The word "totem" is borrowed from the language of the North American Indian tribe Ojibwa, whose members call the coat of arms or sign of the clan, dedicated to any animal. Totemism is characteristic of most primitive societies; not only an animal, but also a plant, a natural phenomenon, an element, or any thing can be a totem.
Totemism
Totemism is a religious system common to many primitive societies and primitive tribes. Totemism was inherent in the ancestors of modern people, and today many tribes continue to worship totems. Unlike other religious systems, in which people deify a person, highlight certain gods or one god, totemism distinguishes a class of objects. Moreover, if the totem is an animal, not the only special representative of a particular species, but all animals of this species. It can be a class of any other object or phenomenon.
People who worship totems believe that they are related to this object or phenomenon, that the totem was the ancestor of their tribe, their ancestors descended from it. Therefore, all members of the community are also considered relatives, although in fact this does not mean consanguinity. Totem societies recognize only such kinship ties based on worship of one totem, with blood kinship being put in second place, and if real relatives worship other totems, they are considered enemies.
The followers of this religious system have a twofold attitude towards the totem: on the one hand, they revere the totem as the creator of their tribe and relative, harbor the kindest feelings towards it, imitate it, on the other hand, many societies have a mystical all-consuming fear of the totem.
Totems
Most totems are animals. In the same Ojibwa tribe, there are 23 clans, each of which worships its own animal: among them there is a wolf, sturgeon, beaver, bear, snake. Animal totemism is inherent in African and Australian tribes. Totem-plants are less common, for example, in some tribes in Ghana, a fig tree serves as a totem. There are also totems dedicated to natural phenomena: thunderstorm, clouds, hail, rain.
In totemism, such a phenomenon as taboo is very common. An animal or plant that people worship is considered sacred, there are a number of rules and restrictions associated with its consumption for food, killing and other actions. In most tribes, totems are forbidden to kill, eat or even touch, verbally abuse and cause any harm. If the believers find a dead animal, they will bury it with all the honors. At the same time, during special holidays, not only is it allowed, but also the solemn sacrifice of the totem is prescribed.
