A Bear Judges the Brides. A Mansi Story

A young Mansi man wanted to get married. A bear chosen by the old men was to assess the worth of the bride. A woman shaman, Mother of Mothers, took the first girl to the bear. It silently moved its lips: the girls were poorly behaved. The young man picked another girl who was also taken to the bear. The girl took fright and paled: she would die young. But the third girl blushed: she was of good behaviour and would live long. The bear left quietly. (Joonisfilm)