CULTURE OF THE CAUCASUS BANQUET TABLE

Abstract

«Хъуэхъу» (verbatim: praise, boasting), khokh is good wish in verbal form, part of traditional life and culture of peoples. The place and time of the utterance of khokh define its direction, depth, complexity. On the other hand, khokh is the art of folk eloquence. They are pronounced for various reasons: the beginning of the labor of the peasant, the new moon, housewarming, the wedding, the first row of mown hay, the exit to the spring field, the end of sowing, etc. The ability to pronounce khokh for the peoples of the North and West Caucasus is an indicator of human culture. The slightest violations of drinking etiquette cause frequent or awkwardness, or a violent reaction. There is a lot of traditionalism here. It is shown that khokh is not just words to the place and time, but words-feelings, word-concepts, words-sacral, organizing and subordinating people. Based on the study, it was analyzed various forms of toasts: from the times of the Nart epicado to the present day. The culture of communication at the feast table is shown. It is emphasized that the Apsuara and Adyghea formed the style of thinking and behavior of the people of the Northern and Western Caucasus. The urgency of research of the given phenomenon for understanding and penetration into depths of national consciousness, historical memory and traditions of culture of the people is grounded.