During the Vendel period the elite started to bury their men and women in the boat graves. The boat graves have been interpreted differently depending on if the graves were made for men or women. But the grave goods have one thing in common. The grave goods, consisted of weapons, jewelry, riding equipment, gaming pieces and hand craft tools, proves that the buried persons belonged to an upper-class with a connection to the religion, the gods and the fertility cult.

<p>Предмет испитивања у овом раду су коледарски и божићни обреди. Притом је највише простора посвећено њиховој вербалној компоненти, односно коледарским и божићним песмама.<br />Пошто је истраживање урађено на основу писаних текстова који су објављени у различитим етнографским изворима и збиркама, Увод обухвата и преглед претходних записа (збирке песама, етнографске изворе и грађу) и историјат претходних истраживања коледарских и божићних обреда. Такође, овај део рада садржи кратак опис свих релевантних извора, почевши од првог описа коледарских и божићних обреда и песама у издању Вука Стефановића Караџића у Српским народним песмама (1841), а завршава са последњим записима и поменима 2014. године<br />Географске координате коледарских и божићних обреда постављене су на основу прикупљеног материјала. Истовремено, дијахрона димензија ових обреда назначена је временом њиховог извођења (или периодом до ког постоји сећање на њихово извођење).<br />С обзиром на то да је у етнографским описима и етнолошкој литератури приказан садржај различитих локалних варијанти божићних и коледарских обреда, у централном делу рада сачињена је конструкција идеалтипске дескрипције која је објединила српску обредно-обичајну праксу од Св. Варваре (4/17. X&Iota;&Iota;) до Богојављења (6. &Iota;/19. &Iota;), а у склопу описа обредно-обичајне праксе у вези са поменутим празницима, и припрема мушких поворки коледара (и аналогних група<br />сировара/бабара, чаројица, вертепаша, звездара, клоцалица, вучара, џамалара), дечјих (коринђаша) и женских поворки (водичарки) за ритуални опход села, па до коначног распуштања обредне групе.<br />Будући да су песме део комплекса различитих ритуала, извођених у време краткодневице, у раду се изучавају у склопу обреда у оквиру ког су се певале.<br />У овом делу рада посебно се анализују: 1) предбожићне песме које се изводе на празнике Свете Варваре, Светог Игњата Богоносца, Туциндан и Бадњи дан, 2) божићне песме које се певају током прва три дана Божића и 3) послебожићне песме, извођене четвртог дана Божића, на празник Светог Василија Великог и Богојављење.<br />Последње поглавље (Завршна разматрања) даје преглед закључака до којих се истраживањем дошло.<br />Прилози садрже списак коришћене литературе (збирке и изворе), као и мапе ареала распростирања коледарских и божићних обреда.</p> / <p>Predmet ispitivanja u ovom radu su koledarski i božićni obredi. Pritom je najviše prostora posvećeno njihovoj verbalnoj komponenti, odnosno koledarskim i božićnim pesmama.<br />Pošto je istraživanje urađeno na osnovu pisanih tekstova koji su objavljeni u različitim etnografskim izvorima i zbirkama, Uvod obuhvata i pregled prethodnih zapisa (zbirke pesama, etnografske izvore i građu) i istorijat prethodnih istraživanja koledarskih i božićnih obreda. Takođe, ovaj deo rada sadrži kratak opis svih relevantnih izvora, počevši od prvog opisa koledarskih i božićnih obreda i pesama u izdanju Vuka Stefanovića Karadžića u Srpskim narodnim pesmama (1841), a završava sa poslednjim zapisima i pomenima 2014. godine<br />Geografske koordinate koledarskih i božićnih obreda postavljene su na osnovu prikupljenog materijala. Istovremeno, dijahrona dimenzija ovih obreda naznačena je vremenom njihovog izvođenja (ili periodom do kog postoji sećanje na njihovo izvođenje).<br />S obzirom na to da je u etnografskim opisima i etnološkoj literaturi prikazan sadržaj različitih lokalnih varijanti božićnih i koledarskih obreda, u centralnom delu rada sačinjena je konstrukcija idealtipske deskripcije koja je objedinila srpsku obredno-običajnu praksu od Sv. Varvare (4/17. X&Iota;&Iota;) do Bogojavljenja (6. &Iota;/19. &Iota;), a u sklopu opisa obredno-običajne prakse u vezi sa pomenutim praznicima, i priprema muških povorki koledara (i analognih grupa<br />sirovara/babara, čarojica, vertepaša, zvezdara, klocalica, vučara, džamalara), dečjih (korinđaša) i ženskih povorki (vodičarki) za ritualni ophod sela, pa do konačnog raspuštanja obredne grupe.<br />Budući da su pesme deo kompleksa različitih rituala, izvođenih u vreme kratkodnevice, u radu se izučavaju u sklopu obreda u okviru kog su se pevale.<br />U ovom delu rada posebno se analizuju: 1) predbožićne pesme koje se izvode na praznike Svete Varvare, Svetog Ignjata Bogonosca, Tucindan i Badnji dan, 2) božićne pesme koje se pevaju tokom prva tri dana Božića i 3) poslebožićne pesme, izvođene četvrtog dana Božića, na praznik Svetog Vasilija Velikog i Bogojavljenje.<br />Poslednje poglavlje (Završna razmatranja) daje pregled zaključaka do kojih se istraživanjem došlo.<br />Prilozi sadrže spisak korišćene literature (zbirke i izvore), kao i mape areala rasprostiranja koledarskih i božićnih obreda.</p> / <p>Slavic rituals of koleda and Christmas are<br />the core of the research in the paper. The<br />structural-semantic analysis of the rites<br />mentioned above, especially deals with their<br />verbal component, i.e. koleda and Christmas<br />songs. Since the research relies on the basis of<br />more than a thousand written texts (published in<br />different ethnographic sources), as well as on<br />printed collections, the third part of the<br />introductory notes comprises a review of those<br />records (collections of songs, ethnographic<br />sources and materials) and the history of old<br />koleda and Christmas rites. It also includes a<br />short description of all the relevant sources,<br />starting from the first description of koleda and<br />Christmas rites and carols depicted in Vuk<br />Stefanovic Karadzic Folk Serbian collection of<br />songs, published in 1841, and ending with the<br />last known records in the first decade of the 21st<br />century.<br />Geographical coordinates of koleda and<br />Christmas rites are set on the basis of the<br />collected material. At the same time, a<br />diachronic dimension of the rites is also being<br />taken into account, that is, it is indicated when<br />these were performed.<br />The central part of the paper tries to offer<br />the ideal-typical description of koleda and<br />Christmas rites, on the basis of all the available data that speak of their actual performance. This</p><p>part of the paper most specifically deals with: 1.<br />Pre-Christmas songs performed on: Saint<br />Barbara&rsquo;s Day, Saint Ignatius Day, the day<br />before Christmas Eve (Tucindan) and on<br />Christmas Eve, 2. Christmas songs sung during<br />the first three days of Christmas, and 3. PostChristmas<br />songs, performed on the fourth day of<br />Christmas and on the days of Saint Basil the<br />Great and Epiphany.<br />Koleda (and analogue rites) are mostly<br />referred to in the context of ritual practices<br />performed on the day before Christmas, since<br />koledars mostly proceeded on that particular<br />day. In the scope of such a description, all<br />phases of koleda rites are being reconstructed:<br />preparation for the celebration procession<br />through the village(s), return to the communal<br />house, setting of the dining table, and finally &ndash;<br />dismissal of koleda (and analogue) groups. The<br />lyrics of koleda songs are directly related to the<br />context of performance. Special attention is paid<br />to the elements of male and female initiation<br />and the fertility cult, which can be perceived<br />only in the course of performance presented in<br />this way.<br />The last chapter (Final discussions) gives<br />a summary of the conclusions the research has<br />come to.<br />The Appendix is a list of literature used in<br />the paper (Literature, Collections and Sources),<br />while it also offers maps of those geographical<br />areas where koleda and Christmas rites are<br />performed.</p>

The Old Testament is the story of Yahweh and His Covenant relationship with His people Israel. Many other Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) peoples are mentioned in the context of their relationship to Israel. This Covenant relationship which began with Abraham had a core component, the gift of land (Gen 12:7), the Promised Land. The Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai where the terms, the Ten Commandments were given to Israel. Core to the terms was the obligation that Israel would serve no other god but Yahweh and without any representative image. Israel must be a monotheistic people. Only then would they retain the Promised Land. The Promised Land was occupied by the Canaanites. The Canaanites though difficult to identify with precision, were a people whose religious cult was the direct opposite of Yahwism. They worshipped Baal the fertility god. The fertility cult was a belief that there is no absolute being but a universal realm with a womb of fertility. This womb is the source of fertility and the gods are the agents. In the land of Canaan, Baal was the agent of fertility. The wealth and fertility of the land, crops, livestock, and humans was attributed to Baal. Baal was worshiped through the fertility cult which had cult personnel like prophets, and temple prostitutes. The fertility cult had festivals in which sympathetic magic was performed to induce the gods into action. This magic involved cultic sex and wine consumption in honor of Baal. The Canaanites were driven out of the land lest they influence Israel to copy their ways. This would violate the Covenant and Israel would be ejected out of the land because the occupation was based on keeping the Covenant. There were no strict conditions of obedience in Baal worship like in the Covenant. Baal offered them release from „Covenant Obedience‟ to indulge in sensuality while enjoying the blessings. In the end, the Baal fertility cult had such a negative impact on the Covenant that Israel was ejected out of the Promised Land and deported into the Babylonian Exile as seen in the book of Jeremiah / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Th. (Old Testament)

The Old Testament is the story of Yahweh and His Covenant relationship with His people Israel. Many other Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) peoples are mentioned in the context of their relationship to Israel. This Covenant relationship which began with Abraham had a core component, the gift of land (Gen 12:7), the Promised Land. The Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai where the terms, the Ten Commandments were given to Israel. Core to the terms was the obligation that Israel would serve no other god but Yahweh and without any representative image. Israel must be a monotheistic people. Only then would they retain the Promised Land. The Promised Land was occupied by the Canaanites. The Canaanites though difficult to identify with precision, were a people whose religious cult was the direct opposite of Yahwism. They worshipped Baal the fertility god. The fertility cult was a belief that there is no absolute being but a universal realm with a womb of fertility. This womb is the source of fertility and the gods are the agents. In the land of Canaan, Baal was the agent of fertility. The wealth and fertility of the land, crops, livestock, and humans was attributed to Baal. Baal was worshiped through the fertility cult which had cult personnel like prophets, and temple prostitutes. The fertility cult had festivals in which sympathetic magic was performed to induce the gods into action. This magic involved cultic sex and wine consumption in honor of Baal. The Canaanites were driven out of the land lest they influence Israel to copy their ways. This would violate the Covenant and Israel would be ejected out of the land because the occupation was based on keeping the Covenant. There were no strict conditions of obedience in Baal worship like in the Covenant. Baal offered them release from „Covenant Obedience‟ to indulge in sensuality while enjoying the blessings. In the end, the Baal fertility cult had such a negative impact on the Covenant that Israel was ejected out of the Promised Land and deported into the Babylonian Exile as seen in the book of Jeremiah / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Th. (Old Testament)

This dissertation focuses on the status of women in Central Asian society, particularly in Kyrgyzstan, and the phenomena of the Kyrgyz family that is the central part of daily living of Kyrgyz people. We provide an introduction to the region, followed by an analysis of a social stratification of Kyrgyz society and a various types of families. The next chapter describes the three major historical periods and changes in women's position in the society. The first period spans up to 1917, its end marked by the Bolshevik coup. Until that time, The Kyrgyz society was nomadic, organized into tribes, clans, and large patriarchal families. The 1920's were tumultuous times for the Central Asian region, at that time newly dominated by the Soviet rule, undergoing industrialization, public education, experiencing improvements in health care, but on the other hand also confiscation, forced resettlement, and russification. New rights have been granted to women, however local patriarchal and feudal traditions persisted and continued in the local societies. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Kyrgyz people started returning to their national traditions and discrimination against women started to be openly discussed in the society. Our historical retrospective analysis explores the major types of Kyrgyz...