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By Anna Temkina and you can Lilit Zakaryan, Department of your Sociology away from Social Health and Sex, Eu College or university at St.Petersburg, Russia and you will National Academy out of Sciences, Armenia

Karmir khndzor (Armenia)

Comparison your ex purity – owing to research the woman virginity – so you can affirm honour and you may status out of this lady members of the family is obtainable into the a range of ‘layer ceremonies’ within the patriarchal societies about Mediterranean cultures to help you Latin American peasantry and you can Indian castes, given that Dark ages (Kandiyoti 1988, Carpenter 2005, Ortner 1978: 19). The thing is exists to your habit of blaga rakija into the Macedonia. Females virginity are regarding the societal status because the an effective female’s updates in the public framework is placed by the just how ‘pure’ otherwise ‘polluting’ the woman is (Ortner 1978: 24-26). It trust might have been ‘implemented because of the scientific and regularly a little severe power over ladies’ personal and especially sexual behaviour’ (Ortner 1978: 19). Centered on Simone de- Beauvoir, virginity is actually an effective patriarchal construct and therefore objectifies women just like the Most other (1949 ).

Karmir khndzor is hardly said on Armenian ethnography regarding later 19th and early 20th many years since Armenian community was mainly silent into situations from sex. Mostly male ethnographers didn’t look at the the marriage nights ceremonies inside enough detail along with their ladies informants. In the event the fiance try really younger, brand new ritual wasn’t did on the wedding evening whatsoever and you will was put off for many years (Shagoyan 2011: 497). Red oranges accustomed enjoy yet another role from the local rituals accompanying the increasing loss of new bride’s virginity (Shagoyan 2011). Due to the fact a symbol of virility sufficient reason for an erotic connotation, fruit was used due to the fact something special box to possess gold accessories, gifted to your fiance. New circular shape of new fruit displayed ethics and you will perfection and you may the newest virginity of one’s bride is actually on the other hand interpreted since the lady ‘integrity’ (tselostnost, compare to tselka, ‘virgin’).

The current type of karmir khndzor that’s in use during Armenia plus in several diasporic groups became popular during Soviet several months on the raise out-of urban migration from the 70s. The ritual contains the following the statutes: On the day after the relationship, a small set of lady (the latest couple’s godmother otherwise groom’s mommy, maternal aunt or hitched cousin), usually 2 or 3, give the caretaker away from bride-to-be a tray away from oranges, chocolate and you will cognac. The fresh groom’s mommy attracts this lady neighbors or close members of the family, once more 2 or three women, more for coffee, beverage, chocolate and good fresh fruit. The latest godmother cuts new oranges towards the four pieces and you may shares him or her on the travelers. Desserts as a fruit also are the right present. New practice boasts around three strategies: examination, sanctioning and you will recognition. Following groom’s mother and other lady identify lines from blood for the bedsheet of one’s bridesmaid couples (examination), the new bride to be receives something special in case of their affirmed virginity or a belief and censure in case of incapacity (sanctioning). On step three, a yellow apple otherwise a tray with oranges is sent while the validation for the bride’s mommy, which awaits that it sign accompanied by friends or neighbors at this lady household (Shagoyan 2011, Pogosyan 2010).

Industry look used regarding the mid-2000s revealed that karmir khndzor is performed extremely rigorously and vigilantly into the rural areas where intercourse norms had been more conventional and hierarchical. Throughout the towns and cities, brand new habit took a far more moderate means – brand new ritual are did however the virginity review is more easy (Temkina 2008, 2010). Multiple transform features aided change the latest routine given that 2000s (Temkina 2008, 2010, Pogosyan 2011). Earliest, the ritual has been articulated from the personal commentary by the mass media, NGOs together with ladies course, plus informative commentary, informative programmes and you can college or university courses towards the gender, sociology, therapy and you may comparable professions. Virginity happens to be politicised once multiple NGOs (Wo-men’s Financial support Center away from Armenia, UTOPIANA, WOW) arranged shows aimed at deconstructing the latest ritual with titles instance ‘Red-colored Fruit is only to own eating’ and you may ‘I ask one to the funeral service of your own Reddish Fruit toward 8 out of .’ It has got influenced the latest perception from karmir khndzor from the more youthful years who became prone to see it given that an old-designed practice of closeness handle. Second, it turned into possible to manufacture virginity. Ladies who had premarital matchmaking you will imitate their virginity because of their husbands and you can/otherwise moms and dads-in law by undergoing a healthcare hymenoplastic techniques to rebuild new hymen and you can have shown their cultural purity and you can honourable womanliness. By the medicalising brand new karmir khndzor habit, gynecologists could help girls to build a regular biography and boost their lives possibility to possess a normal e significantly more popular having partners to help you refuse to participate in the new routine or so you can ‘save’ new ladies’ virginity. Once the intimate relationship turned into alot more liberal and you will considered belonging to an independent areas from personal lifetime, karmir khndzor are relegated so you’re able to an effective ceremonial and social symbol from inside the the brand new federal wedding and has now destroyed the partnership so you can virginity, in terms of analogy is the case away from a married relationship veil inside the Russia.

Karmir khndzor was caught up regarding stress ranging from federal identity and modernity. Once the ritual means Armenian society and you can antique intercourse spots, people latinamericancupid Gebruikersnaam who reject the fresh new ritual risk are thought to be below correct Armenian residents and you may girls. Yet individuals who rigidly stick to the routine could be recognized as backwards and you can traditional of the its opponents. However, pro- and you can scam- thinking so you’re able to karmir khndzor are better looked at as being located on the a range. Each other teenagers and females can get object on virginity shot becoming a procedure of power over its intimacy and private lifestyle. Other days, women may want to continue the virginity prior to matrimony in order to consider it an important social society that encourages kinship solidarity. Specific will get commit to manage its virginity, however, hate its personal confirmation after the relationship. Of numerous young adults consider non-relationship intercourse as the acceptable for both men and women and you will envision karmir khndzor completely archaic. Due to the fact patriarchal sex system lost its rigidness, the variety of ranking concerning routine indicate insufficient one social consensus concerning the practice (get a hold of in depth scenarios to have performing the fresh routine into the Pogosyan 2010).

Sources

Poghosyan, A beneficial. 2010. A few of the top features of the brand new conversion process of lifestyle “Red-colored fruit”: Tradition and you can Modernity when you look at the Armenian People, Yerevan: Gitutyuan, 359-367

Shagoyan, G. 2011. ‘” 7 days, seven nights”: Opinions of one’s Armenian relationship, Institute out-of Archaeology and you will Ethnography of National Academy from Sciences, RA, 496-509