By Anna Temkina and you may Lilit Zakaryan, Service of your own Sociology away from Public Health and Sex, Western european School at the St.Petersburg, Russia and you can National Academy off Sciences, Armenia
Karmir khndzor (Armenia)
Evaluation your ex love – by way of comparison the lady virginity – so you’re able to affirm honor and you may reputation of the woman loved ones exists within the various ‘sheet ceremonies’ into the patriarchal communities regarding Mediterranean countries to help you Latin Western peasantry and you may Indian castes, as the Old (Kandiyoti 1988, Carpenter 2005, Ortner 1978: 19). Parallels occur on the habit of blaga rakija from inside the Macedonia. People virginity are in the societal status since the a female’s position on public structure is scheduled because of the exactly how ‘pure’ or ‘polluting’ she’s (Ortner 1978: 24-26). That it trust might have been ‘enforced from the scientific and frequently some major power over ladies’ social and particularly sexual behaviour’ (Ortner 1978: 19). Centered on Simone de- Beauvoir, virginity are a patriarchal make which objectifies girls while the Most other (1949 ).
Karmir khndzor try hardly stated about Armenian ethnography throughout the late 19th and you can early twentieth many years since Armenian community was primarily quiet towards affairs of sexuality. Mostly men ethnographers failed to browse the the wedding nights ceremonies in the enough outline with their people informants. If for example the bride-to-be try very younger, the ritual wasn’t did towards marriage nights whatsoever and you will are delay for many years (Shagoyan 2011: 497). Reddish apples accustomed gamble yet another role in the local traditions accompanying losing the bride’s virginity (Shagoyan 2011). Since the a symbol of fertility and with a sexual meaning, fruit was used given that a gift package for gold jewelry, gifted on bride-to-be. The newest round model of this new good fresh fruit displayed ethics and you may perfection and new virginity of one’s bride to be are on top of that translated since her ‘integrity’ (tselostnost, compare to tselka, ‘virgin’).
The current types of karmir khndzor that is being used during Armenia and in several diasporic communities became popular during the Soviet months towards the increase away from metropolitan migration from the 1970s. The latest ritual contains the after the guidelines: Towards early morning adopting the relationships, a small band of lady (brand new couple’s godmother otherwise groom’s mommy, maternal aunt or married sibling), usually several, promote mom away from bride-to-be a holder off apples, sweets and you will cognac. The groom’s mom invites the girl neighbours or personal family members, once more two or three women, more to have coffee, teas, candy and you may fruits. The newest godmother incisions the brand new apples with the four parts and you may offers him or her to your guests. Desserts as a fruit are a suitable present. The fresh behavior boasts around three tips: test, sanctioning and you will validation. Following groom’s mother and other girls search for traces regarding blood on bedsheet of your bridal partners (examination), new fiance obtains a present in case there are their verified virginity or a conviction and censure if there is failure (sanctioning). On the next step, a yellow apple or a dish with oranges is distributed since the validation for the bride’s mommy, who awaits this indication followed closely by nearest and dearest or neighbors during the the girl home (Shagoyan 2011, Pogosyan 2010).
Field research presented about mid-2000s revealed that karmir lawyer dating site khndzor are did extremely carefully and you may faithfully in outlying places that intercourse norms were more traditional and you will hierarchical. Throughout the urban centers, the fresh new routine grabbed an even more average means – this new ritual is actually did nevertheless virginity investigations is actually far more lenient (Temkina 2008, 2010). Several changes have helped redefine the brand new routine because 2000s (Temkina 2008, 2010, Pogosyan 2011). First, new ritual has been articulated in the personal commentary because of the media, NGOs while the ladies’ way, as well as in instructional commentary, academic courses and you can university programmes into intercourse, sociology, therapy and you will similar professions. Virginity has become politicised just after multiple NGOs (Wo-men’s Capital Center out-of Armenia, UTOPIANA, WOW) organized shows intended for deconstructing the brand new ritual with headings such ‘Purple Fruit is only for eating’ and ‘I ask one to new funeral of your Reddish Apple into 8 of .’ It has got influenced the newest perception off karmir khndzor of the younger years exactly who turned more likely to see it while the an enthusiastic old-designed practice of closeness control. Second, it became you’ll to produce virginity. Women that had premarital relationships you will definitely imitate the virginity due to their husbands and you can/otherwise moms and dads-in law of the in the process of a healthcare hymenoplastic techniques in order to rebuild the fresh hymen and you may show their cultural purity and you will honourable femininity. Because of the medicalising the karmir khndzor behavior, gynecologists may help women to construct an everyday bio in order to enhance their existence chance getting a routine e more preferred having partners so you can won’t participate in new routine otherwise so you’re able to ‘save’ this new ladies virginity. Since the sexual relationship became far more liberal and thought to be belonging to an autonomous sphere of private lives, karmir khndzor try relegated to help you a great ceremonial and you may cultural icon for the the new federal wedding and has now forgotten the connection so you’re able to virginity, as for example is the situation from a wedding veil from inside the Russia.
Karmir khndzor is swept up about tensions ranging from federal identity and you can modernity. Once the ritual is short for Armenian community and you can old-fashioned sex spots, individuals who refuse the latest ritual exposure becoming considered below proper Armenian customers and you can ladies. Yet , individuals who rigidly stick to the ritual would-be seen as backward and you may traditional by the rivals. However, pro- and you may scam- thinking to karmir khndzor work better thought of as being proudly located on a range. Each other teenage boys and you may lady may target to your virginity try becoming a mechanism out-of control over its intimacy and private lives. Other days, ladies may want to continue the virginity in advance of wedding and also to contemplate it an important cultural traditions one fosters kinship solidarity. Specific could possibly get invest in keep their virginity, but hate its personal confirmation after the wedding. Of a lot teenagers consider non-relationship intercourse as the acceptable for both males and females and think karmir khndzor entirely archaic. Once the patriarchal sex system forgotten its rigidness, the range of positions regarding behavior suggest deficiencies in any social opinion towards practice (discover in depth scenarios to have doing the fresh ritual in Pogosyan 2010).
References
Poghosyan, A. 2010. A number of the popular features of the fresh new conversion of your community “Red-colored fruit”: Society and you will Modernity from inside the Armenian Culture, Yerevan: Gitutyuan, 359-367
Shagoyan, G. 2011. ‘” 1 week, eight evening”: Views of one’s Armenian wedding, Institute regarding Archaeology and Ethnography off National Academy from Sciences, RA, 496-509