Teffi -Tikhaya zavod' - name days

[Robert Chandler]

Dear All,

'Tikhaya zavod' is a charming and unexpectedly moving story, set in a remote and run-down country estate.  It is full of peasant talk and folk belief, which, of course, makes it esp. hard to translate.  I have a few questions (I should say that Anne-Marie Jackson is translating this story and has already done an excellent first draft, I'm just helping).

1. Am I right in thinking that a sdvurodnaya plemyannitsa is a first cousin once removed, i.e. the daughter of a first cousin?

2. There is a long discussion of the name days of bees, mares, cattle, red berries, etc.  
      — И чего ты все егозишь-то? — щурится старуха на бешено-розовую девкину юбку. — А еще именинница. Именины — святой день. На Зосиму-Савватия пчела именинница. Пчела — простая тварь, а и то в свой день не жужжит, не жалит: на цветочек сядет, — про свово ангела думает. 
      — Лошадь на Фрола и Лавра проздравляется, — вставил кучер, дуя на щербатое блюдечко. 
      — В Благовещенье — птица именинница: гнезда не вьет, клеву не клюет, поет, и то тихенько, очестливо. 
      — В Власьев день вся скотина проздравляется, — снова вставил кучер. 
How does anyone understand "prozdravlyaetsya"?

3.     — И когда это корова именинница? Вот не вспомнишь, а не вспомнив, обидишь, попрекнешь либо что, и грех. Она сказать не может, смолчит. А там наверху ангел заплачет… 
Am I right in thinking this means something like:
"So when is the cow's name day?  I just can't remember.  And if I can't remember, I might do something to upset her.  I might raise my voice at the cow on her own name day - and that's a sin.  And the cow can't tell us.  She just keeps her mouth shut.'

Far too many words, I know, but for now I just want to be sure we have understood what it means.  Though it goes without saying that I'll be delighted if anyone can suggest a translation that conveys the full meaning in a more succinct and folksy way!

All the best, and thanks,

Robert

Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD





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