Felt as a Surviving Part of Material and Spiritual World Culture

Abstract

An analysis of academic literature and of specialized sources shows a serious lack of research studies and publications on the role of felt in Bashkir material culture. A review of available information about felt can provide the groundwork for further in-depth research studies in this area. This paper aims to introduce readers to the history of felt, its place in daily life and its reflection in Bashkir spiritual culture. What makes this study relevant in the present context is that it fills the gap in research on felt as being an element of Bashkir material culture and its presence in Bashkir folklore. Based on felt-related folklore and ethnographic materials drawn from the authors’ published and non-published field notes, this paper seeks to show the rich history of felt from ancient times to our days and to identify its place in Bashkir spiritual culture. The analytical approach used for this study has revealed the strong presence of felt in folklore, particularly, in Bashkir fairy tales and customs highlighting the mention of white felt, which was widely used in rituals and traditional medicine. Examples drawn from various fairy tales illustrate the authors’ observations about the role of felt in Bashkir spiritual culture.