Yezidi Circumcision and Blood-Brotherhood (Including the Circumcision of the Dead)
In: Iran and the CaucasusSearch for other papers by Peter Nicolaus in
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Amongst Kurds and Yezidis the circumcision of male children and the subsequent bloodbond (kerāfat), formed between the circumcised and the one chosen to hold the boy on his knees during the procedure, has been until the recent past a major rite of passage, as well as a functioning protection mechanism. However, within the last few decades significant changes have occurred in Northern Iraq; and only the Yezidis and a few Kurdish tribes in remote areas still uphold the traditions of the kerāfat. The Yezidis in Armenia and Georgia have completely abandoned this institution and have also altered their practice of circumcision.
The present article sheds light on the Yezidi kerāfat, the mutual social obligations of the two blood-brothers, as well as the marriage barriers established between their respective families. Furthermore, it tracks the modifications circumcision has undergone in Northern Iraq, Turkey, and among Yezidis in the diaspora. In this context, it elaborates on the circumcision practices of the Yezidis in Northern Iraq, Germany, and Transcaucasia especially highlighting the changes introduced through contact with, and the social pressures of, the respective majority population—in particular, focusing on Armenia and Georgia where these changes have resulted in the circumcision of the dead.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1866 | 134 | 16 |
| Full Text Views | 193 | 2 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 65 | 2 | 0 |
Yezidi Circumcision and Blood-Brotherhood (Including the Circumcision of the Dead)
In: Iran and the CaucasusSearch for other papers by Peter Nicolaus in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Amongst Kurds and Yezidis the circumcision of male children and the subsequent bloodbond (kerāfat), formed between the circumcised and the one chosen to hold the boy on his knees during the procedure, has been until the recent past a major rite of passage, as well as a functioning protection mechanism. However, within the last few decades significant changes have occurred in Northern Iraq; and only the Yezidis and a few Kurdish tribes in remote areas still uphold the traditions of the kerāfat. The Yezidis in Armenia and Georgia have completely abandoned this institution and have also altered their practice of circumcision.
The present article sheds light on the Yezidi kerāfat, the mutual social obligations of the two blood-brothers, as well as the marriage barriers established between their respective families. Furthermore, it tracks the modifications circumcision has undergone in Northern Iraq, Turkey, and among Yezidis in the diaspora. In this context, it elaborates on the circumcision practices of the Yezidis in Northern Iraq, Germany, and Transcaucasia especially highlighting the changes introduced through contact with, and the social pressures of, the respective majority population—in particular, focusing on Armenia and Georgia where these changes have resulted in the circumcision of the dead.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1866 | 134 | 16 |
| Full Text Views | 193 | 2 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 65 | 2 | 0 |
