Russkaya Starina

232-241

Authors: Maria A. Andrunina

The article analyzes innovations and changes in Slavic funeral and remembrance rites, the most unchanging and archaic branch of tradition culture. The paper deals mostly with two ways of their modification: loss of some elements or accommodation of them to modern circumstances. Elimination of different ritual parts concerns mostly funerals of special group of dead, so called unclean (suicidal, killed, children etc.). Customs of their burial and remembrance, believes and taboo concerning their graves preserve a lot of ancient traits. Traditionally for their inhumation places beyond the sacred ground of cemetery were chosen, often in wilderness: woods, fields, road sides and crossroads, sometimes even marshes. Some were buried in estates or houses (mostly children); this practice persisted for some time in the Eastern Polesye. These rituals and corresponding beliefs are dying away now. Another option of changes is accommodation to a new way of life. Example of this was recently found in field in Mogilewsky region. Mobility of new generations, when people work far from home, endangers well known spring remembrance practice held in cemeteries. That is why they put a tablecloth over the coffin during burial in order to have it there if nobody comes in spring to cover the grave and commemorate the deceased. Of course, there are other ways of alteration: giving new meaning to old customs, adaptation from neighboring regions and nations etc. So, even the strictest and unyielding tradition can change with the tide of time. And the weakest links are proved to be those connected with the archaic notions of traditional culture that in general might be referred to as mythological worldview.

251-257

Authors: Natalya A. Arkhipenko

The paper analyzes private commemorative actions of the Rostovites timed to the celebration of the Victory Day. The author systematizes the data received while conducting participant observation during the visits to city cemeteries, photographing, holding surveys with the visitors of the Northern Cemetery of Rostov-on-Don. The paper reveals the ways of the visual designating the private remembrance participants on the 9th of May, the types of actions performed on the graves of the relative veterans, versions of the texts regularly used in case of annual remembrance.

283-295

Authors: Igor S. Tomilov

Trade is a kind of practical expression of effective development of economy, a reflection of its performance. The change in commodity circulation, export and import, financial institutions, the number of wholesale and retail locations for sales and some other indicators provide the basis to judge the rise or fall of agricultural and industrial characteristics, as well as to assess the level of welfare of the population. This article attempted to review the trading and market condition in the Tobolsk province in the second half of 19th – early 20th centuries. This period saw the approval of a new stage of social development that gave impetus to economic development of the whole country and its separate regions. The study, based on analysis of archival, statistical, economic and other data, will reflect the dynamics of important factors and elements of trade in the province of Tobolsk with expansion of transport infrastructure, the change of export-import balance, expanding of the fair network, the growth of credit and banking sector among them. Altogether, the obtained results allow to judge the nationwide impact of industrial growth on the development of the retail industry in the region under study in the designated time frame.

303-308

Authors: Tatyana G. Kurbat

The article reveals the tragic fate of the Soviet prisoners of war during the fighting in the big bend of the Don River in the 1942–1943. The lack of food and health care, infectious diseases, and adverse weather conditions led to high mortality among the Soviet soldiers and commanders. It grew out of the use of the Soviet war prisoners for hard work, and also because of the systematic beatings and shootings. The article is written on the basis of documents of the State Archives of the Russian Federation and the Documentation Center of the Modern History of the Rostov Region.