Differences in upbringing and customs of Abkhazians 100 years ago and today

Abkhazians – it's quite a few people who live near the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. Despite this, like all peoples, “Abkhazians have their own special traditions and customs in the sphere of upbringing as well, especially concerning morality and ethnic rules” [2, pp. 13]. Since the advent of the Abkhaz, they began to be developed code of honor "Alamys", based on the basic principles of education in any of the Abkhazian family. "The family on the one hand reflects all the changes occurring in society, on the other, factor (or change) traditions, contributing to the stability of family and household sphere"[1]. All generations are making high efforts to as accurately as possible to follow your true path; to perform its functions as prescribed in the "Alamys".

The most important paragraph of the code of honor, according to the 77-year-old resident of Sukhum Andrei Jopya is respect. «Respect is manifested as the older generations and by the older towards younger. The generation that was brought up during the war, most fully complied with this rule» - reports Jopya.

According to their stories, they were not allowed to be in the same room with adults if they were "adult" conversation, it was forbidden to smoke, talk loudly, swear in the presence of adults. Today's generation is, for the most part, allows himself to all this, arguing with adults, showing disrespect for elders, he allows himself to speak both with their peers. The main reason for this, according to the opinion of the older generation, is the inability of parents to find the right approach to children, that is, it is a lack of upbringing.

No less important is the relationship with the father-in-law. «In the past it was considered disrespectful if daughter, especially if recently became a member of the family, do not hesitate could afford to talk with the father, called him by name, or address him "Dad" – claims Jopya. Communication between them took place exclusively on the initiative of tests; she just answered his questions, and occasionally asked him his».

At present day, this rule has almost disappeared: daughter from the first days of dating show dialogue initiative with the senior, sit them at a table, talking loudly with friends when older are in the next room. It is also a lack of upbringing.

In modern conditions in Abkhazia does not lose its relevance and the tradition of wedding events. In addition to the foregoing, a resident of Sukhum Julia Lakoba was born in 1934, cannot but underline some aspects of such events: «Father of the bride, according to tradition, it was impossible to attend the wedding of his daughter; the bride and groom cannot be seen on the wedding day almost until its end–reports Lakoba. - Now the father of the bride at a wedding present, arguing that such an event happens only once in your life and you cannot miss it. For the bride and groom organize one room, in which throughout the wedding, they celebrate together, and only in some they are apart».

Here we are again seeing non-compliance with the secular foundations of the Abkhaz people.

Today's youth is ashamed to speak their own, Abkhazian language. If 50 years ago, in Abkhazian language, were forbidden to talk to some political reasons, but nowadays young people are not aware of the depth of the tragedy. Ashamed, not speaking in their own language, not respecting tradition, produced for centuries, Abkhazian people coming to the fact that in the near future no one will know Abkhazian language, and even that it existed; will be lost traditions, customs, mentality, and in general all the people, just as history has disposed with ubykhs... To solve this problem we must already today. Apsny's fate is in the hands of today's youth. All that is required to comply with the simplest rules of conduct in society “wrote in the sense of morality and upbringing principles of Abkhazian people” [1, pp. 76]. Only in this way the Abkhaz nation will prosper.