STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MATERNITY CYCLE OF RITES IN THE TRADITIONAL NATIONAL RITUALISM

In the proposed by the author structure of the cycle of traditional Ukrainian maternity rites, each of them is divided into constituent elements – episodes, and is polyepisodic or polyelemental. The defined criteria for division are: new level, generalizing repetition of the event; material and spiritual metamorphosis of the characters of sacred action; change of sacral chronotope; principle of constant vivification. By the example of the rite of delivery, a composition and antinomies were established, change and expansion of the chronotope and the level of sacralization, which expands when entering the rite and curtails leaving it, are investigated; examples of characters-mediators' actions and mediation episodes are given. Such approach, using the structural and functional method, provides a broad perspective for further research regarding the traditional folk rites of the family cycle and in particular the cycle of maternity rites.