Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Chechens
Their self-designation is Nokhchiy. The Chechens are the majority of the population of Chechnya. 1 million 360 thousand people live on the territory of Russia. Some of the Chechens in Dagestan call themselves Akkintsy, or more rarely Aukhovtsy (the Novolak district of Dagestan).
Language
They speak the Chechen language, which belongs to the Nakh group of the Nakh-Dagestan branch of the North Caucasian language family. The dialects are: Planar, Akkish, Chebarloish, Malkhish, Itum-Qalish, Galain-Chazh, Kisti. The use of the Russian language is also common. The writing system after 1917 was based first on the Arabian system, then the Latin one, since 1938 on the basis of the Russian alphabet.
Dwellings
The traditional dwelling consisted of several rooms laid out in a row, with separate exits to a terrace that went along the house. A particular trait of the Chechen dwelling was almost complete lack of furniture: a trunk, a low table on three legs, several benches. The walls were hung over with pelts and carpets, weapons were placed over them, the floor was covered with straw mats. The hearth, the over-the-hearth chain, the ashes were considered holy. The oldest woman in the home was the guardian of the hearth.
Food
The food in spring was mostly flour-based, in summer fruit and dairy dishes were used, in winter there were mostly meat dishes. Everyday food included churek pitas with cheese, soups, gruels, pancakes, for richer people also curd with bread, zhizha-galnash (meat with dumplings), meat broth, scones with cheese, meat, pumpkin, etc.
Occupations
The occupations of the Chechens were agriculture and cattle breeding. They bred sheep, beef cattle as well as pedigreed horses for riding. Chechen highlands and lowlands had economic specializations: receiving bread from the lowlands, the highland Chechens sold surplus cattle in exchange. Jewelry, smithcraft, mining, silk manufacture and bone and horn processing were also developed.
