Makhovska S. Wedding Traditions of Slobozhanshchyna in the late 19th - beginning of the 21th centuries: The Historical and Ethnological Research

The thesis is devoted to the research of wedding traditions of Slobozhanshchyna in the late 19th - beginning of the 21st centuries. It is based mainly on the author's fieldwork materials (2009-2011). Local-specific and common Ukrainian features of wedding rites of Slobozhanshchyna are defined on the basis of the large number of sources. The history and the modern situation of studying the wedding of the Slobozhanshchyna are given in the general context of the formation and development of the ethnology. It also describes patterns and methods of the settlement of Kharkiv region, which enables to better understand what caused the current situation of the Ukrainian ethnic culture there. It is found to what extent the traditional wedding rituals have been preserved under the conditions of living on the border of two countries where the two cultures meet. As well as why folk rites have undergone transformation and why ritual activities dedicated to wedding rites have changed or lost motivation.