Survivals of Armenian Wedding Ritual in Modern Children's Fox Songs

• In Event: Ritual Otherworlds in Oral Traditions of Matrimony, War, and Death

Abstract

In the Armenian folk repertoire, there is a cycle of satirical songs about the Fox, which has come down to us in wonderful versions. Today it is known as a children's song called "The Fox Came Lanjik Mandzhik". The earliest recorded versions of this song come to us from the 17th century. Later versions found a place in a number of humorous and children's songs. Only one of these songs is included in wedding songs and its content is rich in ritual motifs. Research suggests that the song was originally a satirical wedding song, which later evolved into a children's tune. It preserves fascinating traces of the fox, a beloved character in Armenian wedding traditions. This report will explore the aforementioned fox songs alongside various types of Armenian fairy tales, focusing on motifs rooted in ritual practices. Special attention will be given to the symbolism of the fox's tail, its associated ritual elements, and their manifestations in folklore—from the motif of the tailless fox to that of the ritual-tailed old woman.

Author

• Nvard Khachatur Vardanyan, Yerevan State U (Armenia)