Culture and cultural traditions of the Russian people
The first associations that occur with the concept of "being Russian", are the width of the soul and the strength of the spirit. National culture are formed character traits.
For most foreigners, Russians seem mysterious and largely incomprehensible, and Russians themselves when abroad can distinguish their compatriots among a crowd of foreigners.
The national characteristics of the Russian character have been formed over the centuries.
The basis of the nation's mentality began to form in the Middle Ages, when most Russians lived in villages and had conducted collective agriculture.
Russian character
The culture and traditions of Russia have a tremendous influence on the so-called Russian character. Russians, like any other nation, have their own special characteristics.
In particular, one of the main national characteristics of the Russian character is hospitality. Meeting guests since ancient times is considered one of the main cultural traditions of Russia.
Even today, important guests are greeted with bread and salt, as before. A wish to the guests "Bread and salt" means that the host was ready to give them the best treats, and meant that the guests had to feel at home.
A unique combination of qualities such as friendliness, mercy, compassion, generosity and tolerance and also in this case simplicity, are very rare among other nations of the world, all this is fully manifested in the greatness of the Russian soul.
Laboriousness is another trait of the Russian character, although in Russian culture also the lack of initiative and laziness (many Russian folk tales speak of this).
The industriousness and resistance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact. No matter how much scientists around the world did not want to understand the "mysterious Russian soul" that will remain a secret for all forever.
Ethnicity in Russia
Russia is a multinational state, on the territory of which about 200 different ethnic groups live. For those who are interested in the traditions of the peoples of Russia, it is worth taking an ethnographic tour to learn more about how the multinational Russia lives.
In St. Petersburg you can learn about the traditions of the peoples of Russia in the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg, one of the largest ethnographic museums in Europe.
Religion of the Russian people
In the modern world the main religions in Russia, are Christianity, above all, Orthodoxy, less Catholic and Protestant, and also Islam and Buddhism,But at the same time, a part of the Russian population is not a believer.
The splitting of the Russian Orthodox Church
In the years between 1650 and 1660, there was a split in the Russian Orthodox Church, connected with the reform of Patriarch Nikon and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, which consisted of innovations, such as conducting church rituals. Changes were made to the liturgical books and rites to unify them with the Greeks themselves.
Old believers Semeyskie
However, not everyone agreed with these innovations. The followers of the old rites, later called "old believers", were anathematized. As a result, groups of old believers appeared.
The old believers are called Russian Christians who have refused to accept Patriarch Nikon's reforms. They were persecuted and oppressed in every possible way. Many families were forced to flee abroad. Modern descendants of old believers can also be found in Brazil.
On Russian territory, the large settlements of the old believers are located in Trans-Baykal, on the territory of the Republic of Buriatia, near Lake Baykal. They were called Semeyskie.
They were expelled from the government of the Russian Empire in Transbaikalia in the 18th century when the Republic of Poland was divided.
The old deported believers received the name of Semeyskie from the local residents, as they were resettled along with their numerous families and their property. Semeyskie comes from the Russian word family, meaning family.
Semeyskie settled in large groups, forming villages all over Buriazia (Siberia). The most famous village is Tarbagatay is located in the Trans-Baykal, where old believers live. Here, the traditions of the first settlers are still respected.
Thanks to the peculiarities of life linked to their religious vision of the world, Semeyskie mixed with the Orthodox and have retained their distinctive characteristics, such as moral and physical.
Physical appearance, the Semeyskie are tall and in most cases have beautiful features, characterized by a strong health in comparison with the surrounding population.
The old belief is a unique phenomenon in the religious, social and cultural history of the Russian people. The life and culture of the Semeyskie are characterized by a particular ethnic color, forms of material and spiritual culture: folklore, rituals, customs, cuisine.
The Semeyskie lived in patriarchal families, with a large number of children. Up to 4 generations lived in a house per family. Today, after more than three centuries, the spiritual culture of the Semeyskie has been proclaimed "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" and is included in the first UNESCO list.
Traditional Russian house
The traditional Russian qualification is called izba (изба), made of rough wood, with a double-angled roof. The entrance is a porch. The house had a furnace and a cellar.
In Russia there are still many residential izbe, for example, to the town Vyatka, in the Kirov region. In various regions of Russia, there are museums of wooden architecture and ethnopoints, the Museums of Wooden Architecture are often found outdoors and show all the beauty and extravagance of ancient Russian wooden architecture. Here you can see not only the real izbe, brought from different regions of Russia, but also household items, and elements of ancient Russian culture, which characterize well this era.
Russian National Costume
The men's popular costume is a shirt with an embroidered collar, trousers, Liberian shoes or boots. Shirt worn out with a fabric belt. As clothing they wore a kaftan.
The women's popular costume consisted of a long embroidered long-sleeved shirt, a sarafan or a skirt with flywheels, and over a wool skirt called a posing. Married women wore a povoynik headgear. A festive headdress was a kokoshnik.
In everyday life Russians do not wear popular costumes. The best examples of this clothing can be seen in ethnographic museums, and also in all kinds of dance events and festivals of Russian culture.
In everyday life Russians do not wear folk costumes. The best examples of this clothing can be seen in ethnographic museums, and also in all kinds of dance events and festivals of Russian culture.
Russia is a truly unique country which, together with a highly developed modern culture, respects national traditions, deeply rooted not only in orthodoxy, but also in paganism. Russians continue to celebrate pagan holidays, believing in the signs and traditions of many people.