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Russian Culture
| Climate |
Russia has a harshly cold climate, and borders several other nations. Thus, Russians are used to dealing with conflict. The difference being that Russia deals with conflict with a sense of communalism. They value stability and predictability and have used government to maintain those values- at the risk of losing entrepreneurial drive or profitable risk-taking ventures.
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| Events / Festivities / Holidays |
January 1st - New Year ( Новый Год)
Presents are given on New Years. (It's Father Frost in Russia- not Father Christmas. He comes on new year’s eve to give presents. Christmas (Рождеством Rozhdestvo) might be celebrated by some, but not like the present giving at New Year's.
January 25th - Tatiana Day
Day celebrating students, set up by Empress Elizabeth in 1755.
February 23rd- Defender of the Fatherland Day (День защитника Отечества Den zaschitnika Otechestva)
Day to honor those currently serving in the military, along with those that have served in the past.
March 8th- Women's Day (Восьмое марта Vosmoe Marta)
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The day men remember the importance of women, and by them flowers. (Mother's Day)
May - May Day (1st) & the Day of Spring (2nd).
Sort of a Russian Labor day.
May 9th- Victory Day (День Победы Den Pabyedi)
Parade in Moscow celebrates the victory of World War II - like a memorial day.
June 12th- Russia Day
The day (from 1990) when Russia's parliament declaried its sovereignty (made official in 2002).
November 7th- Day of Reconciliation and Harmony. An independance day but with a peaceful name.
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| Sports / Music / Art |
Russia has international rankings in almost every sport (especially at the Olympics) The most popular are soccer and ice hockey.
Russian art
is not quite as well known as their architecture (where 'the bigger the better'). Several influential artists are recognized like Rublev, Lissitzky, Kandinsky, Rodchenko, and Bogdanov.
Russian classical music has been globally influential because of composers and musicians like Glinka, Tchaikovsky (The Nutcracker), Rachmaninoff, and others. In modern day, Russian music includes Perestroika (rock, pop, and heavy metal) Adygea, or modern folk music, has made a rise in popularity, also.
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| Politics |
The focus of the Russian government seems to be to protect the state and the people as a group (not individuals). Russia has a very low illiteracy rate due to their extensive public school systems, but independant thinking is not taught, ie. students are taught what the answers are but not why or how. (Some might say that there isn't much difference with the public school system in the U.S.)
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| Religion |
Religion was controlled (or forced into athiesm) by the state, until 1990 when a religious freedom law was passed- though now, the Russian Orthodox (Christian) Church holds clout with the government and most of the people. Several other religions are now practiced but maintain a minority.
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| Dress / Food |
Though Russian cuisine may not be as well known in the U.S. as other countries it does have a large, rich variety. Traditional soups like borscht are well known, as are a number of main dishes that rely on potatoes, bread, eggs, and milk. Russian caviar has an established reputation. But what seems to have the most recognition is their Vodka -distilled from fermented potatoes, or grain (80% proof). There is even a Vodka Museum in Moscow.
Russians will not hesitate to tell you when you aren't dressed warm enough. Most of their fashion seems geared to keeping you warm, though modern styles can be rich and interesting.
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| Localization |
About 85% of the people in Russia speak only Russian, and the remaining are bilingual. The most popular, from the hundred or so minority languages spoken in Russia, is Tartar. Over 3% of the population speaks Tartar, and the rest speak one of the prominent regional languages.
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