The bear holiday or bear merrymaking is the most ancient ceremony which has remained to our time. The bear holiday is the main constituent of bear cult that Ob Ugrians had.

According to folk idea, bear merrymaking are divided into several parts each of which has its own content. The first part is bag and cuts of beef. After the bear bag its carcass is cut with observance of hard rules. The bones are separated only on joints; the head are detached from the body with the skin and paws. The obligatory element is “cleaning” all the hunters after the cutting of the bear by snow or water, in their absence – by moss or soil and putting the bear in its sacrificial pose. This ritual is carried out for evil spirits not to settle in peoples’ houses.

After cutting of the bear carcass the ritual is carried out called “voi pant” (literally “voi” means “beast”, “pant” – “way”), which is partially extant. The caught bear is taken to the nomad camp or to the village through all nearest places. The bear is asked what forest spirit came in the likeness of bear, if he agrees that the merrymaking is held, if he wants to be a familiar spirit, what sacrificial animal he needs, etc.

If the bear consents to the merrymaking to be carried out, the nomad camp owners plan the date of the merrymaking. Everybody who lives nearby is informed about the festival, at present the participants come by helicopters from other districts of the okrug.

Another part of the merrymaking is “bear songs”. They are usually sung in groups of three, five or seven holding each other’s little fingers, and raise and lower arms in time with the music. Thus, people bow to the bear. These songs start every new day of the merrymaking.

Moldanov T. A. The Institute of applied research of Ob-Ugrian peoples Leading scientist worker