Role of Soviet Influence on Wedding Rituals: Reflections of Azerbaijani Cultural Practices
Date Issued
2023-05
Author(s)
Jafarova, Jeyran
Abstract
This study focuses on the role of religion as a cultural element, specifically investigating its
influence on wedding rituals and its potential impact on cultural change by providing insight into
the ensuing cultural transformation of Azerbaijan throughout the 20th century. The study aims to
examine how religious practices within marriage ceremonies reflect cultural transformations
throughout the Soviet period. The main discussion point is to find out the possible implications of
the change in dominant cultural policy on lives of Azerbaijanis. To gain insights into historical
shifts and the significance of religion, interviews were conducted with older generation women in
Azerbaijan, allowing for a retrospective exploration of wedding practices through their
experiences. Key concepts employed in this study include culture, cultural memory, cultural
violence, intersectionality, and the cultural domain of power. The findings indicate that various
regions exhibit distinct traditions in different stages of life, including wedding customs. The
inhabitants of capital city were the ones mainly affected by the new cultural policies and regions
of Azerbaijan could save their old traditions preserving the religious elements in it. Another finding
was that family’s proximity to government (if they are serving for the ruling Communist Party)
also had role in holding the traditional weddings. To explain, the ones working for the government
had their weddings in Soviet style and avoided the religious elements in it. Findings show that,
despite the introduction of atheistic ideologies and societal changes, religious practices and certain
traditions continued to be observed privately.
influence on wedding rituals and its potential impact on cultural change by providing insight into
the ensuing cultural transformation of Azerbaijan throughout the 20th century. The study aims to
examine how religious practices within marriage ceremonies reflect cultural transformations
throughout the Soviet period. The main discussion point is to find out the possible implications of
the change in dominant cultural policy on lives of Azerbaijanis. To gain insights into historical
shifts and the significance of religion, interviews were conducted with older generation women in
Azerbaijan, allowing for a retrospective exploration of wedding practices through their
experiences. Key concepts employed in this study include culture, cultural memory, cultural
violence, intersectionality, and the cultural domain of power. The findings indicate that various
regions exhibit distinct traditions in different stages of life, including wedding customs. The
inhabitants of capital city were the ones mainly affected by the new cultural policies and regions
of Azerbaijan could save their old traditions preserving the religious elements in it. Another finding
was that family’s proximity to government (if they are serving for the ruling Communist Party)
also had role in holding the traditional weddings. To explain, the ones working for the government
had their weddings in Soviet style and avoided the religious elements in it. Findings show that,
despite the introduction of atheistic ideologies and societal changes, religious practices and certain
traditions continued to be observed privately.