Uacilla: Difference between revisions

'''Hory-Uacilla''' or '''Wacilla''' ([[Ossetian language|Ossetian:]] ''Хоры'' ''Уацилла,'' [[Digor Ossetian|Digorian:]] ''Елиа'', "[[Elijah]]")<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abaev V. I. |title=Историко-этимологический словарь осетинского языка — Historical and etymological dictionary of the Ossetian language. T. IV. S. 31 |publisher=Science. Leningrad branch |year=1989 |location=St, Petersburg |language=ru}}</ref> or '''Uacilla''' for short, is the name of [[Elijah|Saint Elijah]] in [[Nart saga|Ossetian folklore]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Gilmidinovna |first=Ktsoeva Sultana |date=2019 |title=Judeo-Christian parallels in the Image and Cult of Uacilla (According to Narrative Sources of the Late 19th - Early 20th Century) |url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/iudeo-hristianskie-paralleli-v-obraze-i-kulte-uatsilla-po-dannym-narrativnyh-istochnikov-kontsa-hih-nachala-xx-v |journal=Известия СОИГСИ |issuevolume=32 (|issue=71) |pages=27–39 |issn=2223-165X}}</ref>

Among the [[Ossetians]], it is believed that Uacilla protected the fields from hail and showers, disposed of rain clouds and contributed to the growth of cereals and herbs. He was approached during a drought or prolonged bad weather. For this, rams and bulls were slaughtered in his honor and a public prayer was held. In [[Folk music|folk songs]], Uacilla was portrayed as a plowman, performing the functions of a plow in one case and a sower in another.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meletinsky E. M.|first=Yeleazar |title=Mythological Dictionary |publisher=Soviet Encyclopedia |year=1990 |pages=672}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tokarev S. A. |title=Myths of the peoples of the world |publisher=Soviet Encyclopedia |year=1992 |volume=2 |pages=719}}</ref>

As [[Georges Dumézil]] wrote, Ossetians having become Christians began to call [[Elijah|St. Elijah]] "Uacilla". Like the Russians, they think that Uacilla is walking through the sky and fighting evil spirits. When a person is struck by lightning, they believe that Uacilla fired his "fat" (arrow or cannonball) at him.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=DumezilDumézil |first=Georges |title=Ossetian saga and mythology |publisher=Science |year=2001 |location=Vladikavkaz |pages=66 |language=ru}}</ref>

Despite the general basis, the celebration of Uacilla in some areas had its own local characteristics. In [[South Ossetia]] the holiday was widely celebrated in the village of [[Edisa]]. The celebration in this village lasted for a whole week. It should be noted that hereHere the saint was also called Tbau-Uatsilla, which is obviously due to the fact that people from the [[Dargavs]] Gorge settled in this place, who brought with them the name used at their former place of residence.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=R. Kulumbegov |title=Celestial Wacilla as a sacred symbol - South Ossetia |url=https://ugo-osetia.ru/kultura/traditsii-i-obychai/nebozhitel-uatsilla-kak-sakralnyj-simvol |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=ugo-osetia.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

The celebration was accompanied by [[Sacrifice|sacrificessacrifice]]s, community and family feasts. At the end of the repast, which was held separately in each family, the older men took the skin of the sacrificial goat (in which the head and legs were left) and carried it into the forest and hung it on the first tree they encountered.<ref name=":02" />

In the first half of the 19th century the researcher of Ossetian traditions A. Yanovsky reported that on this holiday “Ossetians"Ossetians slaughter goats, remove the skin without cutting off the head and hang it on a high pole in honor of the [[Elijah|prophet Elijah]], asking him to send rain.”"<ref name=":02" />