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It is one of the brightest celebrations of the aborigene population of the coast of Chukotka (Chukchee, Eskimos). It takes place in the coastal settlements (Lavrenthy, Uelen) at the end of August and September.
Usually before the celebration the whole settment meets the heralds’ boat that brings the news of a successful hunt and the approach of the brave hunters with their whale in tow. The heralds are invited to join at the ritual fire and treated to food. The hunters tell the story of how the hunt went on and whose boat was the first to harpoon the whale. Then people ashore wait for the boat with thr whale in tow. Hunters in the boats when approaching the shore wave their oars to salute their people. Ashore the hunters are met by a girl with a ritual wooden place who is accompanies by a woman (keeper of the national traditions). Once the whale has been taken onto shore, the women would once again bring a young girl to the animal to sing songs devoted to the sea mammal. The hunters are given long spear-like knives for them to cut fine pieces of skin (itgilgyn) of the whale. These pieces are piled on oval wooden plates and given to the boys of the settlement - the future wale hunters. On the second day the members of the hunting team gather for a thanksgiving ritual. The place of the ritual is covered with walrus skins. A wall of snow-blocks is raised to the side. A line of vertical two-meter high spears is erected and two oars are places horizontally onto them. The rudder of the whaleboat is also placed thereon (it is meant to symbolize the boat ashore). The ritual begins with shouting out “O-ok-ok!”. Women perform a dance (while sitting in a circle) and mimic the whale hunt. They wear their braids unfastened, with head bands made from the white skin of the ermine and white ornamented slippers made from mandarka, sealskin cured with the hair removed, and fringed with fur. The sitting dance is then performed by the male hunters. The climax of the ceremony is thought to be the song and dance competition. The best performers are awarded prizes.
In some settlements the celebrations traditionally includes whale-story-telling competitions, stories of former hunters and interesting events during hunting, staging fairy-tales, sports contests which traditionally start with whaleboat races.
Usually before the celebration the whole settment meets the heralds’ boat that brings the news of a successful hunt and the approach of the brave hunters with their whale in tow. The heralds are invited to join at the ritual fire and treated to food. The hunters tell the story of how the hunt went on and whose boat was the first to harpoon the whale. Then people ashore wait for the boat with thr whale in tow. Hunters in the boats when approaching the shore wave their oars to salute their people. Ashore the hunters are met by a girl with a ritual wooden place who is accompanies by a woman (keeper of the national traditions). Once the whale has been taken onto shore, the women would once again bring a young girl to the animal to sing songs devoted to the sea mammal. The hunters are given long spear-like knives for them to cut fine pieces of skin (itgilgyn) of the whale. These pieces are piled on oval wooden plates and given to the boys of the settlement - the future wale hunters. On the second day the members of the hunting team gather for a thanksgiving ritual. The place of the ritual is covered with walrus skins. A wall of snow-blocks is raised to the side. A line of vertical two-meter high spears is erected and two oars are places horizontally onto them. The rudder of the whaleboat is also placed thereon (it is meant to symbolize the boat ashore). The ritual begins with shouting out “O-ok-ok!”. Women perform a dance (while sitting in a circle) and mimic the whale hunt. They wear their braids unfastened, with head bands made from the white skin of the ermine and white ornamented slippers made from mandarka, sealskin cured with the hair removed, and fringed with fur. The sitting dance is then performed by the male hunters. The climax of the ceremony is thought to be the song and dance competition. The best performers are awarded prizes.
In some settlements the celebrations traditionally includes whale-story-telling competitions, stories of former hunters and interesting events during hunting, staging fairy-tales, sports contests which traditionally start with whaleboat races.
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