Traditions of culture and history of the people. Presentation on history on the topic "traditions and customs of the Russian people." The importance of culture of different nationalities in the world

Tradition, custom, ritual are an age-old connection, a kind of bridge between the past and the present. Some customs are rooted in the distant past; over time they have changed and lost their sacred meaning, but are still observed today, passed on from grandparents to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren as a memory of their ancestors. In rural areas, traditions are observed more widely than in cities, where people live separately from each other. But many rituals have become so firmly established in our lives that we perform them without even thinking about their meaning.

Traditions can be calendar, related to field work, family, pre-Christian, the most ancient, religious, which entered our lives with the adoption of Christianity, and some pagan rituals mixed with Orthodox beliefs and were somewhat modified.

Calendar rituals

The Slavs were cattle breeders and farmers. In the pre-Christian period, the pantheon of Slavic gods included several thousand idols. The supreme gods were Svarozhichi, the ancestors of all living things. One of them was Veles, the patron of cattle breeding and agriculture. The Slavs made sacrifices to him before sowing and harvesting. On the first day of sowing, all villagers went out to the field in new, clean shirts with flowers and wreaths. The oldest resident of the village and the smallest one began sowing, and they threw the first grain into the ground.

The harvest was also a holiday. Everyone, even the old and sick, villagers gathered at the border of the field, a sacrifice was made to Veles, most often a large ram, then the strongest and handsome men and young guys with scythes in their hands and simultaneously walked through the first lane. Then the girls and young women, always fast and healthy, tied the sheaves and placed the money. After successful cleaning, a rich table was set for all residents of the village; a large sheaf, decorated with ribbons and flowers, was placed at the head of the table, which was also considered a sacrifice to the god Veles.

Maslenitsa also refers to calendar rituals, although at present it is already considered a semi-religious holiday. In ancient times, this ritual invoked Yarilo, the god of the sun and heat, on whom the harvest directly depended. That is why the custom arose on this day to bake pancakes, fatty, rosy, hot as the sun. All people danced in circles, which are also a symbol of the sun, sang songs praising the power and beauty of the sun, and burned an effigy of Maslenitsa.

Today Maslenitsa has abandoned its pagan meaning and is considered almost a religious holiday. Each day of Maslenitsa week has its own purpose. And the most important day is Forgiveness Sunday, when you should ask all your family and relatives for forgiveness for involuntary offenses. Sunday is the turn to Great Lent, the strictest and longest, when believers give up meat and dairy foods for seven weeks.

Yule rituals

When Christianity was firmly established in Rus', new church holidays appeared. And some holidays that have a religious basis have become truly popular. This is precisely what should be included in the Christmas festivities, which take place from January 7 (Christmas) to January 19 (Epiphany).

On Christmastide, young people went from house to house with performances, other groups of boys and girls caroled, girls and young women told fortunes in the evenings. All village residents were required to participate in preparations for the holidays. They slaughtered livestock and prepared special dishes. On Christmas Eve, January 6, the evening before Christmas, they cooked uzvar, a sweet compote with rice, prepared cheesecakes and pies, sochevo, a special dish of cabbage with grain.

Young people sang special comic carol songs, asked for treats, and jokingly threatened:

“If you don’t give me some pie, we’ll take the cow by the horns.”

If they didn’t give treats, they could play a joke: close the chimney, destroy a woodpile of firewood, freeze the door. But this happened rarely. It was believed, and is still believed, that generous gifts, songs with wishes of happiness and prosperity, and grain brought into the house by guests bring happiness to the house for the whole New Year, relieve diseases and misfortunes. Therefore, everyone tried to treat those who came and give them generous gifts.

Young girls most often wondered about their fate, about their suitors. The bravest ones told fortunes in a bathhouse with a mirror by candlelight, although this was considered very dangerous, because in the bathhouse they removed the cross from themselves. The girls brought armfuls of firewood into the house; by the number of logs, even or odd, one could tell whether or not she would get married this year. They fed the chicken with counting grain, melted the wax and looked at what it predicted for them.

Family rituals

Perhaps the most rituals and traditions are associated with family life. Matchmaking, weddings, christenings - all this required compliance with ancient rituals that came from grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and their strict observance promised a happy family life, healthy children and grandchildren.

The Slavs used to live in large families, where adult children, who already had their own families, lived with their parents. In such families three or four generations could be observed; families included up to twenty people. The elder of such a large family was usually the father or older brother, and his wife was the head of the women. Their orders were carried out unquestioningly, along with the laws of the government.

Weddings were usually celebrated after the harvest or after Epiphany. Later, the most successful time for weddings was “Red Hill” - the week after Easter. The wedding ceremony itself took a fairly long period of time and included several stages, and therefore a large number of rituals.

The groom's parents came to woo the bride together with their godparents, and less often other close relatives. The conversation should have started allegorically:

“You have goods, we have a merchant” or “Didn’t a heifer run into your yard, we came for her.”

If the bride's parents agreed, a viewing party should be held where the bride and groom would get to know each other. Then there will be collusion or handshaking. Here the new relatives agree on the wedding day, the dowry, and what gifts the groom will bring to the bride.

When everything was discussed, her girlfriends gathered at the bride’s house every evening and helped prepare the dowry: they wove, sewed, knitted lace, embroidered gifts for the groom. All girls' get-togethers were accompanied by sad songs, because no one knew what the girl's fate would be. In her husband's house, a woman expected hard work and complete submission to her husband's will. On the first day of the wedding, the songs sounded mainly lyrical, majestic, farewell laments. Upon arrival from church, the newlyweds were greeted on the porch by their parents with bread and salt, and the mother-in-law had to put a spoonful of honey in her new daughter-in-law's mouth.

The second day is a completely different matter. On this day, according to custom, the son-in-law and his friends went “to their mother-in-law for pancakes.” After a good feast, the guests dressed up, covered their faces with bandages or canvas, and drove around the village, visiting all their new relatives. This custom is still preserved in many villages, where on the second day of the wedding, the costumed guests themselves harness themselves to the cart and drive the new matchmakers through the streets.

And, of course, speaking of customs, one cannot miss the rite of infant baptism. Children were baptized immediately after birth. To perform the ceremony, they consulted for a long time, choosing godparents. They will be second parents for the child and, equally with them, are responsible for the life, health and upbringing of the baby. Godparents become godfathers and maintain friendly relations with each other throughout their lives.

When the child turned one year old, godmother She sat him on an inside-out sheepskin coat and, using scissors, carefully cut a cross in his hair on the crown of his head. This was done in order to evil spirits did not have access to his thoughts and further actions.

Every year, on Christmas Eve, the grown-up godson always brought the godfather kutya and other treats, and the godfather gave him some sweets in return.

Mixed rites

As we have already said, some rituals originated in the pre-Christian period, but continue to live to this day, having slightly changed their appearance. It was the same with Maslenitsa. A widely known ritual is the celebration of the night of Ivan Kupala. It was believed that only on this single day of the year does the fern bloom. Whoever can find this flower that cannot be handed over will be able to see the treasures underground, and all the secrets will be revealed to him. But only a person can find it pure in heart, sinless.

In the evening, huge fires were lit, over which young people jumped in pairs. It was believed that if the two of you, holding hands, jump over the fire, then love will not leave you throughout your life. They danced in circles and sang songs. The girls wove wreaths and floated them on the water. They believed that if the wreath floated to the shore, the girl would remain alone for another year, if she drowned, she would die this year, and if she floated with the flow, she would soon get married.

The Russian people are distinguished by a rich culture, multiple customs and colorful folklore. National culture, like memory, distinguishes the Russian people from others, allows one to feel a genuine connection between times and generations, and provides an opportunity to receive vital support and spiritual support.

Basically, the customs and traditions of the Russian people are connected with the calendar, and with church sacraments, holidays and difficult rituals. The calendar in Rus' was called a monthly calendar, which covered and described absolutely the entire year of life of the peasants. In it, each day corresponded to certain holidays or weekdays, folk signs, all kinds of weather phenomena, customs, traditions and superstitions.

Traditions of the Russian people associated with calendar holidays and important events in the life of a Russian person

The folk calendar was agricultural, which was significantly reflected in the names of the months, and was a kind of encyclopedia that included and includes agricultural experience, norms public life, rituals.

The folk calendar of the Russian people is a fusion of Christian and pagan principles with the help of folk Orthodoxy. Rituals, which from time immemorial have been dedicated to fairly large holidays, included huge amount songs, round dances, games, sentences, dances, masks, dramatic scenes, folk costumes and original props. Russian traditions are undeniably rich in imagination and works of art.

The traditions of the Russian people at Maslenitsa are interesting. They are related to the theme of family and marriage relations, since at Maslenitsa those newlyweds who got married the previous year were honored. But the customs associated with church holiday Easter is characterized by Holy Scripture- The Bible, as well as decorating tables with blessed Easter cakes made from cottage cheese, painted eggs and Easter cakes.

Christmas is traditionally a holiday of return and rebirth; its customs are filled with genuine kindness, humanity, and high moral ideals. At Christmas they give suppers, they gathered and gather dear relatives and guests, and young girls on the night before this holiday were fond of folk fortune-telling.

But the Russian people personified the day of the summer solstice with the holiday of Ivan Kupala. On warm evenings, songs were sung and young people jumped over the fire. This action mixed pagan and Christian tradition.

Russian national traditions in everyday life are associated with such events as the expectation and birth of a baby, christenings, weddings and funerals. A new addition to the family has always been good news and is associated with many signs that many expectant mothers observe to this day. After the birth of a child, it was not customary to show it to strangers for 40 days.

The rite of christening was personified by washing the child in holy water and naming, that is, the child was given a name. Weddings were held with bride price, various competitions and the kidnapping of the young wife. But the funerals were carried out only according to church rites.

Despite the similarity of customs with other peoples, Russian folk rituals the most colorful, musical and eloquent.

And so, it’s time to talk in more detail about calendar holidays, including those that we celebrate to this day.

Traditions for celebrating calendar holidays:

Maslenitsa is ancient Slavic holiday, which we inherited from pagan culture. The holiday takes place in the week preceding Lent (cheese week). During Maslenitsa they eat heartily and plentifully. Maslenitsa is happy farewell winters, which are illuminated by the joyful anticipation of the approaching warmth, the spring renewal of nature. Even pancakes, which are an indispensable attribute of Maslenitsa, had a ritual meaning: ruddy, round, hot, they were a symbol of the sun, which flared up more and more brightly, lengthening the days. Maslenitsa is one of the most happy holidays in Rus'. It is called differently: wild, wide, narrow, honest... During the days of Maslenitsa, wide festivities took place in cities, towns, villages: games, sleigh rides from the mountains, horse racing, taking snow fortresses, fist fights. Fist fights were very common and were organized in three ways at Maslenitsa: one on one, wall to wall and dump. Men could take part in fist fights without distinction of rank or age. But, of course, a plentiful table is main feature Maslenitsa People call it "overeating". During Holy Week, people eat and drink, as they say, “from the belly.” But the favorite and main dish has always been delicious pancakes. Maslenitsa began with pancakes and ended with them. An incredible amount of pancakes were always eaten these days. During Maslenitsa week, each day has its own name, and the week itself is divided into two periods - Broad Maslenitsa and Narrow Maslenitsa.

The first three days: from Monday to Wednesday - Narrow Maslenitsa, the next four days: from Thursday to Sunday - Wide Maslenitsa. During Narrow Maslenitsa you can do housework, and on Thursday the work was completed and Wide Maslenitsa began.

Monday - meeting

Narrow Maslenitsa began on Monday. The father-in-law and mother-in-law sent their daughter-in-law to her father and mother for the day in the morning, and in the evening they themselves came to visit the matchmakers. They discussed the composition of the guests, the place and time of the festivities.

The booths, swings, and snowy mountains were already ready for this day. On Monday they began to build a scarecrow of Maslenitsa from old clothes, straw and other available materials. The scarecrow was carried through the streets on a sleigh.

Tuesday is a game.

On the second day, bride viewings usually took place. In fact, all Maslenitsa rituals boiled down to matchmaking, in order to get married on Krasnaya Gorka, after Lent. Young people rode from the mountains in the morning, inviting their relatives and friends for pancakes.

Maslenitsa was announced with the words: “Our snowy mountains are ready and pancakes are baked - please welcome!”

Wednesday - delicacies.

On this day, the son-in-law came to his mother-in-law for pancakes. The mother-in-law showed her affection for her daughter’s husband. The mother-in-law invited other guests besides her son-in-law.

Thursday - revelry (Range, Wide revelry, Turning point, Wide Thursday, Revelry Thursday)

On Thursday, Broad Maslenitsa began, housework stopped, and celebrations began. The people indulged in fun: there were fist fights, horse riding, competitions, culminating in noisy feasts. The main action on Thursday was the assault and capture of the snow town. The meaning of Wide Thursday and all of Maslenitsa was the release of negative energy accumulated over the winter and the resolution of conflicts between people.

Friday is mother-in-law's party.

On Friday, the mother-in-law came to visit her son-in-law for a return visit. My daughter baked pancakes. The mother-in-law came to visit her son-in-law with relatives and friends. The son-in-law demonstrated his affection for his mother-in-law and her relatives.

Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers.

On this day, daughters-in-law invited their husbands' sisters-in-law and relatives to visit. The daughter-in-law had to give some gift to her sister-in-law.

On Saturday the church celebrates the Council of All Reverend Fathers.

Sunday - farewell.

This day is called Forgiveness Day, Kissing Day. The last day of Maslenitsa is Forgiveness Sunday and is the culmination of the entire Maslenitsa week. On Sunday there was a conspiracy before the beginning of Lent.

For everything caused last year grievances, close people asked each other for forgiveness. In the evening of Forgiveness Sunday, the deceased were remembered.

On this day we went to the bathhouse. They burned the leftover holiday food and washed the dishes thoroughly. At the end of the holiday, the effigy of Maslenitsa was solemnly burned, the ashes were scattered across the fields. At evening services in churches, the rite of forgiveness is performed. All believers, bowing to each other, ask for forgiveness, and in response say “God will forgive.” Lenten services begin.

Sayings about Maslenitsa:

A pancake is not a wedge, it won’t split your belly. Without a pancake it’s not buttery. Ride the roller coaster, lie in the pancakes. Maslenitsa is crazy, I'm saving money.

Maslena: honest, cheerful, broad, global holiday.

Cover Holy Mother of God.

The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary came to Rus' from Byzantium and was established in the middle of the 12th century. through the efforts of Holy Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. According to legend, the basis of the holiday was an event that occurred on October 14, 910 in the city of Constantinople, besieged by the Saracens, in the Blachernae Church, in which the robe, head cover and belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary were kept. Among those praying at the all-night vigil were Blessed Andrew and his disciple Epiphanius. Looking at Heaven, Saint Andrew unexpectedly saw the Most Holy Virgin walking through the air, surrounded by angels and saints. Kneeling down, the Most Holy Virgin prayed for a long time, and after that, approaching the throne of the temple, she took off the veil (veil) from Her head and spread it over the people praying in the temple, thereby marking the protection She granted to the entire Christian world from enemies. When the Mother of God departed, the cover became invisible. This legend reflects the widespread veneration of the robe (robe) of the Mother of God in Byzantium. IN Orthodox Rus' the word “veil” meant both the veil and the protection emanating from the image of the Blessed Virgin. It is to this patronage that numerous victories of the Russian people are attributed. In 1165, in honor of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Andrei Bogolyubsky built most beautiful temple Intercession on the Nerl.

On the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, believers pray for intercession, protection from all kinds of disasters, and the sending of grace. By this time all agricultural work was completed. Cover - the first winter, the possible onset of cold weather and frosts. Before the Intercession, villagers took care of the dried branches of the apple tree, because it was believed that if they were burned on October 14, the house would be warm all winter. Based on the weather on Pokrov, people judged the upcoming winter: if the cranes had already flown away, it would be an early and cold winter; if the east wind blows on this day, the winter will be cold, the south wind will mean a warm winter, the west wind will mean a snowy winter. Snow on Pokrov portends snowy and cold winter, and if snow falls before the Intercession, winter will not come soon. In addition, from October 14, weddings began to take place in villages. If snow falls on Pokrov, the newlyweds will be happy, and if the weather is windy, there will be a great demand for brides, people said. On Pokrov, the girls said: “Father Pokrov, cover the mother of the damp earth and me, young!”, “White snow covers the earth: isn’t he equipping me, young, for marriage?” At this time, the girls gathered together to spin flax, and then weave “ordinary” shroud, trying to complete all the work in one day. Before mass, the prepared canvas was carried to the icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, while saying: “Mother Theotokos! Cover me quickly, send a smarter groom!” From Pokrov, the owners began to insulate the house for the winter, to “bring in the heat.” During work they said: “Grab some heat before the Intercession,” “Mend your fur coat before the Intercession, otherwise there will be no heat.” When lighting the stove, the housewives said special words: “Father-Pokrov, heat our hut without firewood.” For the holiday of the Intercession, they tried to restore complete order in the hut and prepare as many treats as possible from the fruits of the new harvest. Also, this holiday was considered the last day of collecting fruits and mushrooms. They believed that on this day it was possible to protect children from colds; for this purpose, water was poured over the child through a sieve at the threshold of the hut. If the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin does not fall on Wednesday or Friday, any food is allowed; otherwise, meat, dairy and egg foods are prohibited, and fish is allowed. On the joyful day of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, believers pray to their Intercessor: “Cover us with Your honest protection and deliver us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ our God, save our souls!”

Easter Christian.

In people's minds, Easter has always been associated with rebirth for a new life. For church services they wore the best clothes made for the occasion. But, first of all, they cared about the soul. We tried to forget evil, forgive insults, and cast aside everything unkind. All week the bell sound did not subside over the earth. Truly great was the holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ in Holy Rus'.

Works of mercy.

In the old days, people tried to sanctify the holiday with acts of charity. They believed that these days the Lord Himself, together with the apostles, walks the earth in beggarly clothes, blessing those who show mercy and punishing the hard-hearted. Imitating the Savior with their actions, pious nobles opened prisons, forgiving prisoners. The doors of the houses of ordinary Christians were open to all the suffering, the poor and the hungry.

Easter cake.

Throughout the entire holiday week, Orthodox Christians ate Easter cakes at meals - ritual bread consecrated at Easter Matins. There was a tradition of treating everyone who came to the house with it, so they baked a lot of them. The owner carried the Easter cake to the temple to bless it, and when everyone returned home, he touched the heads of the children with it so that they would grow up faster. If for some reason someone from the family was far from home, the housewife cut off a large piece of Easter cake, wrapped it in a towel along with three eggs and placed it in the Red Corner.

Easter eggs.

In Rus' there was a tradition of coloring eggs with onion skins. They were called dyes. But if stripes, dots and twists were depicted against the general background, then these were specks. Eggs painted with an ornamental pattern are called Easter eggs.

Confectioners prepared sugar and chocolate eggs for the holiday, and jewelers created real masterpieces from stone, bones and porcelain, decorated with gilding. Every year on the eve of the holiday, a huge number of Easter eggs were delivered to the Royal Court. At Easter, the Emperor gave them to his subjects.

But the real creation, of course, were the Faberge eggs. Only 68 of them were made: 56 for the last two Russian Tsars, and 12 for private individuals. Even after a century, no one could surpass the masters of this jewelry house.

Easter meal.

Upon returning from the temple, the festive meal began. Meat dishes were served to the table. As a rule, fish was not eaten at Easter. Be sure to, in tribute to the Gospel tradition, they put sugar on the Easter cake, and butter lamb on the cheese paska. There were special molds for their manufacture. The owner of the house walked around the table with a bowl of colors and a blessed Easter cake, stopped in front of the icons, cut several blessed eggs, distributed them to those gathered and said: “God grant that in a year we will wait for Easter in health and happiness.” In many places, after breaking the fast, it was the custom to wash oneself with water in which dyes and a copper coin were placed. The remains of food from the Easter meal on St. George's Day were scattered across the field or buried on the boundary.

For a long time, peasants in Rus' believed that on this day Heaven was opened and they could ask the Lord for everything. Everyone believed unquestioningly in the miraculous fulfillment of desire. We tried to remember what would be the first to catch your eye as soon as you went outside after the Easter table. This was considered an indication of what would bring success in business. People watched as “the sun played,” believing that Christ himself was thus greeting those who believed in Him. They bowed to the waist and said: “Glory to You, Lord, for Your face!” On the second day of the holiday, women stayed at home, and men went to their relatives and friends to celebrate Christ. Children, as at Christmas, went from house to house, glorifying the risen Christ. They were given gifts Easter eggs and sweets. From this day on, the festivities of boys and girls began, it was also best time for viewing

Christmas.

Christmas has been celebrated as a separate holiday among Orthodox Christians since the 4th century. Of course, over the centuries different countries Around the world, numerous traditions have emerged to celebrate the great day of Jesus’ coming into this world. If you look a little more closely, you can clearly see that almost all cultural and historical eras. Each generation, starting from the traditions bequeathed by their ancestors, brought something new, special, peculiar to that particular generation to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. historical period in which it lived and national customs precisely his people.

The hidden meaning of Christmas traditions and customs.

But, without a doubt, the main traditions of celebrating Christmas were formed in ancient times. Moreover, many of them are deeply rooted in paganism, in the times of worship of the Sun and the powerful forces of nature. Our ancestors (unlike us) always remembered that man is an integral spiritual component of nature. That is why the vast majority of Christmas traditions, customs, and rituals are directly related to natural phenomena and spiritual cleansing. The purer the soul, the less negative energy is “thrown out” into this world, the fewer natural disasters and catastrophes, the more harmonious a person exists with the nature around him.

The main traditions of Orthodox Christmas

Judging from this point of view, the tradition to observe before Christmas Lent, looks completely different. By limiting oneself in food for forty days, and especially on Christmas Eve, a person is cleansed both physically and mentally and is reborn, like Jesus, in order to continue his life on a new, better level.

Also, other Christmas traditions take on a completely different meaning from this point of view. For example, in the old days there was a very strange modern man custom. On Christmas Eve it was forbidden to wash or go to the bathhouse. Some historians argue that such a tradition was associated exclusively with great efforts to prepare for “water procedures”: chopping wood and heating a bathhouse really took a lot of time in the old days. In fact, water has the ability to “wash away” all accumulated information from a person and, accordingly, cleanse him of sins. Our ancestors faced a very difficult task - to cleanse themselves without this powerful aid, only through abstinence and prayer.

Having freed ourselves before Christmas from all the bad things that had accumulated over the year, it was necessary to “sow” the soul with new, energetically pure seeds of good luck and prosperity. Another Christmas tradition, “sowing,” is connected to this. Therefore, on the morning of January 7, they always carol, scattering grains of rice, wheat, and millet in the corners of the room. At the same time, the “sowers” ​​always wish the owners of the house happiness, prosperity and health.

Traditionally, a sumptuous table was set for Christmas. But this was connected not only with the love of our ancestors for delicious food. Beautiful dishes attracted good spirits, who that night spent a lot of energy fighting all evil spirits. Of course, they needed to eat well in order to protect the owners of the house from various adversities.

What not to do at Christmas?

Christmas also had its own prohibitions. Moreover, there is a whole list of things that should not be done on Christmas. For example, doing household chores, sewing and knitting. And the men had to forget about hunting for a while: on Christmas night, the souls of dead people inhabit the animals! Unmarried girls were not allowed to make fortunes at Christmas - all fortune-telling for the betrothed is best done during the 12 days of Christmastide, right up to Epiphany.

It is not for nothing that the national culture of Russia has always been considered the soul of the people. Its main feature and attractiveness is amazing variety, originality and uniqueness. Each nation, developing its own culture and traditions, tries to avoid imitation and humiliating copying. That is why they create their own forms of organization cultural life. In all known typologies, Russia is usually considered separately. The culture of this country is truly unique; it cannot be compared with either the Western or the Eastern directions. Of course, all nations are different, but it is the understanding of the importance of internal development that unites people all over the planet.

The importance of culture of different nationalities in the world

Each country and each people are important in their own way for the modern world. This is especially true for history and its preservation. Today it is quite difficult to talk about how important culture is for modern times, because the scale of values ​​has changed significantly in recent years. National culture has increasingly begun to be perceived somewhat ambiguously. This is due to the development of two global trends in the culture of different countries and peoples, which increasingly began to develop conflicts against this background.

The first trend is directly related to some borrowing of cultural values. All this happens spontaneously and practically uncontrollably. But it carries with it incredible consequences. For example, the loss of the color and uniqueness of each individual state, and therefore its people. On the other hand, countries have increasingly begun to appear that call on their citizens to revive their own culture and spiritual values. But one of the most important issues is Russian national culture, which in recent decades has begun to fade against the backdrop of a multinational country.

Formation of Russian national character

Perhaps many have heard about the breadth of the Russian soul and the strength of the Russian character. The national culture of Russia largely depends on these two factors. At one time V.O. Klyuchevsky expressed the theory that the formation of Russian character largely depended on the geographical location of the country.

He argued that the landscape of the Russian soul corresponds to the landscape of the Russian land. It is also not surprising that for the majority of citizens living in a modern state, the concept of “Rus” carries a deep meaning.

Household life also reflects remnants of the past. After all, if we talk about culture, traditions and character Russian people, then it can be noted that it was formed a very long time ago. Simplicity of life has always been a distinctive feature of the Russian people. And this is due primarily to the fact that the Slavs suffered many fires that destroyed Russian villages and cities. The result was not only the rootlessness of Russian people, but also a simplified attitude towards everyday life. Although it was precisely those trials that befell the Slavs that allowed this nation to form a specific national character, which cannot be assessed unambiguously.

The main features of the national character of a nation

Russian national culture (namely its formation) has always largely depended on the character of the people who lived on the territory of the state.

One of the most powerful traits is kindness. It was this quality that was manifested in a wide variety of gestures, which can still be safely observed in the majority of Russian residents. For example, hospitality and cordiality. After all, no nation welcomes guests like they do in our country. And such a combination of qualities as mercy, compassion, empathy, cordiality, generosity, simplicity and tolerance is rarely found among other nationalities.

Another important trait in the character of Russians is their love of work. And although many historians and analysts note that as much as the Russian people were hardworking and capable, they were just as lazy and lacking initiative, it is still impossible not to note the efficiency and endurance of this nation. In general, the character of a Russian person is multifaceted and has not yet been fully studied. Which, in fact, is the highlight.

Values ​​of Russian culture

In order to understand a person's soul, it is necessary to know his history. The national culture of our people was formed in the conditions of the peasant community. Therefore, it is not surprising that in Russian culture the interests of the collective have always been higher than personal interests. After all, Russia lived a significant part of its history in conditions of military operations. That is why, among the values ​​of Russian culture, extraordinary devotion and love for one’s Motherland is always noted.

The concept of justice in all centuries was considered the first thing in Rus'. This has come since the time when each peasant was allocated an equal plot of land. And if in most nations such a value was considered instrumental, then in Russia it acquired a goal-oriented character.

Many Russian sayings say that our ancestors had a very simplified attitude towards work, for example: “Work is not a wolf, it will not run away into the forest.” This does not mean that work was not valued. But the concept of “wealth” and the very desire to get rich have never been present among Russian people to the extent that is attributed to them today. And if we talk about the values ​​of Russian culture, then all of it is reflected in the character and soul of the Russian person, first of all.

Language and literature as values ​​of the people

Whatever you say, but the most great value every nation is its language. The language in which he speaks, writes and thinks, which allows him to express own thoughts and opinion. It is not for nothing that there is a saying among Russians: “The language is the people.”

Old Russian literature arose during the adoption of Christianity. At that moment there were two directions of literary art - world history and the meaning of human life. Books were written very slowly, and the main readers were representatives of the upper classes. But this did not stop it from developing over time Russian literature to the world's peaks.

And at one time Russia was one of the most reading countries in the world! Language and national culture are very closely related. After all, it was through the scriptures that experience and accumulated knowledge were passed on in ancient times. Historically, Russian culture dominates, but the national culture of the peoples living in the vastness of our country also played a role in its development. That is why most of the works are closely intertwined with historical events of other countries.

Painting as part of Russian culture

Just like literature, painting occupies a very significant place in the development of the cultural life of Russia.

The first thing that developed as an art of painting in the territories of Rus' was icon painting. Which once again proves the high level of spirituality of this people. And at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, icon painting reached its apogee.

Over time, the desire to draw also arises among ordinary people. As mentioned earlier, the beauties on whose territory the Russians lived had a great influence on the formation of cultural values. Perhaps that is why a huge number of paintings Russian artists were dedicated to the open spaces native land. Through their canvases, masters conveyed not only the beauty of the surrounding world, but also their personal state of mind, and sometimes the state of mind of an entire people. Often the paintings included a double secret meaning, which was revealed exclusively to those for whom the work was intended. Art school Russia is recognized by the whole world and occupies an honorable place on the world pedestal.

Religion of the multinational people of Russia

National culture largely depends on what gods the nation worships. As you know, Russia is a multinational country, home to about 130 nations and nationalities, each of which has its own religion, culture, language and way of life. That is why religion in Russia does not have a single name.

Today, there are 5 leading trends in the Russian Federation: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, as well as Catholicism and Protestantism. Each of these religions has a place in a huge country. Although, if we talk about the formation of the national culture of Russia, then since ancient times Russians belonged exclusively to the Orthodox Church.

At one time, the great Russian principality, in order to strengthen relations with Byzantium, decided to adopt Orthodoxy throughout Rus'. In those days, church leaders were necessarily included in the tsar’s inner circle. Hence the concept that the church is always connected with state power. In ancient times, even before the baptism of Rus', the ancestors of the Russian people worshiped the Vedic gods. The religion of the ancient Slavs was the deification of the forces of nature. Of course, there were not only good characters, but mostly the gods of the ancient representatives of the nation were mysterious, beautiful and kind.

Cuisine and traditions in Rus'

National culture and traditions are practically inseparable concepts. After all, all this is, first of all, the memory of the people, what protects a person from depersonalization.

As mentioned earlier, Russians have always been famous for their hospitality. This is why Russian cuisine is so varied and tasty. Although a few centuries ago the Slavs ate fairly simple and monotonous food. In addition, it was customary for the population of this country to fast. Therefore, the table was basically always divided into modest and lean.

Most often on the table one could find meat, dairy, flour and herbal products. Although many dishes in Russian culture have exclusively ritual significance. Traditions are tightly intertwined with kitchen life in Russia. Some dishes are considered ritual and are prepared only on certain holidays. For example, kurniks are always prepared for a wedding, kutya is cooked for Christmas, pancakes are baked for Maslenitsa, and Easter cakes and Easter cakes are baked for Easter. Of course, the residence of other peoples on the territory of Russia was reflected in its cuisine. Therefore, in many dishes you can observe unusual recipes, as well as the presence of non-Slavic products. It’s not for nothing that they say: “We are what we eat.” Russian cuisine is very simple and healthy!

Modernity

Many are trying to judge how much the national culture of our state has been preserved today.

Russia, indeed, unique country. It has a rich history and a difficult fate. That is why the culture of this country is sometimes gentle and touching, and sometimes tough and militant. If we consider the ancient Slavs, then it was here that a real national culture arose. Preserving it is more important than ever today! Over the past few centuries, Russia has learned not only to live with other nations in peace and friendship, but also to accept the religion of other nations. To this day, most of the ancient traditions have been preserved, which Russians honor with pleasure. Many traits of the ancient Slavs are present today in the worthy descendants of their people. Russia is a great country that treats its culture extremely carefully!

Russian people - representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population Russian Federation), the most numerous ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora numbers about 30 million people and is concentrated in countries such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and former USSR, in the USA and EU countries. As a result of sociological research, it was found that 75% of the Russian population of Russia are followers of Orthodoxy, and a significant part of the population does not consider itself to be a member of any particular religion. The national language of the Russian people is Russian.

Each country and its people have their own significance in the modern world; the concepts of folk culture and history of a nation, their formation and development are very important. Each nation and its culture are unique in their own way, the flavor and uniqueness of each nationality should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other peoples, the younger generation should always remember who they really are. For Russia, which is a multinational power and home to 190 peoples, the issue of national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that throughout recent years Its erasure is especially noticeable against the background of cultures of other nationalities.

Culture and life of the Russian people

(Russian folk costume)

The first associations that arise with the concept of “Russian people” are, of course, breadth of soul and strength of spirit. But national culture formed by people, it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.

One of distinctive features The Russian people have always had and still have simplicity; in former times, Slavic houses and property were very often subjected to plunder and complete destruction, hence the simplified attitude towards everyday issues. And of course, these trials that befell the long-suffering Russian people only strengthened their character, made them stronger and taught them to get out of any life situations with their heads held high.

Another trait that prevails in the character of the Russian ethnic group can be called kindness. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when “they feed you, give you something to drink, and put you to bed.” A unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, very rarely found among other peoples of the world, all this is fully manifested in the very breadth of the Russian soul.

Hard work is another one of the main traits of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both its love of work and enormous potential, as well as its laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov’s novel). But still, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact that is difficult to argue against. And no matter how much scientists around the world want to understand the “mysterious Russian soul,” it is unlikely that any of them can do it, because it is so unique and multifaceted that its “zest” will forever remain a secret to everyone.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

(Russian meal)

Folk traditions and customs represent a unique connection, a kind of “bridge of times” connecting the distant past with the present. Some of them have their roots in the pagan past of the Russian people, even before the baptism of Rus'; little by little their sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are still observed. In villages and towns, Russian traditions and customs are honored and remembered in to a greater extent than in cities, which is due to the more isolated lifestyle of city residents.

A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life (this includes matchmaking, wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). Carrying out ancient rites and rituals guaranteed successful and happy life, the health of descendants and the general well-being of the family.

(Colorized photograph of a Russian family at the beginning of the 20th century)

Since ancient times, Slavic families have been distinguished a large number family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already gotten married, remained to live in their own home, the head of the family was the father or older brother, everyone had to obey them and unquestioningly carry out all their orders. Typically, wedding celebrations were held either in the fall, after the harvest, or in the winter after the Epiphany holiday (January 19). Then the first week after Easter, the so-called “Red Hill,” began to be considered a very successful time for a wedding. The wedding itself was preceded by a matchmaking ceremony, when the groom's parents came to the bride's family along with his godparents, if the parents agreed to give their daughter in marriage, then a bridesmaid ceremony was held (meeting the future newlyweds), then there was a ceremony of collusion and hand-waving (the parents decided on the dowry and the date of the wedding festivities ).

The rite of baptism in Rus' was also interesting and unique, the child had to be baptized immediately after birth, for this purpose godparents were chosen, who would be responsible for the life and well-being of the godson all his life. When the baby was one year old, they sat him on the inside of a sheep's coat and cut his hair, cutting a cross on the crown, with such meaning that evil spirits would not be able to penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a slightly older godson should bring godparents kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds), and they, in turn, should give him sweets.

Traditional holidays of the Russian people

Russia is truly a unique state where, along with the highly developed culture of the modern world, they carefully honor the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, going back centuries and preserving the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. And to this day pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to signs and centuries-old traditions, remembers and tells his children and grandchildren ancient stories and legends.

Main national holidays:

• Christmas January 7
• Christmastide January 6 - 9
• Baptism January 19
• Carnival from 20 to 26 February

• Forgiveness Sunday ( before the onset of Lent)
• Palm Sunday (on the Sunday before Easter)
• Easter ( the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conventional vernal equinox on March 21)
• Red Hill ( first Sunday after Easter)

• Trinity ( on Sunday on the day of Pentecost - the 50th day after Easter)
• Ivan Kupala July 7
• Peter and Fevronia Day July 8
• Elijah's day August 2

• Honey Spas August 14
• Apple Spas August 19
• Third (Khlebny) Spas August 29
• Pokrov day October 14

There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6-7), once a year a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold wealth. In the evening, large bonfires are lit near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive ancient Russian attires lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths float downstream, in the hope of finding their soul mate.

Maslenitsa is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Maslenitsa was more likely not a holiday, but a ritual when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, placating them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, thirsty for fun and positive emotions in the cold and dull season, turned a sad holiday into a more cheerful and daring celebration, which began to symbolize the joy of the imminent end of winter and the arrival of long-awaited warmth. The meaning has changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes remained, exciting winter entertainment appeared: sledding and horse-drawn rides down hills, a straw effigy of Winter was burned, throughout the entire Maslenitsa week relatives went to pancakes with their mother-in-law and sister-in-law, an atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere , various theatrical and puppet shows with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the very colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was fist fights; the male population took part in them, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military affair” that tested their courage, boldness and dexterity.

Christmas and Easter are considered especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people.

The Nativity of Christ is not only a bright holiday of Orthodoxy, it also symbolizes the revival and return to life, the traditions and customs of this holiday, filled with kindness and humanity, high moral ideals and the triumph of the spirit over worldly concerns, are being rediscovered and rethought by society in the modern world. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve because the main dish festive table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge “sochivo”, consisting of boiled cereal, drizzled with honey, sprinkled with poppy seeds and nuts. You can sit down at the table only after the first star appears in the sky. Christmas (January 7) is a family holiday, when everyone gathered at one table, ate a festive treat and gave each other gifts. The 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmastide. Previously, at this time, girls in Rus' held various gatherings with fortune telling and rituals to attract suitors.

Easter has long been considered a great holiday in Rus', which people associated with the day of general equality, forgiveness and mercy. On the eve of Easter celebrations, Russian women usually bake kulichi (festive rich Easter bread) and Easter bread, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to ancient legend, symbolize drops of the blood of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. On the day of Holy Easter, smartly dressed people, meeting, say “Christ is Risen!”, answer “Truly He is Risen!”, followed by a three-time kiss and an exchange of festive Easter eggs.

The culture of the peoples of Russia is one of the most diverse in the world. More than 190 peoples live on its territory, each of which individually has its own unique culture, and the greater the number, the more noticeable the contribution of this people to the culture of the whole country.

Most numerous in Russia Russian population— it amounts to 111 million people. The top three most numerous nationalities are completed by Tatars and Ukrainians.

Russian culture

Russian culture has a huge historical and cultural heritage and dominates the state.

Orthodoxy is the most widespread religion among the Russian people, which has had a huge impact on the development of moral culture peoples of Russia.

The second largest religion, although incomparably inferior to Orthodoxy, is Protestantism.

Russian housing

A traditional Russian dwelling is considered to be a hut, built of logs, with a gable roof. The entrance was a porch; a stove and cellar were built in the house.

There are still many huts in Russia, for example, in the city of Vyatka, Arbazhsky district, Kirov region. There is an opportunity to visit the unique Museum of Russian hut in the village of Kochemirovo, Kadomsky district, Ryazan region, where you can see not only a real hut, but also objects household items, stove, loom and other elements of Russian culture.

Russian national costume

In general, men's folk costume consisted of a shirt with an embroidered collar, trousers, bast shoes or boots. The shirt was worn untucked and secured with a fabric belt. A caftan was worn as outerwear.

Women's folk costume consisted of a long embroidered shirt with long sleeves, a sundress or skirt with a frill, and a woolen skirt on top - a poneva. Married women wore a headdress called a warrior. The festive headdress was a kokoshnik.

IN everyday life Russians folk costumes no longer worn. The best samples this clothing can be seen in ethnographic museums, as well as at various dance competitions and festivals of Russian culture.

Traditional Russian cuisine

Russian cuisine is famous for its first courses - cabbage soup, solyanka, ukha, rassolnik, okroshka. Porridge was usually prepared as a second course. “Soup cabbage soup and porridge are our food,” they have said for a long time.

Very often cottage cheese is used in dishes, especially when preparing pies, cheesecakes and cheesecakes.

It is popular to prepare various pickles and marinades.

You can try Russian dishes in numerous restaurants of Russian cuisine, which are found almost everywhere both in Russia and abroad.

Family traditions and spiritual values ​​of the Russian people

Family has always been the main and unconditional value for a Russian person. Therefore, since ancient times it was important to remember one’s family. The connection with the ancestors was sacred. Children are often given names in honor of their grandparents, sons are named after their fathers - this is a way of showing respect to relatives.

Previously, the profession was often passed on from father to son, but now this tradition has almost died out.

An important tradition is the inheritance of things and family heirlooms. This is how things accompany a family from generation to generation and acquire their own history.

Both religious and secular holidays are celebrated.

The most widely celebrated public holiday in Russia is the New Year holiday. Many people also celebrate the Old New Year on January 14th.

The following holidays are also celebrated: Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women's Day, Victory Day, Workers' Solidarity Day ("May" holidays on May 1-2), Constitution Day.

The largest Orthodox holidays are Easter and Christmas.

Not so massively, but the following Orthodox holidays are also celebrated: Epiphany, Transfiguration of the Lord (Apple Savior), Honey Savior, Trinity and others.

Russian folk culture and the Maslenitsa holiday, which lasts a whole week until Lent, are practically inseparable from each other. This holiday has its roots in paganism, but is now celebrated everywhere by Orthodox people. Maslenitsa also symbolizes farewell to winter. Business card festive table - pancakes.

Ukrainian culture

The number of Ukrainians in the Russian Federation is approximately 1 million 928 thousand people - this is the third largest number among the total population, and therefore Ukrainian culture is an important component of the culture of the peoples of Russia.

Traditional Ukrainian housing

The Ukrainian hut is an important component of the Ukrainian traditional culture. A typical Ukrainian house was wooden, small in size, with a hipped roof made of straw. The hut had to be whitewashed inside and out.

Such huts can be found in Russia, for example, in the Orenburg region, in the western and central regions of Ukraine, in Kazakhstan, but almost always the thatched roof is replaced with slate or covered with roofing felt.

Ukrainian folk costume

The men's suit consists of a linen shirt and trousers. The Ukrainian shirt is characterized by an embroidered slit in the front; they wear it tucked into their pants, belted with a sash.

The basis for a woman's outfit is a long shirt. The hem of the shirt and sleeves were always embroidered. On top they put on a corset, yupka or andarak.

The most famous element of traditional Ukrainian clothing is vyshyvanka - a men's or women's shirt, distinguished by complex and varied embroidery.

Ukrainian folk costumes are no longer worn, but they can be seen in museums and at festivals of Ukrainian folk culture. But embroidered shirts are still in use and are even gaining more and more popularity - Ukrainians of all ages love to wear them, both as a festive outfit and as an element of their everyday wardrobe.

The most famous Ukrainian dish is red borscht made from beets and cabbage.

The most popular product in Ukrainian cooking is lard - it is used to prepare many dishes, eaten separately, salted, fried and smoked.

Wheat flour products are widely used. National dishes include dumplings, dumplings, verguns, and lemishki.

Ukrainian cuisine is loved and popular not only among Ukrainians, but also among many other residents of Russia - it is not difficult to find a restaurant serving Ukrainian cuisine in large cities.

The family values ​​of Ukrainians and Russians are largely identical. The same applies to religion - Orthodox Christianity occupies a large part among the religions of Ukrainians living in Russia; Traditional holidays are almost no different.

Tatar culture

Representatives Tatar ethnic group on the territory of Russia there are approximately 5 million 310 thousand people - this is 3.72% of the total population of the country.

Tatar religion

The main religion of the Tatars is Sunni Islam. At the same time, there is a small part of the Kryashen Tatars, whose religion is Orthodoxy.

Tatar mosques can be seen in many cities of Russia, for example, the Moscow Historical Mosque, the St. Petersburg Cathedral Mosque, the Perm Cathedral Mosque, the Izhevsk Cathedral Mosque and others.

Traditional Tatar housing

Tatar housing was a four-walled log house, fenced on the front side and set back from the street, with a vestibule. Inside, the room was divided into women's and men's parts, the women's part was also a kitchen. Houses were decorated with bright paintings, especially the gates.

In Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, many such estates remain, not only as architectural monuments, but also as residential buildings.

The costume may differ depending on the subgroup of the Tatars, but the clothing of the Volga Tatars had a great influence on the uniform image of the national costume. It consists of a shirt-dress and trousers, for both women and men, and a robe was often used as outerwear. The headdress for men was a skullcap, for women - a velvet cap.

Such costumes are no longer worn in their original form, but some elements of clothing are still in use, for example, scarves and ichigs. You can see traditional clothing in ethnographic museums and thematic exhibitions.

Traditional Tatar cuisine

A distinctive feature of this cuisine is that its development was influenced not only by Tatar ethnic traditions. From different cultures, Tatar cuisine has incorporated bal-mai, dumplings, pilaf, baklava, tea and other various dishes.

Tatar cuisine boasts a variety of flour products, among them: echpochmak, kystyby, kabartma, sansa, kyimak.

Milk is often consumed, but most often in processed form - cottage cheese, katyk, sour cream, syuzme, eremchek.

A lot of restaurants throughout Russia offer menus of Tatar cuisine, and best choice, of course, in the capital of Tatarstan - Kazan.

Family traditions and spiritual values ​​of the Tatars

Creating a family has always been the highest value Tatar people. Marriage is considered a sacred duty.

The moral and spiritual culture of the peoples of Russia is in one way or another connected with religious culture, and the peculiarities of Muslim marriage lie in the fact that it is inextricably linked with religious culture Muslims For example, the Koran prohibits marrying an atheist or agnostic woman; Marriage with a representative of another religion is not very much approved.

Nowadays Tatars meet and marry mostly without family intervention, but previously the most common marriage was through matchmaking - the groom’s relatives went to the bride’s parents and proposed.

The Tatar family is a family of the patriarchal type, married woman was completely at the mercy of her husband and at his support. The number of children in a family sometimes exceeded six. The spouses lived with the husband's parents; living with the bride's parents was shameful.

Unquestioning obedience and respect for elders is another important feature of the Tatar mentality.

Tatar holidays

The Tatar culture of celebration includes Islamic, original Tatar, and all-Russian public holidays.

Major religious holidays are considered to be Eid al-Fitr - the holiday of breaking the fast, in honor of the end of the month of fasting - Ramadan, and Kurban Bayram - the holiday of sacrifice.

Until now, the Tatars celebrate kargatuy, or hag butkasy - folk holiday spring, and Sabantui is a holiday marking the completion of spring agricultural work.

The culture of each people of Russia is unique, and together they represent an amazing puzzle, which will be incomplete if any part is removed. Our task is to know and appreciate this cultural heritage.