"Tambov wolf to you comrade!": The origin of phraseology

"Tambov wolf is your comrade!" - where did this winged expression come into our lives? It is believed that a kind of aphorism, it was from the filing of screenwriters Yuri Herman and Joseph Heifits (he is also a director). This phrase they put into the mouth of the character of the film "The Rumyantsev Case" (Lenfilm, 1956). According to the plot, the head of the service of the motor depot, Korolkov (art N. Kryuchkov), connected with a group of speculators, sends a young driver-trucker Sasha Rumyantsev (art. A. Batalov) on a dangerous flight.

I'm not your comrade!

An honest and decent driver does not suspect that he is carrying a stolen cargo. After the detention, wanting to explain himself, Rumyantsev turns to investigator Samokhin (art P. Lobanov) with the words: "Comrade Captain!" To which that evil retorts: "I'm not your comrade! The Tambov wolf is your friend! I am for you - citizen captain! Is that clear? "Fortunately, the experienced and thoughtful Colonel Afanasyev was involved in the situation in the film" The Rumyantsev Case "(art. S. Lukyanov).

Let's try and understand in detail the versions of the emergence of phraseology. The answer to the question: "The stable expression" What is the meaning of the Tambov wolf to you, "what does it mean?" May sound like this: a given interlocutor is not considered close to the views, activities, living conditions, etc.

Such friends - only in the museum

In a simplified modern situation, when the "comrade is not our comrade" characterizes the saying: "Such friends are only in the museum." This refers to the bitter "truth-womb", hidden in the meaning of the phrase "Tambov wolf comrade to you." The origin of phraseology is much more complicated.

By the way, about friends, in the presence of which there are no enemies, sometimes they say: "Bryansk wolf is your comrade." But the last to the recognized "genius of villainy" a fellow is far away. What is this beast so rusty? Biologists will confirm that there is no such breed as the Tambov wolf. In the thickets of the wooded shores of the river Tsny are found common predatory mammals from the family of dogs.

But it is to them the rumor ascribes a particularly fierce disposition. Why? Perhaps this is due to the fact that in ancient times the geographical location of the Tambov province was characterized by a direct neighborhood of the forest and steppe zones. In search of additional food, the evil hungry wolves left the forest. Appearing on the land plots of peasants, they sowed panic and horror among people, because attacks on a man happened quite often. It is not surprising that the fanged "traveler" became a symbol of anger, treachery, danger.

Decorated the form of the English guardsmen

"Tambov wolf is your comrade" ... The scientists of the Tambov Regional Museum of Local History interpret the origin of the phrase through the prism of the centuries. They tell visitors a legend that goes back to the reign of Peter I. Jacobs were born in the forests of individuals whose skin was considered particularly worthy of attention of buyers of Moscow fairs and auctions. Light pale noble color of large, like a blanket, covers from large Tambov wolves attracted the attention of foreign merchants, including those who are well versed in the furs of the British.

It is said that, having acquired the first small batch of 3-4 skins, in London merchants showed it to the king. He was so impressed by the quality and beauty of the Russian purchase that he decided to clothe one of the guards in a form trimmed with wolf fur.

The highest decree ordered the purchase in Russia as many fine skins as possible. Meticulously fulfilling the task, the overseas merchants searched at the Moscow fair not just sellers of furs, but those who realized the glorious "fur coats" of wolves living in Tambov forests.

Only without sacrifice!

The English, with their meager supply of Russian words, unwittingly dubbed the traders' skins "Tambov wolves", as they searched for the treasured goods and simply announced the neighborhood with a simple cry, repeated dozens of times: "Tambov's wolf!" But no one seemed to take offense. The wolf in these parts was deified from the time of paganism.

The beast was considered a symbol of strength, freedom, loyalty. To cajole the gray deity, did not shun human sacrifices. But let's leave "prehistoric manners" alone and return to events closer to and understandable to the modern Earthman. It's amazing how much in the interpretations the expression "Tambov's wolf is a comrade to you!", Whose origin is overgrown with many legends, bygones, and tales.

Hermit Simeon

In Tambov, there is a legend about the monk-hermit Elder Simeon, who lived in the Morshansk district at the beginning of the XIX century. To protect himself from communicating with the world, he went into remote forests, where he prayed for the salvation of mankind in the name of Christ. Everyone knew that the elder is not only a seer, but also an unusual person who understands the language of birds and animals. This gift was bestowed on him by God for his ability to endure harsh tests of loneliness and life deprivation. Going to the forest to hunt, some allegedly saw Simeon surrounded by a whole pack of predators.

There is a legend that from time to time the blessed one appeared in the villages, accompanied by a tamed wolf. It seemed that there was a dialogue between the old man and the animal - they understood each other so well. When the hermit died, his forest brothers howled, sorrowing for loss, as loudly as if they wanted to inform the whole world about the end of the earthly journey of the worshiper. Was it not from there that the phrase "A wolf comrade" came from you, that Simeon became a symbol of heavenly patronage for his countrymen?

Local historian Ovsyannikov, Socialist-Revolutionary Antonov and others

There are other assumptions about the origin of the phraseology "Tambov wolf to you comrade." The origin (as an option) of it was explained by the local historian N. Ovsyannikov. After studying historical facts, he came to this conclusion. At the end of the nineteenth century, farmers of the Tambov region (the Russian black earth center) went to work in cities in the years of low prices (bad harvest). Because of despair, they agreed to work for the tiniest salary. Local residents, claiming higher earnings, said in their hearts that "Tambov wolves are again wandering around the yards."

Ah, the phraseology arose in the course of the Tambov uprising of 1920-1921? The defeated participants of the largest insurgency of the Civil War, named after the leader of the Socialist-Revolutionary Anton Antonov, turned to Anton, who had broken the resistance: "Comrade!", Which received a biting reply: "Tambov's wolf is your comrade!"

During the Great Patriotic War, many local residents believed that the evil Tambov wolves, who in the forest divorced visibly-invisibly, would block the way for the enemy. There are many more legends: for example, wolves in the old days in Tambov region were called bandits.

Today, the Tambov wolf is the edge brand, which in 2016 was recognized as a national treasure. For good or bad, the original name is in these places a variety of goods: vodka, sweets, cigarettes. "Commemorative" (or not a friend) have memorable signs. But the Tambov emblem is not dominated by a predator. This suggests that not only the history of the origin of world-famous phraseology is rich, but the entire history of the glorious forest land.