Old people - our everything

Honoring of seniors in traditional Abkhazian society – one of the most important ethical standards of behavior of the person. Throughout centuries the people developed difficult, sometimes the thinnest rules regulating relations senior and younger. Honoring of seniors – the most ancient custom of the people. The Abkhazian folklore contains remarkable certificates of deep respect for people of the senior generation, special honoring of elderly. Abkhazians speak: "Who without senior, either has no God". The senior in the Abkhazian traditional family and public environment is called – "our head" .

Honoring of seniors "in Abkhazian" found reflection and in fiction. In one of short stories we can find the figurative description of the law of honoring of the senior in a family. The passing rider saw the elderly man grieved with tears in the face of a yard fence. The traveler came off a horse and asked: Who offended you? The aged man answered: "The father scolded me, I passed by the grandfather, having touched him". The old man was upset because he broke the law of custom, passed before the sitting grandfather.

Senior in Abkhazian "aikhaba". most likely, was formed by means of addition of two words: аа (aa)+ ҳ аб. In the Abkhazian informal conversation аа it can be used in an index sense. In other words, in a happy family all her members gradually learned to guess unexpressed thoughts and not expressed feelings of the oldest, the most experienced, it is most seeing others, it is more than all participants of the family council knowing endured not according to books, and on life. Seniors of the second and third generation – among younger the corresponding generation held the same position. in the Abkhazian family the hierarchy of a seniority was without fail observed according to the principles of an apsuar. The word "ab" (father) is used in plural (ҳаб), that is "our father". In this context "ah-ҳ ab-a" (senior), obviously, were originally expressed by that circumstance when the senior was perceived as the father, the head of members of tribal consolidation. Over time value of this word was transformed [3].

Naturally, with age grandfathers, great-grandfathers, great-greatgrandfathers tested physical an infirmity, but nevertheless – the oldest remained the oldest, his word was powerful, and it was all dear. Elderly were looked after by all family members, at the same time everyone knew the obligations. Women devoted to care of them more time, cared about their health, clothes, hygiene, food, rest [2].

Grandsons and great-grandsons were inclined to show more attention to the dear aged men and old men, communication was mutually useful. It brought to seniors moral and psychological satisfaction. And to children their stories helped to know the world around better. “With bated breath, they listened to stories of grandfathers and grandmothers on moral subjects. The last helped mothers and fathers with education of children. All this was an integral part of traditional life of the people” [1, pp. 48].

Petty officers of a sort actively participated in the solution of intra patrimonial questions. In those places where the large number of namesakes lived, from petty officers several people went to abyrg recommendation. They in the activities relied on practical knowledge, on the rich life experience accumulated by many generations; well knew laws of common law, were allocated with respectability. Members of council "abyrg" tried to justify the trust and responsibility assigned to them. Sometimes, testing senile illnesses, they continued to serve people, to show care.

Unfortunately, the modern youth sometimes blindly and thoughtlessly is fond of any western standards and innovations. Impact on it is exerted by the press, cinema, television, the Internet which often propagandize immorality, crime, deception, angrily. In shops the set of video games and videos, the content of the majority of which far rather offensive – develops greed, cruelty, aggression, is offered, exhausts emotionally, precious time is dullly spent. In these conditions, alas, influence of seniors in a family, in society gradually weakens. Elderly, despite the restrictions, generously impart experience and good deeds, – the most precious heritage.

In traditional Abkhazian families young people had an opportunity to listen to diligent prayers of seniors and to derive benefit for themselves – to study a prayer and to pray for others. It helped both elderly and young to be concentrated on spiritual.