Andis - Marriage and Family

Marriage. Andis traditionally married at the age of 15 or older. Marriages were monogamous, although polygamy was permitted. Marriages could be contracted within the clan and even between cousins; there were restrictions on marriage between classes and a preference for marital partners from the same community. Matchmakers mediated the marital arrangements, and bride-prices were not paid. A bride received as a dowry a portion of her parents' property in land and livestock. In the Soviet period, after the abolition of private landownership, this practice was simplified. The contracting of marriage ( beten ) was accompanied by a three-day wedding celebration ( lovzar ), and in some cases horse-racing competitions, with awarding of prizes, were also held. A more abridged variant of the wedding ( nusgh'ol ) was often celebrated, without elaborate festivities, in the presence of relatives and friends. Marriage by abduction sometimes occurred, especially when the parents had refused their daughter's hand to a suitor, as well as elopement, when the young couple married without the consent of their parents. Abduction and elopement could result in discord within the community and hostility between families. In some cases the young man and woman would be forgiven.

Marriage was always patrilocal, with the father providing his newly married son a separate room or even constructing a house for him. In marriage as in divorce the woman retained the rights to her portion of the immovable property. Children remained in the paternal household, especially boys. The Andis have always preferred to settle matters of divorce without resort to the courts. A marriage could be dissolved at the request of either party.

Domestic unit. Extended family units seem not to have been known among the Andis.

Inheritance. Generally children receive their portion of the inheritance while their parents are still living, on the occasion of their getting married. The youngest son stays in his father's home, which he subsequently inherits. In the event that there are no living children, the tukhum assumes the property. The term for the last person in a lineage is vakhidob ; in such a case the property is transferred to the communal treasury of the mosque. Should the parents die before the inheritance is divided, in accordance with Sharia (Islamic law) each son receives an equal share and each daughter receives one-third of a son's share. A person might also leave a written or oral testament specifying the distribution of inheritance. Written wills were announced at the mosque. After nationalization, land could no longer be inherited.

Socialization. Traditionally Andi children, juveniles, and young adults followed a socialization pattern developed over many centuries. Even today, beginning in the early years, all games, activities, and education are geared toward a child's development. The Andis ascribe especial importance to the learning of proper behavior. Contemporary schooling adheres to the general Soviet model, leading to changes in the traditional pedagogical scheme.