to do

The word "girl" was applied not only to those unmarried peasant serfs who worked hard in the fields, but also to the maids serving in the house of a gentleman or lady. Advertisements for the sale of such workers could be seen even in the newspapers. No one was surprised that the representatives of the underprivileged class were put up for sale, like a thing. For example: “A good, young and healthy chambermaid is for sale. Diligent, knows how to sew with gold and make linen "," I will sell a girl of twenty-one for two hundred rubles "," In the parish of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a prominent girl of twenty, capable of maid work, obedient and capable, is offered for sale. And also a riding mare, healthy and well-traveled. " Such maids were called hay girls, since they sat in the entryway, awaiting orders from the owners. So the name has nothing to do with the hay.

The "hay" maids were supposed to help the daughters of the owners dress, maintain a proper appearance, and do housework. In addition, their duties included ensuring the leisure of their peers-hostesses. The girls weaved lace together, embroidered, spun, indulged in permitted entertainment, played, walked. Very often the hay girls played the role of modern waitresses - they served the evening parties. The owners sometimes tried to outmaneuver each other, who, they say, girls are more beautiful and slimmer.

Old Believer girl, a girl and a depraved girl

There were also communities in which the word "girl" was used exclusively. For example, among the Altai Old Believers, it was generally used in relation to this socio-age category of women. And the "girl" was considered a pompous literary form. Calling a woman a girl, in this case, people did not put anything into this word except for the main meaning - unmarried, but already almost adult. Complete neutrality. Sometimes a mature woman who could not find a groom and get married could also be called a girl.

But if they said "girl" or "girl", it was regarded as familiarity and, to some extent, contempt.

There was one more meaning of "wench". According to the data that can be found in the "Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language" Ushakov was the name of a depraved woman who is engaged in prostitution. Today women are addressed in different ways - lady, lady, woman, girl. It all depends on the social environment and the slang used in it. The lexeme "girl" can have a very different connotation, from contempt to admiration. But it would never occur to anyone to determine the social status of a woman by this word.

Men, when they got married, also had a special relationship. They gave their wives nicknames that modern women would be offended by.