LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS OF THE UPPER AND LOWER LUSATIAS IN THE RESEARCH OF THE FRENCH SLAVICIST MARIE DE VAUX PHALIPAU

Background: The paper is devoted to the Sorabistic work of the French Slavicist Marie de Vaux Phalipau (1862-1946) Legends and Customs of the Upper and Lower Lusatias presented as a scholarly report in Amsterdam (September 1927). Author of a large number of Sorabistic publications and reports, published and annunciated in the 1920s – 1930s, she became a true champion of the Lusatian question. The scholarly problem of the study of the French Slavist Marie de Vaux Phalipau’s works is an integral part of Sorabistic studies in Ukraine, begun in the 1960-s. Purpose: In this research, the French scholar fell back on the the works of the reputed Slavicists, admirers of Sorabistic culture, viz. L.Kuba, V.Giusti a.o. This French scholar’s work is very important owing to its detailed descriptions of this people’s ethnography, local inhabitants everyday life. To highlight the proposed scholarly problem, Marie de Vaux Phalipau, out of the five delineated by her basic groups of the Lusatian legends, submitted two from each, viz.: legends of the land, those of water, legends stemming from historical reminiscences; legends and customs related to seasons; legends international in character. Some of them were treated in the researcher’s Sorabistic study The Green Venice. Lusatian Marshes (1927) when the problems in question resurfaced in the political and cultural European milieu. Results: The work by Marie de Vaux Phalipau written with a deep knowledge of Lusatian folklore is a component part of the extensive scholarly heritage of the French lady Slavicist, author of thorough research papers on the culture and everyday life of the Lusatian Sobs. Among her Sorabistic Studies, there still remain a number of works worthy of special attention; a narrative of them would enable one to create a full panoramic view of the Sorabistics of the outstanding French Slavicist admired by Lusatia. Key words: Marie de Vaux Phalipau, Sorabistic Studies, Upper Lusatia, Lower Lusatia, folklore, Lusatian legends, classification.