Totemizm – the animism branch representing a religious and social system which cornerstone the idea of supernatural communication between people and certain objects, totems is. The totem is a subject of religious honoring and it is considered the relative to the person or group of people. The term came from the word "ot-otem" that in translation from language of North American Indians of a chippev means "its sort".
Emergence of a totemizm in primitive society connect with the aspiration of separate communities to affirm the right for a certain territory, having mythologically authorized the claims on it. In essence the primitive totemizm was the most ancient form of awareness of unity of community and the beginning of the social relations. Here the world around phenomena were for the first time systematized, kinship and other social communications are comprehended, the unity of society and the nature was approved, the ritual and ideological relations were created. First of all, the totem is a defender and the patron. It is considered that even the most furious animal will not do harm to the representative some kind of. Totemizm is closely connected with magic. By means of magic ceremonies the communication with mythical representatives of a sort is made. Most often a totem is the animal, is more rare – a plant, and, in exceptional cases, an inanimate object or the natural phenomenon. The feature of a totemizm is that the belief in family relations with totems is not symbolical at all, and is quite real. If, for example, a totem of a sort is the buffalo, then it is considered that he also is his real primogenitor. At the same time all other buffalo s will be blood relatives of a sort. The belief in kindred is reflected in the relation to a totem. So, traditions of many tribes order to demand for murder of a totem just the same revenge, or a vira, as well as for murder of the representative of the tribe. Even if eating of a totemic animal or a plant is allowed, then it is followed by the special ritual expressing a regret. The most widespread type of a totemizm – patrimonial, meet individual and sexual slightly less often. Besides, types of belonging to totemic communities in the place of conception, the birthplace and even on dreams were described. However such forms meet very seldom. Having created in primitive society, the totemizm also until now did not lose viability. It is widespread in North America, is noted in South America, among non Aryan communities of India and in Africa. In Australia the totemizm still remains the only form of the religious and social relations at tribes of natives.