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. National language The Russian language is the Russian language.
Each country and its people have their own importance in modern world, the concepts of folk culture and history of the 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 question national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that in recent years its erasure has been especially noticeable against the backdrop 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 is formed by people, and 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 looting 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 sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points were preserved and are still observed. In villages and towns, Russian traditions and customs are honored and remembered 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 is both matchmaking and wedding celebrations, and 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 were distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people); adult children, having already gotten married, remained to live in 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 resolved the issues of 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 kutia (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds) to his godparents, and they, in turn, should give him sweets.
Traditional holidays of the Russian people
Russia is a truly unique state where, along with the highly developed culture of the modern world, they carefully honor ancient traditions 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 rituals and sacraments. To this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to signs and age-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.
Main national holidays:
- Christmas Jan. 7
- Christmastide January 6 - 9
- Baptism January 19
- Maslenitsa 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 sled rides, a straw effigy of Winter was burned, throughout the 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 were held on the streets 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 rebirth 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, in the modern world they are rediscovered by society and rethought by it. 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 Easter bread) and Easter, clean and decorate their homes, youth and children paint eggs, which ancient legend symbolize drops of 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 Intercession will come and cover the girl’s head.
(Proverb)
Russians folk traditions their roots go back centuries. Russia is essentially a peasant country, and our culture originates from rural life. IN village life Our people themselves, according to the will of their ancestors, established the so-called “wedding weeks”, which stretched from Epiphany to Maslenitsa and were especially observed in merchant life.
The last weddings of the year were timed to coincide with the Intercession, and those who spent too much time in wenches on these days necessarily went to church to pray that God would send them good grooms. The prayer contained the following words: “Protection, Holy Mother of God, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden headband.” The girls also turned to the Apostle Andrew, the Great Martyr Catherine, Nila and Paraskeva.
The peasants worked hard throughout the spring and summer. The work was usually completed by Pokrov. Our ancestors treated time thriftily, in a businesslike manner, so guys, for example, most often used these very days to look for an assistant, and a free one at that.
Colorful and poetic maiden round dances began in the spring and continued until the Intercession itself. Autumn gatherings brought boys and girls closer together; at them the girls often did needlework, and the boys seemed to have the opportunity to choose a craftswoman to their liking as a wife. The guys who went to work in distant lands hurried to return to Pokrov with money, because they had to celebrate a wedding for something.
As we see, the most important moment in life, our ancestors timed them to annual cycles more suitable for their implementation.
If you look at this from a psychological point of view, then everything is thought out here too. On Pokrov, even the most ardent opponents of marriage became more accommodating, and the girls dreamed of quickly unbraiding their girls’ braids and covering their heads with a woman’s warrior. They believed that if the Veil did not cover, then Christmas would not cover the earth with snow... And without snow, the earth would freeze and the harvest would not be harvested.
It is also remarkable that even if their hopes were not realized, the girls did not despair, but continued to have fun with their happy girlfriends as if nothing had happened. They never envied and therefore were beautiful in soul and in the end found their happiness...
But this holiday was distinguished not only by marriage concerns. Important it also had in the economic life of our people. It was on this day that the terms for hiring seasonal workers were most often determined. Hired “conscripts” usually worked from Ilyin’s day until the Intercession, that’s why they said: “Wait until the Intercession - I’ll pay off the entire debt.”
At this time, they were in a hurry to complete all trade transactions and payments. The cellars were filled in winter with various pickles and preserves. The last chores for the winter table were apples. On the very eve of Intercession, Antonovka was soaked. There was an amazing apple spirit in the huts these days. I immediately remembered how sweetly I described it in my poetic prose This is the time of Ivan Alekseevich Bunin. Through the aroma of the collected Antonov apples the writer expressed the whole soul of the Russian people.
The holiday was a holiday, but there was enough work: “The house is not big, but it doesn’t make you bored.” On Intercession they were in a hurry to repair the house for winter: “to steal the hut”, “to grab heat before Intercession”. Entire proverbs were written on this topic, for example: “if you don’t cheat before the Intercession, there will be no such thing” - and you will have to ask: “Father Intercession, heat our hut without firewood.” This is so that the Intercession sends warm days - to look around and have time to prepare everything for the future.
I always admire the harmonious perception of nature by our ancestors. They, as they say now, did not twitch, but believed that “the mistress would cover the earth with her Veil and say to her son: “Lord, winter has come, everyone has worked hard, stocked up... bless them, Lord, to rest, to survive the fierce winter. My cover will be over them.”
Through the signs of this time, our wonderful writers talentedly conveyed the grief and joy of Russian workers. For example, according to one line from N. Nekrasov: “Only one strip is not compressed, it brings a sad thought...” - the reader already sees the picture human tragedy. It is clear that the peasant will not leave his grain unharvested in the fall. This means that trouble happened to him... And from Tyutchev we read: “Only cobwebs thin hair/ Shines on an idle furrow...” The “idle” furrow tells us that everything is in order in the life of a peasant. In this regard, I can’t help but remember the boy Vanya from “The Summer of the Lord” by I. S. Shmelev. He lived according to the Orthodox annual cycle and matured spiritually.
I want to finish this favorite topic for me with the poems of E. Baratynsky, which are very consonant with my current mood and in general, in my opinion, explain the craving of Russian people for their roots:
I will return to you, fields of my fathers,
Peaceful oak groves, sacred shelter to the heart!
I will return to you, home icons!
O fatherly house! O land always beloved!
Dear heavens!..
Lyubov Ozerova
Essay "My educational philosophy» about traditional folk culture as a means of spiritual moral education
Essay"My educational philosophy»
“Human memory is short, but there is another memory, it’s called culture which preserves the rules, customs, traditions, transmits information about phenomena that have come from the past, the secret of which has long been lost"
(article by I. Uvarova in the book by A. Milovsky "Firebird's song")
This statement leads to discussions about the problems of humanity, the goal of which is to preserve at any cost cultural heritage of its people. The problem is how to do this if modern man lives by the laws today in the eternal race for prosperity.
For many years I, being teacher in kindergarten , sought to solve this problem, since I myself am a devoted patriot of my Motherland. At the heart of mine pedagogical experience lies in its origins, which left a deep imprint on the soul, originating in childhood.
Since childhood I have known culture of the people from his grandmother: I listened to songs, stories about my ancestors, went to carol with her. My grandmother taught me to love antiquity. The sundress and bast shoes given by my grandmother are still used in my work. The experience accumulated by several generations of my ancestors was asking and eager to spill out. I wanted to show everyone this depth, power and beauty, to fill children’s hearts with a feeling of deep joy and gratitude for the fact that they were born in Russia.
How teacher I understood that any good undertaking requires a scientifically based approach, therefore, starting your pedagogical path, diligently engaged in self-education. Has been read a large number of literature about the history of folklore, I collected bit by bit material about traditions, rituals, history folk costumes , acquired literature, attended methodological associations, seminars on ethnoculturology, Catherine's readings and much more. All this allowed me to form my life position, which is the ability to save cultural heritage people in early preschool childhood, as our people: “With mother’s milk, the child must absorb culture of their people».
Needed as soon as possible bring up in children such qualities as spirituality, patriotism, citizenship. Only in this case will there be a deep imprint and lasting interest in the child’s soul. culture, which is impossible to imagine without folk art . IN last years system preschool education in Russia is undergoing significant changes. Among These changes have brought both positive and challenging challenges. New programs and innovative techniques have appeared that reflect modern ideas preschool education, but the eternal question “what and how to teach” still remains relevant. In modern education, in my opinion, more attention is paid to the development of intelligence and morality remains on the sidelines. upbringing. A person without morals is a problem in our society today.
We live in interesting and difficult time, when we begin to look at many things differently, we begin to rediscover and re-evaluate many things. And each of us, looking back at our past, tries to find our roots, to compare something in our past and present. But it turns out that the past people and our family we, it turns out, we know very superficially.
Explain and understand many points human life knowledge of the origins of the Russian culture helps culture, customs and traditions of the people. Destruction of the national culture has led to, What spiritual the foundations of the Russian nation deformed the Russian mentality. It hurts to look at older generation, to which most of young people are treated with disrespect. What kind of cynicism and indifference do we often encounter? Is it a problem to live at someone else’s expense without working? And the moral behavior and immorality of part of the population is simply frightening and makes us seriously think about it.
Thus, the task of reviving becomes urgent culture of the Russian people, and as a consequence of this, spiritual, social and economic revival. Meaning cultural revival is also proven by the experience of many countries that, while preserving their ancient foundations, have achieved economic and social prosperity.
K. D. Ushinsky said that “language is the most living, the strongest connection between the past and the present”. It is he who reveals the original origins spiritual life of the Russian people. Folk art transmitted from mouth to mouth is called folklore. M. Gorky said: “Collect our folklore, learn from it, process it. The better we know his past, the more deeply and joyfully we will understand the great significance of our present.” The look of the great philosopher helped solve the transmission problem cultural heritage for young children using small folklore genres. Small in volume, but unusually wise in content, they are capable of forming in an accessible form, and sometimes on a subconscious level, a personality distinguished by patriotism and devotion to the Motherland. Children remember proverbs, sayings, and nicknames surprisingly quickly. And unlike adults whose speech is clogged in foreign words, and sometimes even abuse, children’s speech is filled with figurative expressions. It’s nice to watch how the kids use proverbs in their speech, how to tell fairy tales, and how to sing free time lullabies and ditties. They are sociable, learn to reason and make generalizations. As a result, children develop and expand lexicon, which is another important value cultural education.
Introducing children to the origins folk culture helps to solve the problem of moral education. Upbringing a true citizen of one's homeland is impossible without nurturing love for her, To native land, to the house where you live. We must help children understand what their homeland means to them, native language, life people, our Russian nature, family. From childhood, a child should feel an internal national core, which he must carry throughout his life.
In the process of introducing children to folk culture, the process of child development is very clearly visible. I believe that folklore classes help raise children according to folk traditions, contribute creative activity, stimulate the desire to show your talent and individuality. And here it is important to discern it in time and direct it in the right direction. It is important to note the importance of introducing children to culture of the Russian people in social and personal development. During folklore classes, children actively develop the emotional and moral spheres of their personality, form interpersonal relationships, and as a result a friendly and creative team children, educators and parents. Traditional folk culture, How means of raising children, forms open, trusting relationship between children, parents and teachers. And this is now so important for us in our difficult times. In modern families, where parents work a lot, in order to decently dress and feed their children tasty food, they try to take them to sections, clubs, develop mental abilities, placing children in good schools so that children subsequently take a worthy place in society. But unfortunately, spiritual and the moral side of the child’s personality development remains in the shadows in most cases. Parents, citing being busy, somehow thoughtlessly and unjustifiably pushed into the background the formation in children of love for the Motherland, for its past, for the older generation. In rare families there are family traditions, the connection between generations is lost. That is why the issue of developing morality and patriotism in the family is now so acute. And for us, teachers, we need to better understand and study this problem ourselves, and then help the families of our pupils. And here, in my deep conviction, should come to the rescue traditional folk culture. It is necessary, through various forms of activity, to involve parents in joint work to introduce children to the origins folk culture. Carrying out joint events brings everyone together, makes both children and parents kinder, more emotional, and teaches them to creatively approach solving a particular problem.
We must not forget about our past, we must be proud of our Motherland, we must be an authoritative nation among other peoples. Therefore, dear culture should become part of the child’s soul, the beginning that gives rise to personality. And it will help with this children's folklore– special area folk art, which includes a whole system of genres, unusually rich and diverse.
Thanks to folklore, we begin to relate to our past in a new way. We learn together with children to learn rituals, traditions and ancient holidays.
I really want to believe that as adults many of my little fidgets will bring up their children in accordance with traditions, will treat with care culture, honor your roots, respect family traditions. Moreover, let this generation of children grow up confident in themselves, in their tomorrow, harmoniously developed, worthy citizens of Russia. Each of them should be proud and admire the piece of land on which we live. Today, having considerable teaching experience behind you, I can say with confidence that mine pupils who already bring their children to me know culture of the Russian people, his traditions, take care of their home, Russians sing with pleasure with their children folk songs , ditties, dance in circles, know and play folk games , yes, they can just dance "Russian"…
The best result of my work will be a child who can proudly say: “I am a citizen of Russia”- and that's it…"
Essay on the topic: Cultural folk traditions (essay)
The Intercession will come and cover the girl’s head.
(Proverb)
Russian folk traditions go back centuries. Russia is essentially a peasant country, and our culture originates from rural life. In village life, our people themselves, according to the will of their ancestors, established the so-called “wedding weeks,” which stretched from Epiphany to Maslenitsa and were especially observed in merchant life.
The last weddings of the year were timed to coincide with the Intercession, and those who spent too much time in wenches on these days necessarily went to church to pray that God would send them good grooms. The prayer contained the following words: “Protection, Most Holy Theotokos, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden headband.” The girls also turned to the Apostle Andrew, the Great Martyr Catherine, Nila and Paraskeva.
The peasants worked hard throughout the spring and summer. The work was usually completed by Pokrov. Our ancestors treated time thriftily, in a businesslike manner, so guys, for example, most often used these very days to look for an assistant, and a free one at that.
Colorful and poetic maiden round dances began in the spring and continued until the Intercession itself. Autumn gatherings brought boys and girls closer together; at them the girls often did needlework, and the boys seemed to have the opportunity to choose a craftswoman to their liking as a wife. The guys who went to work in distant lands hurried to return to Pokrov with money, because they had to celebrate a wedding for something.
As we see, our ancestors timed the most important moments in life to coincide with annual cycles that were more suitable for their implementation.
If you look at this from a psychological point of view, then everything is thought out here too. On Pokrov, even the most ardent opponents of marriage became more accommodating, and the girls dreamed of quickly unbraiding their girls’ braids and covering their heads with a woman’s warrior. They believed that if the Veil did not cover, then Christmas would not cover the earth with snow... And without snow, the earth would freeze and the harvest would not be harvested.
It is also remarkable that even if their hopes were not realized, the girls did not despair, but continued to have fun with their happy girlfriends as if nothing had happened. They never envied and therefore were beautiful in soul and in the end found their happiness...
But this holiday was distinguished not only by marriage concerns. It was also important in the economic life of our people. It was on this day that the terms for hiring seasonal workers were most often determined. Hired “conscripts” usually worked from Ilyin’s day until the Intercession, that’s why they said: “Wait until the Intercession - I’ll pay off the entire debt.”
At this time, they were in a hurry to complete all trade transactions and payments. The cellars were filled in winter with various pickles and preserves. The last chores for the winter table were apples. On the very eve of Intercession, Antonovka was soaked. There was an amazing apple spirit in the huts these days. I immediately remembered how sweetly Ivan Alekseevich Bunin described this time in his poetic prose. Through the aroma of collected Antonov apples, the writer expressed the whole soul of the Russian people.
The holiday was a holiday, but there was enough work: “The house is not big, but it doesn’t make you bored.” On Intercession they were in a hurry to repair the house for winter: “to steal the hut”, “to grab heat before Intercession”. Entire proverbs were written on this topic, for example: “if you don’t cheat before the Intercession, there will be no such thing” - and you will have to ask: “Father Intercession, heat our hut without firewood.” This is so that the Intercession sends warm days - to look around and have time to prepare everything for the future.
I always admire the harmonious perception of nature by our ancestors. They, as they say now, did not twitch, but believed that “the mistress would cover the earth with her Veil and say to her son: “Lord, winter has come, everyone has worked hard, stocked up... bless them, Lord, to rest, to survive the fierce winter. My cover will be over them.”
Through the signs of this time, our wonderful writers talentedly conveyed the grief and joy of Russian workers. For example, according to one line from N. Nekrasov: “Only one strip is not compressed, it brings a sad thought...” - the reader already sees a picture of a human tragedy. It is clear that the peasant will not leave his grain unharvested in the fall. This means that trouble happened to him... And from Tyutchev we read: “Only a thin hair of a cobweb / Glistens on an idle furrow...” The “idle” furrow tells us that everything is in order in the life of a peasant. In this regard, I can’t help but remember the boy Vanya from “The Summer of the Lord” by I. S. Shmelev. He lived according to the Orthodox annual cycle and matured spiritually.
I want to finish this favorite topic for me with the poems of E. Baratynsky, which are very consonant with my current mood and in general, in my opinion, explain the craving of Russian people for their roots:
I will return to you, fields of my fathers,
Peaceful oak groves, sacred shelter to the heart!
I will return to you, home icons!
O fatherly house! O land always beloved!
Dear heavens!..
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