Russia country overview
The culture of Russia
Geography, People, Culture, and Economic Profile
Russia information index
Daily life of Russia
Daily life and social customs
During the period of Soviet governance, the state exerted considerable control over daily life, effectively suppressing the rich customs and traditions rooted in Russia’s imperial history. This control was facilitated by an extensive intelligence network. With the advent of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms in the 1980s, the landscape began to shift, allowing for a resurgence of traditional cultural practices and the restoration of religious freedoms.
Traditional Russian festivals have experienced a revival, becoming an integral aspect of the nation’s cultural identity. Such celebrations are often marked by an array of customary foods and public festivities, including street carnivals, where participants don traditional Russian attire. Male children typically dress in embroidered shirts with a distinctive round collar, while female children are adorned in a sarafan, a peasant blouse, and a decorative kokoshnik.
The ancient festival of Maslyanitsa, with its pre-Christian origins, signifies the end of winter and features the serving of pancakes, a symbol of the sun, alongside a variety of accompaniments such as caviar, fish, and honey pies, often enjoyed with tea from a samovar and vodka.
Easter in Russia is celebrated with specific baked goods, including sweet bread and Easter cake, accompanied by pashka, a sweetened curd mixture, and brightly painted hard-boiled eggs. The Red Hill holiday, following Easter, is favored for wedding ceremonies, while the summer’s Ivan Kupalo festivities are water-centric, with picnics and fireworks by the riverside.
Troitsa, or Pentecost, is another celebrated holiday, with homes decorated with greenery and girls engaging in traditional fortune-telling with birch and flower garlands. Late summer brings the Spas holidays, which honor the harvesting of honey, apples, and nuts.
Russia also observes several official holidays, such as Russian Orthodox Christmas, Victory Day, Independence Day, and Constitution Day. Women’s Day, once a Soviet commemoration of women’s progress under communism, is celebrated with the gifting of flowers and chocolates.
Despite the availability of imported goods, traditional Russian cuisine remains esteemed, with staples like cabbage, potatoes, and sour cream forming the basis of dishes like borsch. Tea and coffee are customary post-meal beverages, while kvass, a fermented bread drink, is a traditional refreshment, especially in the preparation of okroshka, a cold soup.
Vodka, Russia’s emblematic spirit, is often present at family gatherings and special events. It is customarily enjoyed neat, followed by traditional accompaniments such as pickled herring or cucumber. Excessive intoxication is frowned upon as it reflects poorly on one’s character.
The emergence of a Russian middle class has heralded significant shifts in lifestyle and social norms, including an increased predilection for travel, luxury consumption, and the acquisition of private property. This demographic, estimated to constitute approximately one-quarter of the population, primarily resides in urban centers and exhibits values emphasizing self-reliance, work satisfaction, and moderation in political views, as well as engagement in philanthropy and patronage of the arts.
Religious revival has also characterized post-Soviet Russia, with religious institutions gaining prominence in the absence of communist ideology. Even among the predominantly secular population, religious celebrations have become widespread and are widely observed.
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