<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>We trace the history of the uses of the alcoholic drink known as <italic>kumyshka</italic> among the Udmurt. Our focus is on <italic>kumyshka</italic>’s ritual uses both in public and domestic contexts in the second half of the 19th century, the early 20th century as well as the early 21st century. We suggest that <italic>kumyshka</italic> not only represents a site of resistance to the dominant religious regime, i.e. Russian Orthodoxy, but is also a tool for self-enhancement and identity making for this indigenous people in the Volga River basin in Central Russia. The consumption of <italic>kumyshka</italic> has been a frequent object of criticism in the accounts of Orthodox clergy, scholars, doctors, travellers and administrators. Most accounts show a moralising stance, which only occasionally reflects the local understandings behind its uses. As anthropologists working in the region, we compare these historical sources with the current practices. We discuss changes in the religious sphere as well as in gender roles related to the uses of <italic>kumyshka</italic>.</p>
</abstract>

We trace the history of the uses of the alcoholic drink known as kumyshka among the Udmurt. Our focus is on kumyshka’s ritual uses both in public and domestic contexts in the second half of the 19th century, the early 20th century as well as the early 21st century. We suggest that kumyshka not only represents a site of resistance to the dominant religious regime, i.e. Russian Orthodoxy, but is also a tool for self-enhancement and identity making for this indigenous people in the Volga River basin in Central Russia. The consumption of kumyshka has been a frequent object of criticism in the accounts of Orthodox clergy, scholars, doctors, travellers and administrators. Most accounts show a moralising stance, which only occasionally reflects the local understandings behind its uses. As anthropologists working in the region, we compare these historical sources with the current practices. We discuss changes in the religious sphere as well as in gender roles related to the uses of kumyshka.

“We Cannot Pray Without <italic>Kumyshka</italic>”: Alcohol in Udmurt Ritual Life

Associate Professor, Department of Ethnology

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

“We Cannot Pray Without ”: Alcohol in Udmurt Ritual Life

We trace the history of the uses of the alcoholic drink known as kumyshka among the Udmurt. Our focus is on kumyshka’s ritual uses both in public and domestic...

“We Cannot Pray Without Kumyshka”: Alcohol in Udmurt Ritual Life

Published Online: Dec 22, 2021

Page range: 221 - 239

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2021-0025

Keywords
rituals, alcohol, gender, historical change, animism, Udmurts

© 2021 Eva Toulouze et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

“We Cannot Pray Without Kumyshka”: Alcohol in Udmurt Ritual Life

Published Online: Dec 22, 2021

Page range: 221 - 239

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2021-0025

Keywordsrituals, alcohol, gender, historical change, animism, Udmurts

© 2021 Eva Toulouze et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
rituals, alcohol, gender, historical change, animism, Udmurts