Bachelors and ages in Russia: How they were treated in society, and what rights they had

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

Celibacy among the peasantry was not welcomed. The presence of a family, as it was believed in the Moscow state for many centuries in a row, is a sign of decency and maturity of a person. The opinion of unmarried men was not taken into account either in the family or at the gathering. And the old maidens could not be present in the same room with the woman in labor and at the wedding table. But unmarried women were actively involved in funeral rites.

Marriage in Russia is a personal, ecclesiastical, social and economic institution

In the peasant environment, celibacy was treated extremely negatively. Many young people were in a hurry to get married, this gave the guy influence at the gathering, respect in the community. And for the girl - security, the opportunity to realize the main task - the birth and upbringing of children. It was risky to hesitate in choosing a pair. Rural girls in 20-23 years old were considered to be too late in girls, their chances of getting married were much lower in comparison with girlfriends 14-17 years old.

The obligation to marry was dictated by the economic conditions of rural life. As noted by the historian of law N. S. Nizhnik, a peasant farm could function fully if both a man and a woman took part in it. The mistress's duties included serving family members (sewing clothes, feeding), caring for livestock, and harvesting. Men's tasks are the preparation of firewood, the construction and maintenance of buildings, field work. Only in this way could a full-fledged economy be formed, capable of developing and generating income.

Marriage was seen not only as a personal institution, but also as an economic transaction. When choosing a groom, attention was paid to the prestige of his family and the level of wealth. When choosing a bride, physical health and hard work were important criteria, since the young mistress moved to the yard of her husband's family, where she had to work under the guidance of a highway and a big woman (father-in-law and mother-in-law).

Often, girls with poor health, if the family had an income above average, decided to refuse marriage. Such a difficult choice in favor of a marginal position in society was explained by the fear of the share of the young daughter-in-law, who was to be completely subordinate to the members of the new family.

For marriage, the mutual sympathy of the bride and groom was desirable, but not necessary. This decision was made taking into account many factors, the main one of which was the favor of the parents. The church did not approve of marriages between people with a large age difference, as well as those who were in a family relationship. The bride's virginity was not a prerequisite for marriage, as the historian and jurist N. Tarusina writes. But the family could be fined if it was found that the girl was unclean in marriage.

What could have prevented the creation of a family

The reasons that prevent marriage are significant physical defects (lameness, deformity), soreness, deafness. But it often happened that it was difficult for attractive, healthy people to find a mate. This happened due to picky, when the girl refused the suitors, considering them unworthy. Meanwhile, time played not in her favor, and potential suitors began to think that attempts to get married were in vain. And gradually the girl became a so-called overkill, which was not at all prestigious to marry.

Also, the peasants considered the cause of celibacy to be damage, an incorrectly performed rite of passage at birth, and the dementia of the parents. Another obstacle to starting a family is the rumors of fellow villagers about hidden flaws (or suspicions about them).

Single - half a person

A man who did not have a wife was not considered a full member of the peasant community. Nobody took him seriously, he was "small" in the eyes of fellow villagers, even at a mature age after 30 years. Neither in the family nor at the gathering did they listen to his voice.

It was not shameful among fellow villagers to jokingly suggest why the brides ignored him, unceremoniously listing guesses about physical flaws.

Old wench - family ulcer

Many rural girls, despite the difficulties of family life, preferred to marry a guy with disabilities, but without delay. Frightened by the fate of earning a reputation as an overly picky bride who wastes precious time. Each extra year spent as a girl made the prospect of becoming a century-old more realistic (overstuffing, house-earning, rejection).

Such a reputation reduced the likelihood of a successful marriage, since it was considered shameful to call an overdone in marriage. Only those guys who themselves had flaws - bad birth, physical disabilities, poverty - dared to do this. It was possible to marry a widower, but often the girls were afraid of them, since it was believed that the premature death of a wife did not come without the help of her husband or all the fault of the ancestral curse.

Old maidens were not particularly oppressed in their father's house, sometimes they even played the role of a big woman in the house, if they demonstrated dexterity and foresight in household matters. But in the event of troubles or property disputes, the decision was made not at all in the interests of the ages. Their complaints in court and at the village gathering were not taken seriously.

The attitude of the peasant community to the old maidens was ambiguous - they were feared, respected for sexual abstinence and condemned for opposing the usual way of life.

It was strictly forbidden for old maidens to give birth, to participate in wedding ceremonies. But the ages were an important element of other ritual activities. For example, along with widows and elderly women, the old maidens took an active part in the plowing ritual - its essence is to prevent infectious diseases dangerous for livestock from entering the village. The women harnessed themselves to the plow and made a furrow around the village. It was believed that this is a reliable protection against the death of livestock. Also, the centuries-old people often became healers, their help was in demand at funeral rites.

And the death of the oldest maiden was made out like a wedding, writes the historian Z. Mukhina. Thus, fellow villagers helped to fulfill the female task in her lifetime in a symbolic form. They could even choose a betrothed for married life in the next world.