Абхазские пословицы

 Having lived in this country for quite a while, after several years in Moscow, I have had the opportunity to experience rather close contact with different aspects of Abkhazian life. Unless you are a Hollywood star, it is difficult to imagine a wedding reception organized for 800 – 1000 guests. The menu includes traditional mamalyga (a type of corn porridge), adjika (a very hot spice puree made from peppers and garlic), cha-cha (a homemade vodka-type drink) and excellent wine from local grapes – again homemade of course.

 The welcoming hospitality of the local people is one of the first pleasant things I noticed here, but the very first thing was the breathtaking beauty of this country – snow-capped mountains, wooded valleys, countless lakes and rivers, and many kilometers of coastline, with beaches and all that lovely sea. The sub-tropical weather is another big plus, particularly after Moscow! No wonder so many of the country’s proverbs celebrate the wonders of nature here, and mention for example the singing mountains, dancing rivers, and shining sea. The other major subjects are the character and close ties

 of the people themselves, and of course their motherland and all its delights and wonders.

 I moved to this country looking for a place far from the rat race, in which to spend the rest of my life relaxing in a quiet and lazy manner. That’s why the most appealing proverb for me is “Don’t do the job until it starts to scream”, which I heard from my good friend and neighbour Timor.

 I’m grateful that fate has already put me in contact with a number of Abkhazians who have had an influence not only upon my life here, but even upon my way of thinking – my soul, if you like. One of these people is the author of this book, Oleg Shamba. Oleg has acquainted me with a set of charming proverbs which reveal the essence of Abkhazia better than anything I had met before. His research papers on folklore reflect the spirit and grandeur of the Abkhazian people. The indefatigable activity of Oleg Shamba – the “Abkhazian Dal”* - involving the collection, translation and popularisation of national proverbs deserves great respect and honour. I share his belief that Abkhazian proverbs and aphorisms deserve to become the cultural property of the civilized world. I believe that the present edition will promote this purpose.

 I think I was lucky to find the exact place in the world where my soul is now in complete harmony with my body. I hope this book will also help you at this stressful time to achieve a similar state of internal tranquility and well-being, and to perhaps develop a more philosophical attitude towards life. So God bless you, Abkhazia – the country of the heart and soul “Apsny”.

 Professor Roger Jesse

* Vladimir Dal (Владимир Даль) was an outstanding Russian linguist of the 19th century, who created one of the most important and complete Russian explanatory dictionaries.

 О РОДИНЕ И НАРОДЕ

THE MOTHERLAND AND ITS PEOPLE

•Теряющий Родину – теряет все.

• He who loses his motherland loses everything.

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• У кого Родины нет, у того и Бога нет.

• If you have no motherland, you have no God.

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• Родина – дороже золота.

• The motherland is worth more than gold.

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• Без Апсны и абхазу не быть.

• Can’t be an Abkhazian without Apsny.

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• Когда война за родину идет, приглашения не надо.

• When your motherland is at war, no invitation to participate is required.

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• Счастлив тот, кто говорит с гордостью, что он абхаз.

• Happy is he who can proudly say he is Abkhazian.

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• Подобно Абхазии ничего Создатель не сотворил.

• God has not created anything better than Abkhazia.

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• Когда Абхаз умирает, душа его прямиком в Абхазию попадает.

• When an Abkhazian dies, his soul goes straight to Abkhazia.

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• Абхазия издревле Абхазов земля.

• Since ancient times Abkhazia has been the land of Abkhazians.

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• Если потеряешь свой язык, Родина тебя не простит.

• If you lose your native language, the motherland will not forgive you.

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• Где бы абхаз ни был, его Родина – Апсны.

• Wherever an Abkhazian might be, his motherland is Apsny.

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• Кто на Родине похоронен, того душа спокойна.

• Whoever is buried in the motherland has a quiet soul.

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• Родина наша кровью абхазов омыта.

• Our motherland is washed by the blood of Abkhazians.

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• Блажен тот, кто за Родину голову сложил.

• He who gives his life for his motherland is blessed.

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• Лучше Родины твоей ничего нет.

• There is nothing better than your motherland.

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• Когда сын за родину погибает, мать не плачет.

• When a son dies for the motherland, his mother does not cry.

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• И птицы на Родину возвращаются.

• Birds come back home to their motherland.

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• И горстка родной земли – большое богатство.

• A handful of your native soil is of great value to you.

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• Чего стоит родина твоя, лишь на чужбине узнаешь.

• You only realize the value of your motherland when you are on foreign soil.

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• У каждого одна Родина и одна мать.

• Everyone has one motherland and one mother.

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