Georgian Culture and Art
Georgia is an ancient and highly developed musical culture country, Georgian people talent of music is commonly known. The religious music had taken the main role in developing the Georgian national professional music. during the excavation in one of the ancient grave along many things was founded an ancient musical instrument "Salamuri", which was made from a small bone.
Musical Traditions
Every region of Georgia has its own tradition of specific musical dialect and the manner of performance, none the less all of them share the same intonation and harmony characteristics. Here the parallel can be made with the diverse nature of the country. It is the style that occurs in three specific forms from: the complex polyphony found in Svaneti, whereby all the voices follow the same rhythmic pattern, producing choral progression; the polyphonic dialogue typical of Eastern Georgia with two high voices over a drone bass; and the contrastive polyphony widespread in Western Georgia and characterized by predominantly three-part writing.
It is no accident that in 1977 a recording of the song Chakrulo was launched into space on board an American space probe as an example of humanDue to historical and political situation Georgian culture was cut from the main stream of development of the European musical culture.
Folk Dance
Georgian folk dance performs Georgian soul and history, gathering from each part of Georgia.These breathtaking and absolutely awesome dances represent a live history book expressing centuries of Georgian art, culture and tradition. Georgian Folk dances are famous around the world. Their magnificence and beauty cannot be forgotten by anyone who sees the dances. Many times Georgian dance groups, whether professional or amateur, have mesmerized the world with the beauty of their dances. The beautiful costumes blend history and art in one single harmony. This, coupled with at times seemingly rough and technical movements, leaves the audience in total awe. Georgian Folk dances give immense pleasure to not only the audience, but to the dancers also.Every dance is unique and performs actions such as wedding, war, competition, celebration, mountain and city life.
Georgian dance is the best representative of the Georgian spirit. It unites love, courage, and respect for women, toughness, competition, skill, beauty, and colorfulness into one amazing performance. The dances shows attitude between man and woman even in love, men uphold their respect and manners by not touching the woman and maintaining a certain distance from her. The man focuses his eyes on his partner as if she were the only woman in the whole world. The display of respect for women reflects Georgian culture at its highest level. Traditionally, when a woman throws her head veil between two men, all disagreements and fighting halts. Historically, Georgians tend to strive for excellence. Many Georgian dances are based on the idea of competition. During dance, they will engage in energetic battle with sword and shield, impersonating battle with an enemy.Since Georgia has seen many wars throughout its history, Khorumi (war dance) is a call from the past and reminds us that in order to have peace, we must have war.The most well known Georgian Dances are:
Kartuli -romantic dance, the most difficult…
Khorumi - war dance
Acharuli - flirtatious and light hearted dance
Partsa -festive dance
Mtiuluri - mountain dance
Khevsuruli -love and courage dance
Kintouri - merchant dance
Parikaoba-warrior dance
Language and Script
Georgian language belongs to the Iberian – Caucasian group of languages. There are 3 dialects in Georgian (Kartvelian) language (Georgian, Svan and Mengrelo – Laz dialects). Georgian alphabet is one of the 14 existing alphabets in the world. It consists of 33 letters. Many scientists believe that Georgian alphabet was derived from one of the Semitic alphabets around 6th – 5th century BC. The alphabet has been modernized during centuries, but keeps the original roots.
One Georgian historian informs us that Georgian script was created in the 3rd c. BC by Georgian King Parnavaz. The mosaic inscription in the Judean desert in Palestine is known as the oldest Georgian inscription ever found.
Georgian literature has ancient and remarkable history. The oldest known literacy work "The Martirdom of Shushanik" was written in 476 – 483 AD by Iakob Tsurtaveli. "The Knight in the Panther Skin" created by Shota Rustaveli at the end of the 12th century is the most brilliant literacy work in Georgian literature. This poem has been translated into many languages of the world.
Georgian Cuisine
Georgian feast is one of the most important traditions in Georgian culture. Nowadays it’s one of the strongest identification features of Georgian people . Structure of Georgian feast is very plain; Its elements are : wine, bread (generally with the meaning of food), toasts and songs. Harmonious mixture of these four elements make the whole Georgian feast.
egardless of size and type, a supra is always led by a tamada, or toastmaster, who introduces each toast during the feast. The tamada is elected by the banqueting guests or chosen by the host. A successful tamada must possess great rhetorical skill and be able to consume a large amount of alcohol without showing signs of drunkenness. During the meal, the tamada will propose a toast, and then speak at some length about the topic. The guests raise their glasses, but do not drink. After the tamada has spoken, the toast continues, often in a generally counter-clockwise direction (to the right). The next guest who wishes to speak raises their glass, holds forth, and then drains their glass.
Georgian cuisine refers to the cooking styles and dishes with origins in the nation of Georgia and prepared byGeorgian people around the world. The cuisine offers a variety of dishes with various herbs and spices. Each historical province of Georgia has its own distinct culinary tradition, with variations such as Megrelian, Kakhetian, and Imeretian cuisines. In addition to various meatdishes, Georgian cuisine also offers a variety of vegetarian dishes.
Traditional Georgian breads are varied, and include Tonis Puri, Khacha Puri (cheese bread), Shotis Puri, Mesxuri Puri, and Cadi. Georgian breads are traditionally baked in a large, round, well-shaped oven called T'one.
Wine culture in Georgia
From times immemorial, wine is known to occupy a special place in the consciousness of the Georgian people. It is with wine a Georgian would celebrate the joy and in wine he would find consolation. For a Georgian, wine is (and has always been) the medium either to get well or to brace up. Wine is perceived as the environment to strike up an acquaintance, and also the instrument to strike up a friendship. Wine is created to set up landmarks of life: birthday, wedding day, starting a business, successful completion of work… In the long run, no holiday can be imagined without wine, no matter how they celebrate it – privately, or at a sumptuous feast.
For the Georgians, wine is much more than just staff to drink. You will notice the traces of winemaking in the Georgian music and architecture, in the very Georgian philosophy – the view of things, the way of life...Finally, when in the fourth century Saint Nino brought Chistianity to Georgia, she held the cross made from grapevine interlaced with her own hair. “Cross of Vine” is the unique symbol of Chistianity.
Georgia is the ancient cradle of winemaking. First cultural species of grapes came out here; unique geographic whereabouts and a diverse ground provide ideal conditions for winegrowing and winemaking.
History of Kakheti winegrowing takes a start from VI millennium BC. Grape leftovers, discovered by the archeologists, date back to the mentioned period and they are the oldest around the globe, that proves once again that Georgia is a homeland of vine. Scientists believe that the word Ghvino (wine, vin, vine) has Georgian origin. 500 out of world-known 2.000 grape species, are Georgian.
During the archeological excavations, there were unearthed bronze period goods, the oldest winepresses and wine-cellars, clay and metal wineglasses and others. There is also discovered a statue of a wine-drinking man, dating back to IX-VII centuries BC. The statue is also considered a symbol of fecundity
Wine is made in every family in Kakheti. Wine, made using the peasant rule, never lags famous brands.Traditionally, picked grapes are placed in a special building the wine-cellar. They use the winepress for compressing grapes. The juice is then poured into clay pitchers that are kept in the ground where it is matured and turned into a wine.People use special sacks made of leather Tiki and Rumba, to transport and keep the wine.Wineglasses are mainly made of clay. Traditionally, there are special horns of a goat or the aurochs also used for drinking wine.
Wine-Cellar
The wine-cellar was usually built near the dwelling house or a vineyard, using stone or brick as a construction material. We also meet wine-cellars that are firmly constructed using processed stones, also decorated with ornaments, belonging to line-up of architectural monuments. The wine-cellar, as a rule, is equipped with a winepress and clay pitchers. Frequently, there are also table equipments in the wine-cellar, as winemakers taste wine all along the wine-making process.
Winepress
Grape is pressed is a winepress, made of stone or wood, having a form of a boat. The bottom of the winepress is covered with the chain of a cornel and a fern. Peasant was getting into the winepress, squashing grapes with his feet, with accompaniment of songs and screams. Now, this tradition of wine pressing is not followed much and it can now be visible at wine festivals and theatrical shows.
Clay Pitcher
Clay pitcher is used to make and keep the wine. It is made of clay that passes through a special treatment. In order to maintain temperature of wine, the pitcher is put in the ground; it is then hermetically closed with the grape juice inside, until the latter finally turns into a wine. The pitchers were also opened for mixing the juice and removing Chacha. Nowadays, wine is rarely made in pitchers; it more serves a keeper of the wine.
During some archeological excavations, the pitchers culture was unearthed in ancient layers. There was also a tradition of donating clay pitchers to churches.
Vintage
Grape-picking in Georgia is called Rtveli- a Vintage. Vintage, as a rule, starts at the end of September and is under way about two weeks. In Kakheti, the vintage is a labor feast, for which population is particularly getting ready. Grape-picking starts in early morning and lasts till the late evening. The event is accompanied by special folk songs dedicated to the process. Picked grapes are kept in wattled baskets called- Godori. The vintage is studded as a rule, with neighbors and relatives, and guests participating in the activity. At the end of the working day, people gather at the table to celebrate the festivity together.
