Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Megrelians
Megrelians (Mingrelians) are a people of the Megrelian-Zan (Colchian) group of the Kartvelian language family, which is often viewed as a subethnic group of the Georgian people.
Language
They speak the Megrelian language, which belongs to the Megrelian-Zan language group of the Kartvelian language family, which is separate from the Georgian language. Almost all the Megrelians, besides their native language, speak the modern Georgian language.
Dispersion
The majority of the Megrelians live in the Krasnodar territory.
Clothes
Male Megrelians, all innate horsemen, wore burka cloaks and kabalakhi hoods, tying them in different ways. The chokha, which fitted closely in the waist, was made from a woolen fabric and had wide long sleeves and tails falling to the knees, was worn over a paper or silk akhalokhi, usually dark-colored. This clothing emphasized attractively the men’s narrow waist and wide shoulders. Akhalokhi (or akhalukhi) was belted with a narrow belt with silver embossing, a dagger was suspended on the belt. As for footwear, soft leather boots with pointed toes were worn, which fitted tightly over the calves. Women wore long dresses widening towards the lower part, with a low neckline and a special brocaded or embroidered plastron worn under it; the sash was home-woven, wide and long, the sleeves of the dress also long with a cut, freely hanging from the back. Under this, a shirt with plain narrow sleeves was worn. The cuffs were embroidered with national ornaments. On the head, the tavsapari scarf was worn.
Food
The most well-known Megrelian dishes are kupaty, kuchmachi, roasted piglet, adjika, gomi, satsivi, mchadi corn scones, suluguni and khachapuri.
