What true Russian did not hear popular sayings? Probably there are few of them. And how many proverbs exist about a variety of family ties, and it is difficult to count. What are the well-known sparkling statements about the relationship between mother-in-law and son-in-law, which are so widely used by the people in anecdotal situations. For example, “son-in-law on the threshold, mother-in-law for eggs”, “our son-in-law has a lot of ideas,” “mother-in-law for the son-in-law and the stupa milks”, “they say that the mother-in-law is hell, and the mother-in-law is a treasure”. As many have probably already guessed, today we will talk about a man who is called “son-in-law”, who he is, what his place in his relatives is.
Relevance of the issue
Despite the apparent simplicity of the term, to some, including our young contemporaries, the word "son-in-law" may seem unfamiliar and incomprehensible in meaning, even despite its widespread use. In order not to get confused in the terminology, as well as adequately interpret the meaning of what was heard or read about family ties and domestic relations, we offer you a small article for an independent educational program on this issue.
Son-in-law - who is it?
If you pay attention to the pronunciation of the word, then the related cognate term can be considered the verb "know." In etymological terms, from many languages, including Old Slavonic, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Slovenian, Czech, the word "son-in-law" has an unambiguous translation. Literally, it means "bridegroom." From the ancient Greek term is translated as "relative, brother." There are also such unusual words containing a common root, indicating a certain relation to the main term, such as son-in-law, son-in-law, son-in-law, and son-in-law, most likely used in the common people or in fiction describing the folk traditions and customs of Russian villages, characterizing originality and originality of the Russian language.
The meaning of the term
Returning to the modern semantic load that is assigned to this word, that is, simply, figuring out the son-in-law is someone who is related, one can understand that historically this word was used to name the groom or husband of daughters, sisters or nieces, as well as any man who becomes a relative after marriage. Mom and dad of the wife become, respectively, mother-in-law and father-in-law, brother - brother-in-law, and sister of the wife - sister-in-law.
History and Customs
Despite modern ideas about family relationships, initially in the old days in Russia, as well as in the remote village outskirts and settlements existing to this day, the figure of the son-in-law was considered quite influential and revered.
This is indicated by preserved and extant literary descriptive sources confirming that even in the usual way of peasant villages there were certain traditions of receiving, treating and honoring the daughter's husband. Especially if the wife had any lack of appearance or with a meager wedding dowry. Perhaps this is where the prejudices about the tense and conflicting relationships between the mother-in-law and her daughter’s husband come from.
In our life, you can often meet a son-in-law who has come to live in his wife's family. Such a newly made relative is usually called a prima. However, it is still considered, and practice shows, to maintain good relations, it is better that the young family live separately. Then the mother-in-law and son-in-law will not conflict. We have already found out who it is and by whom each other falls.
Instead of an epilogue
Everyone, coming into this world, immediately acquires relatives. By connecting ourselves with a particular person, we ourselves can choose our own family. And often philistine labeling, whether it is a mother-in-law or a son-in-law (who it is - read above), ridicule of his relationship with other members of the family, can affect the future trend of his behavioral reactions among relatives.
Therefore, first of all, always remain a good person! Then the mother-in-law of the mother-in-law will be the first guest!