Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Kabardians
Their self-designation is Adyghe. They are the majority of the population of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. They also live in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, in the Northern Ossetia, in many countries of the Near East.
Language
Together with the Adygeans and the Circassians they constitute the Adyghe ethnic group. They speak the Kabardian-Circassian language of the Abkhaz-Adyghe group of the North Caucasian language family. The writing system is based on the Russian alphabet.
Society
Since the 19th century, nuclear family becomes widespread, but its lifestyle remains patriarchal. The neighborhood-communal and family-patronymic organization with family exogamy, neighborly and familial mutual help still resonates strongly in social relationships. Hospitality, which had a ritualized or even sacral character, and kunak relationships were highly valued.
A lot of attention is paid to adyghe habze – a complex of common law norms, moral prescriptions and rules of etiquette. Many adyghe habze elements together with such elements of material culture as male clothing, saddling and fancy riding methods became widespread among neighboring peoples.
Dwellings
The dwellings are rectagonal turluk houses (wickerwork covered with clay) with straw roof with two or four sloping surfaces. Since the 19th century, brick and stone buildings with iron or tile roof become widespread. Princes, nobles and well-off peasants, besides a residential house, built a kunak place – a house (courtyard) for guests.
Food
The traditional diet includes cooked and fried mutton, beef, turkey, chicken, broths made out of these, sour milk, curd. In the Tersk region of the Cabardino-Balkar Republic (the so-called Little Kabarda) geese and duck meat are used. In the steppe regions, buffalo milk products are widespread. Dried and cured mutton is popular. Meat dishes are served with pasta (hard-boiled millet porridge). The makhsyma low-alcohol beverage is made from millet flour with malt.
Occupations
The main occupations are plough agriculture and distant-pasture animal raising, mostly horse breeding (the Cabardian horse breed is internationally known). The well developed crafts and businesses are: for men – smithing, weaponsmithing, jewelry; for women – fulling, feltmaking, gold embroidery.
