Don Cossacks - Traditions and Culture

Traditions and Culture

The Cossacks had a democratic society where the most important decisions were made during a Common Assembly (Казачий Круг). The assembly elected temporary authorities — atamans.

Don Cossacks were masters of horse riding and had superb military training, due to their long conflict with the Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire. They sold their military services to different powers in Eastern Europe. Together with the Polish King, they raided Moscow during the Time of Troubles (Смутное Время) and under Russian authority carried out raids and expeditions against Turkey and Persia.

Though there are some differences in traditions and customs, the Don Cossacks speak the Russian language and have always related themselves to greater Russia, while maintaining their own unique national identity.

The Don Cossacks have a tradition of choral singing and many of their songs, such as Chyorny Voron (Black Raven) and Lyubo, Bratsi, Lyubo (It's good, brothers, good) became popular throughout the rest of Russia. Many of the songs, unsurprisingly are about death in war.

Up to the 18th century marriages and divorces took place in the Common Assembly (Казачий Круг). If a Cossack wanted to marry a girl, he should have brought her to the Common Assembly and present her to it. If the Common Assembly gave an approval, the marriage followed. The same procedure took place if there was a divorce. Later on, Peter I banned marriages and divorces in the Common Assembly, so Cossacks could marry only in the church.

A Cossack marriage is a complex ritual, accompanied by songs, dances and performances. A bridegroom arrives on horseback and takes his bride to the church. A marriage train with a bridegroom and a bride comes to the church. After a wedding everybody goes to the bridegroom's house. Parents bless the young couple, break a loaf of bread above their heads, and sprinkle them with wheat, nuts, sweets and hops. Then comes a rite of unbraiding the bride's hair.

When a son was born to a Cossack family, his relatives presented him an arrow, a bow, a cartridge, a bullet and a gun. All these things were hung on the wall, over the boy's bed. At the age of three, the boy could ride a horse, at the age of 7-8 he was allowed to ride in the street, to go fishing and hunt with grown-ups.

Cossacks liked horse races. A rider was to hit the mark. The most dexterous did it, standing on a horseback.

It was tradition in Cossack family to provide a young Cossack with 2 horses, uniform and arms.

Cossack leave-taking was always festive. All leaving Cossacks used to gather in the church, then hang a small bag around their necks containing a pinch of the native soil and set off with a song. Having left their stanitsa, they drank a cup of vodka and said good-bye to their native land.