PERSONALIZED DISEASES AND METHODS OF THEIR TREATMENT IN RARELIAN FOLKLIFE CULTURE Cover Image

ПЕРСОНИФИЦИРОВАННЫЕ БОЛЕЗНИ И СПОСОБЫ ИХ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ В НАРОДНОЙ КУЛЬТУРЕ КАРЕЛ
PERSONALIZED DISEASES AND METHODS OF THEIR TREATMENT IN RARELIAN FOLKLIFE CULTURE

Author(s): Tatiana Vladimirovna Pashkova
Subject(s): History
Published by: Петрозаводский государственный университет
Keywords: Karelian folk medicine; mythology; beliefs; personification; a disease epidemic

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the results of studying personalized diseases in Karels beliefs. Therefore the following taskswere set. First, to identify Karelians’ personalized diseases and to determine the reasons for their personalization. Second, to determinethe origin of their names. Third, to identify and compare personalized treatments of diseases in different groups of Karelianand closely related peoples. The material is new and relevant, as this issue is researched for the first time. The results can lead to theconclusion that personification of diseases is common among Karelians, as well as other Baltic and Finnish peoples living on theterritory of Karelia, and for the Russians as well. The main ways to cure these ailments were to offer gifts and treats and to showrespect to the spirit of the disease.