Символика на дърветата в традиционната култура на славяните: офика (рябина)
Symbolics of the Trees in the Traditional Culture of the Slavs: Rowan Tree

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with East Slavic linguistic, folklore and ethnographic data, exposing the symbolism and mythology of the rowan tree (Sorbus domestica; Sorbus torminalis). This phito-image drastically differs from the other ones, which are also relevant for the describing of the Slavic Weltanschaung. This difference one can see mainly in the restriction of the subjects, motifs and mythologems, typical for the symbol studied. For the image of the rowan tree important are only few points (connection of the rowan tree with the female presentation, apothropaic function, due to the red color of its berries, frequent usage of the rowan tree in magic, especially folk medicine). All the other aspects of the image are represented very schematically, which is not usual for developed plant symbols in the Slavic folk culture. These features compiled together lead the author to the conclusion, that rowan tree had a marginal place among the Slavs and it proves once more the substract character of many subjects and motifs, where rowan tree appears, known in the East-Slavonic territory.

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