Brightness and Asceticism in the Clothing of the Uimon Kerzhak Women (20th and Early 21st Century)

Brightness and Asceticism in the Clothing of the Uimon Kerzhak Women (20th and Early 21st Century)

N.I. Shietova.

This work is based on fi eld materials of 1998–2000, 2005–2007, collected by the author from Uimon Old Believers who live in the villages of the Ust-Koksa Region of the Altai Republic, and in Gorno-Altaisk. The article describes the manifestations of ambivalence towards adornments, the color of red, and brightness of clothing among Uimon Kerzhak women, and reviews the actual existence of these elements in the culture of their costume in light of their ideological denunciation on the basis of Christian ascetic principles. The study reveals varying levels of consistency between the restrictions in clothing and their implementation.

Keywords: Uimon Old Believers, adornments, red color, brightness of clothing, rules and prohibitions, asceticism.