Baby’s Bed – Cradle (Based on Ethnographic Materials from Abkhazia)

Abstract

According to individually collected ethnographic materials from Abkhazia, noteworthy data have been recorded reflecting traditional customs related to the baby’s bed – the cradle – and its associated practices, which remain significant in contemporary life. In recent years, attitudes towards child-rearing among the population of the studied region have been undergoing notable changes. The family and representatives of the older generation continue to play a key role in shaping a distinct Georgian national worldview. The paper discusses certain aspects of national consciousness in Abkhazia. It is true that today, this region, once rich in history, has been lost, yet the Georgian spirit and genetic heritage have not been eradicated. Echoes of Georgian customs and traditions still resonate in the consciousness of its inhabitants, and their memory preserves numerous historical realities. What is traditional and historical holds deep meaning for them. The cradle remains in their historical memory -it is cherished and treated with reverence. Although cradles are preserved in many households, their daily use is gradually disappearing, which has become a source of regret for the elders.