soxumis saxelmwifo universiteti

SALOME BAKHIA-OKRUASHVILI“MAMADZEDZUOBA” (FOSTER-FATHER)RELATIONS IN ABKHAZIAExistence of social institute of “foster-father relations” in Abkhaziais inherent only to feudal period. It is one of the forms of establishingfoster relations, which implies the habit of giving a son for upbringing toa family of other family name. In the Abkhazian language it is called “aadzara”.They used terms “abadze” for foster-father and “anadze” forfoster mother. The first part of the terms “ab”= father, “an”=mother, thesecond part is the root of Georgian “dzidza” (nanny). “Abadze” and“Anadze” ought to be the representatives of other families.Representatives of high layers used to give for upbringing theirsons (and daughters too) to the families of lower layers, mostly to peasants’families, for some years, even till full age. Peasants received childrenfor upbringing with pleasure thus acquiring powerful patrons. Betweenthe members of the families of “foster-father” and actual parentsthe new close relations were form on the basis of creation of “dzudzi”(foster) relations.Upbringing of a child was considered a significant phenomenon. Achild was always in the center of attention to protect his life and healthfrom danger. When a child was three years, his father-dzudze (foste-father)used to commence his training in sitting on horseback, riding, usingthe weapons, and as a child grew up, he was taught to traditional legalnorms, rules of behavior in the society and in the family, respect to parentsand elder persons, nobility, bravery et al.Mother-dzudze (foster-mother) used to teach a girl to manage the housework,to sew embroidery art, knit and play any folk instrument. A girlused to return to her own family earlier to prepare dowry. A boy was takenhome by his parents when he reached 15-16 years. Parents used to meettheir child with a feast table and the foster parents were given presents.Both parties used to render each other definite material or moralsupport in significant moments of the life, be it a wedding, mourning,blood-blood taking, vengeance issues “Mama-dzudze” (foster father) instituteserved to the relations between the layers that were on various hierarchicbases of feudal society and to normal relations, approximation oftheir interests. The existence of this social institute should have been almostequally profitable for both parties.496