Folk traditional culture originated in ancient times and flourished in the everyday life of the people - breadwinner, plowman, worker. It connected each person with his clan-tribe and with powerful nature.
Folk culture is a spiritual culture. Throughout the history of mankind, it has been the most significant and oldest part of national and world culture, its basic part and is characterized by high value properties. This is nature itself, and the historical memory of the people, and the unbreakable connection of times.
Folk traditional culture is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, rich and vibrant, very broad and deep. On the one hand, it covers many types folk art- architecture, life, music, choreography, costume, folklore, various crafts and crafts. On the other hand, it lives together with the people, rooted deep in hoary antiquity and developing in our days.
From time immemorial, folk traditional culture has determined the norms of behavior in society, modeled the relationships between different generations, and helped shape the values and ideals of the individual and the team as a whole.
Through the work and talent of many generations of our ancestors, a unique folk traditional culture of the Oskol region was created. It is given to us today as a gift from God in a variety of original products of folk craftsmen and artisans, in the ornaments of works of decorative and applied art filled with amazing beauty, in the unique archaism of local folklore and choreography, wisdom and spirituality national holiday and ritual.
This culture has always served the population as a school of moral, patriotic and aesthetic education, was a link between the past and the present.
After many years of oblivion, the study of the deep layers of folk traditional culture, the restoration of its age-old socio-cultural functions is necessary for realizing one’s identity, for the revival of the national spiritual mentality of Russians.
For decades, the policy of the Soviet government towards Russian traditional culture was ambivalent.
It is a generally accepted fact that the revolutionary upheaval in Russia after 1917 severely hit folk traditional culture, primarily the Russian village. You can imagine the scale of this tragedy if you realize that by that time Russia was 90% a peasant country. Folk art had spiritual significance as a traditional culture, but in its own way social composition it was predominantly peasant. It was these ancestral spiritual foundations of the national culture, together with the social and economic structure of the country, that were perceived as especially hostile in the new Soviet conditions and were subject to destruction.
Feelings and understanding were eradicated from the consciousness of the people folk culture as a worldview, spiritual culture. The terms “spiritual” and “spiritual culture” were completely withdrawn from use for a long time. Under revolutionary slogans, the foundations of culture and the very life of the people were crushed.
Temples were mercilessly destroyed, icons, looms, wood lathes, spinning wheels, printed boards were destroyed - everything that interfered with the new government. Many handicrafts were destroyed, including in Starooskol (see Chapter IV).
Already in 1919, at the First All-Russian Fine Arts Conference of the People's Commissariat of Education for Museum Affairs, in a speech by the head of the Fine Arts Department O.M. Brik, proposals were made about the need to fight the old culture, arguments were made about the unacceptability in the new conditions of the simultaneous existence of present and past art: “The proletarian revolution requires a radical reorganization of all forms cultural life. You cannot limit yourself to private reforms or simple popularization of existing principles” (70, pp. 472-473).
The fight against the old, traditional has, in fact, become a program for many years. Tradition was perceived as hostile to everything new, which undoubtedly led to the destruction of folk art as a former, outdated peasant past. The introduction of the new in the fight against the old was carried out in cultural policy at all stages of Soviet history, with only minor changes in content.
Today in our society the conviction is gaining strength that genuine Russian folk traditional culture serves to form national self-awareness, in addition, it teaches tolerance towards other cultures and nations. This factor is especially relevant in modern multinational Russia. At the same time, the traditional culture of the Russian people (as a state-forming ethnic group) remains poorly studied and needs special support.
As noted by Doctor of Art History, Professor M.A. Nekrasova, Rodina - People - Folk - concepts with one root Rod. The folk gives spiritual fulfillment to this indissoluble unity - in Faith, in the religious feeling of Man. It expands this feeling to the consciousness and feeling of the whole earth and life as the highest value, for which all peoples are united in responsibility. Folk art extends the threads of friendship and understanding of one people to another. And that's it great value in modern culture.
Having absorbed two millennia Christian culture, folk art functions today as a living tradition. All the disastrous costs of Soviet policy in the field of folk culture and its dire consequences currently confront society with the need for state recognition of folk art as spiritual culture, the basic value of the national culture of the Russian people and other peoples of Russia. Folk culture is the most important factor of statehood and requires state solutions to its problems. Scientists take this task beyond the framework of national culture and call it universal, interstate.
Therefore, the problems of folk traditional culture should be reflected in politics, and in art, and in organizational and managerial practice, and in the field of education.
Unfortunately, in modern society, where acquisition and comfort are put at the forefront, in to a greater extent the laws of consumption prevail, the desire for entertainment predominates in people's leisure time. People strive to escape from reality, from folk art, which disturbs thought, poses new problems, and makes one think about something.
Often we are faced with the problem of clogging, vulgarization, mixing folk traditional culture with manifestations popular culture. Meanwhile, thanks to living traditions, folk art reproduces in culture those values that connect a person with God and with society. Mass culture, on the contrary, destroys these vital connections.
There are often cases when even cultural workers, sincerely trying to attract more public attention to folk traditional culture, cross the acceptable line, getting carried away by external attractiveness and entertainment.
An indisputable fact today is that even school teachers, preschool workers educational institutions and cultural institutions often confuse a pot with a cast iron pot and do not know what a grip, a chaplya, a steelyard, a makhotka, a makitra and many other objects that were so necessary in the past folk life are. It is difficult to answer the questions of what a ground and chicken hut is, why in the Oskol region peasants preferred to grow hemp rather than flax; what is the difference between a spinning wheel and a spinning wheel? why on Friday it was not allowed to spin and weave, etc.
Insufficient knowledge of local characteristics and local specifics folk clothes Stary Oskol sometimes leads to the propaganda of pseudo-Russian style; often the costume of other regions of Russia is passed off as Stary Oskol.
All this cannot but cause great concern for the fate of the younger generation of Russians, in general for the fate of the Russian ethnic group, and requires taking serious measures to change the situation for the better.
In modern society, folk traditional culture lives as a great spiritual, moral and aesthetic force. This fact must not only be taken into account, but also this unique phenomenon must be protected in every possible way, supported and developed as a national spiritual heritage of Russia and the whole world. She, like nature, brings harmony to life, connects generations with the memory of culture and a sense of kinship among all peoples.
0 1 2 3 4 5
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 in recent years its erasure has been especially noticeable against the background of the 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 the distinctive features of the Russian people has always been and is simplicity, in former times Slavic houses and property was 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 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 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 were distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already gotten married, remained to live in their 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 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 a highly developed culture, 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 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 - traditional holiday Russian people, celebrated during the week before Great 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 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 others 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.
Christmas - not only Holy holiday Orthodoxy, it also symbolizes the revival and return to life, 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) - family celebration, 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, youth 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.
About the concept of “traditional culture”
Traditional culture ethnicity is one of the main objects of study of ethnographic science. Moreover, the concept of “culture” in ethnography has a different meaning than in a number of other sciences, where culture is understood high level achieved in one or another type of activity. In ordinary consciousness, this word also has an evaluative meaning (“cultured” - “uncultured” person). In ethnography, culture is everything that is created by man, as opposed to what is created by nature. Therefore, culture in ethnography includes verbal communication, tools, organization of economic activities, household items, forms of social organization, ritual practice, features of everyday behavior, etc. and so on.
The term “traditional culture” also requires clarification. It means the totality cultural phenomena, characteristic of pre-industrial society, when dominant natural economy, in which production activity is focused on own consumption, and not on the creation of commodity, i.e., products intended for exchange.
Traditional culture was characteristic of the peoples of the world before the industrial revolution that occurred in developed countries in the 18th century. Its result was the use of mechanisms operating on raw energy resources (coal, oil, gas) in the production of products. In this way, the goal of reducing its cost through mass production was achieved, but this factor at the same time contributed to the standardization of the goods produced. Despite their cheapness and practicality, the same types of things began to spread first in industrialized countries, and then throughout the world, losing their original ethnicity and becoming global forms of culture.
High-rise buildings made of brick and concrete with glazed windows and, if necessary, with steam heating, a men's suit consisting of a jacket and trousers, a woman's dress, jeans, sausages and beer - just a drop in the ocean of phenomena called industrial, or developed, or urbanized culture, society, characteristic which is the lack of ethnic specificity. Along with objects of material culture, forms began to spread, although to a lesser extent. public relations, state institutions, spiritual culture, etc., which are also becoming global in nature - the monogamous family, parliamentarism, religious tolerance. Symbolism of a handshake, rings on the ring finger right hand, a decorated Christmas tree standing in the house, earrings in the left ear become clear, of course, not throughout the world, but in a significant part of it.
However, the process of replacing traditional forms of culture with the culture of industrial society occurs gradually. The lower the level of technological development of a society, the more its culture is characterized by traditional features. Traditional culture is most fully preserved among the so-called “backward” peoples, leading the most primitive forms of economy - hunters, fishermen and gatherers, primitive farmers and cattle breeders. In general, the preservation of traditional culture is more characteristic of the masses than of the elite of society, and of the rural population rather than the urban population. The peasantry has become the main bearer of those forms of culture that have ethnic overtones since the feudal era.
Russian traditional culture began to be replaced by global culture mainly from the second half of the 19th century c., when, after the abolition of serfdom, a period of rapid industrial development of the country began. Therefore, in relation to the Russian ethnos, the time of existence of its traditional culture should be dated back to the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, since after that it begins to quickly be replaced by the culture of industrial society. It should be noted, however, that this chronological period Many elements of traditional culture were no longer characteristic of the noble elite of society, and to a large extent they were forced out of the lives of townspeople. Therefore, the characteristic of Russian traditional culture (and other peoples) is a description of the cultural phenomena of the rural population, mainly the peasant population, which retains the features of traditionalism to the greatest extent. For the Russian ethnic group, this situation is all the more justified because at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. the share of the peasantry in it was more than 90%.
Close to the term “traditional culture” is the term “folk culture”, in which the word “people” is used in the meaning of “working masses”, “people physical labor" But while there are many similarities between these terms, there are certain differences. Folk culture includes all its components that function in the people's environment, while some are reproduced in it, others are introduced into it from the outside, although the form of the latter undoubtedly corresponded to one degree or another to the needs of the people's environment. For example, Orthodoxy, literacy, lubok, barrel organ and much more formed an integral part of Russian folk culture, but were introduced into it from the outside. Own forms of folk culture can be attributed to traditional culture, and it is the latter that is the object of study of ethnographic science.
However, there are areas of traditional culture studied by other sciences. First of all, it is a language that is reproduced among the people, but is the object of linguistic research. An independent sphere of scientific research is oral folk art - folklore, initially, however, as is clear from the name itself (obsolete English “study of the people”), identified with ethnography. The study of such forms of traditional culture as musical art, dance, theater are the prerogative of musicology, choreography, and theater studies.
The problem of delimiting the spheres of ethnography and other sciences when studying the traditional culture of an ethnic group in national science is solved traditionally. It is customary to include within the competence of ethnography such phenomena of traditional culture as economic activity (and those primarily associated with it folk knowledge about the surrounding world), material culture(the main forms of which are represented by housing and settlement complexes, clothing, food and utensils), social relations (the two main institutions of which for Russians were family and community) and spiritual culture (its main components are life cycle rituals, calendar rituals, archaic beliefs and ideas ).
The selection of these aspects due to such a property of culture as systematicity, of course, is conditional: the performance of most ritual actions is impossible without the use of material objects, the rituals themselves can be aimed at success in the economic sphere, and its organization is largely determined by social relations, etc. d.
Finally, in connection with the problem of defining the object sphere of ethnography, we can state the absence of clear boundaries between it and other sciences, which is reflected in the emergence of the fields scientific knowledge, located at the intersection of different spheres of scientific knowledge, as indicated by their names - ethnolinguistics, ethnoecology, ethnopsychology, ethnosociology, etc.; In the field of studying the state of religiosity, a new direction has appeared, its object is a phenomenon covered by the concept of “folk Orthodoxy”.
Not in vain national culture Russia has always been considered the soul of the people. Its main feature and attractiveness is its amazing diversity, originality and originality. Each nation, developing its own culture and traditions, tries to avoid imitation and humiliating copying. This is why they create their own own forms organization of 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 when it comes to 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 culture different countries and peoples, who 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- Russian national culture, which in last decades began 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 geographical location countries.
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 story. The national culture of our people was formed in conditions 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, the greatest value of every nation is its language. The language in which he speaks, writes and thinks, which allows him to express his own thoughts and opinions. 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 - this world history and meaning 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. IN 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. What in 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 arises in common people. As mentioned earlier, the beauties on whose territory the Russians lived had a great influence on the formation of cultural values. Perhaps that's why great amount 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 contained 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 - multinational country, which is 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 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, meat, dairy, flour and vegetable products could be found on the table. 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 see 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 is truly a 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!
Chizhova Anna,
teacher at the School of Folk Art of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
« Russian folk traditional culture as a way to raise a child. (Experience of working in a preschool group at an Orthodox School Folk Art Empress Alexandra Feodorovna)".
In addition to the first and most important - the spiritual high goal that the teacher sets for himself, living with the child and plunging into traditional folk culture, there is another goal, perhaps for some more obvious (compared to the first) - raising a healthy person. The beneficial influence of Russian folk traditional culture on human physical health has already been indisputably proven; from our ancestors we inherited “a natural system that ensures healthy interaction between a person and the outside world, people and himself.”
For 7 years I have been working at the School of Folk Art of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna as an additional teacher. education in the “Svetelka” group - a group preparing children for school. Group classes are held every day (Monday to Friday), from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The age composition of preschoolers is different - from three to seven years, the number varies from 7 to 12 people. Our entire year is built on the basis of church calendars and national year, all classes and schedules are structured in accordance with them.
It is difficult to single out one thing - one activity, holiday, event, which can be described as “using folk culture in work”, because in our School all the conditions have been created for truly LIVING, and not superficially getting acquainted with folk culture. culture, we are part of it, it is part of us. She is present every day in the entire life of the School, be it school program, providing for the inclusion of such items as crafts (clay, weaving, knitting, woodworking, etc.); school rules (mandatory school uniform, etc.); common holidays or relationships between children and adults, children with each other. There is a Temple at the School (Temple of the Intercession Holy Mother of God), thus, we have the opportunity to live all Church holidays by gathering together as a whole School for the festive Liturgy. Folk culture and Orthodox culture in the life of our School - are inextricably linked, which is as it should be, because these two cultures are actually one, they cannot be one without the other, they are like two wings of one bird.
As for the preparatory group, we live in the mode of the entire School, while having our own plan that takes into account the age of the children, their physical and emotional specifics. Classes to prepare a child for school involve the usual development of a preschooler, but with priority spiritual development. We are trying to prepare the child for school, and more importantly, for life, and it is simply impossible not to “use” the wealth of traditional folk culture in this process. What are the “parameters” of preparing a child for school? In our School, this is not knowledge in English, not reading fluently, not counting to 100 and back; indicator of a child’s readiness for school – physical and emotional health, the ability to hold hands in a round dance, the ability to sing together, play, interact with each other, revealing their creative possibilities, ability to follow the rules of the game; the desire to learn, which manifests itself both in physical activity and in the ability to listen, ask questions, solve and make riddles. Many teachers write about how sometimes the so-called and very popular today has a destructive effect on the child. early development”child, in which the child’s intellect is primarily developed, thereby often infringing on him in another, more important - the development of the soul. There is an opinion: the higher a child’s intelligence, the lower his ability to rejoice. The life-affirming, joyful mood of folk culture included in school life gives the child the most important thing he needs as he enters a new level social status– for someone who is becoming a first-grader – basic trust in the world, a desire to live, and being filled with joy, which is impossible not to share with your neighbor.
Every day of “Svetyolka” is life “inside” the folk and church calendar. Every day begins with prayer; a lamp is always burning in the red corner of the room. The beginning of the day is regular gymnastics - exercises flow into finger games, nursery rhymes, nurturing - where dolls (both homemade and animals) can be used - children sit their dolls on their knees and, singing various nursery rhymes, do a massage, stroke, wash their faces, and also roll dolls on their knees (material from the educational publication “Folk Traditions in Raising Children” and others are used). Older children can also sit younger ones on their knees and play with them, singing the same thing. Next we play Russian folk games- different during the day - mobile, imitative, calendar, quiet, loud, “on the bench” and others (depending on what is planned by the teacher and on the desires of the children). Be sure to sing songs throughout the day - often while doing handicrafts, sometimes setting aside time specifically for learning. Repeatedly throughout the day, children use counting rhymes, which are also a small form of folk art and help to avoid conflict situations, and also develop the child’s speech and sense of rhythm; teach you to feel syllables.
The interior of the room where the group is located includes the following “zones”, entering which during free play the child absorbs the correct models of the structure of the world: this is the red corner, where the icons are located and the lamp glows; and a cradle, in which, of course, you want to put and lull the baby; and a Russian stove, in which cabbage soup and porridge are prepared for the whole family. Indulges in toys in the group great importance– as one of the most important objects of influence on the child’s inner world; Most toys are made from natural materials. Everything about a toy is important: the shape, the coloring, and, of course, the material itself; plastic and rubber are not found anywhere in their natural form. A wonderful miracle is a folk toy. “A folk toy,” writes Fr. Andrey Kononov, is always consanguineous with the world. Natural materials are used to make it: clay, sand, ice, snow, stone, cotton, flax, wool, dough, wood, birch bark, glass, copper, etc. Therefore, it is an excellent gaming educational tool". A separate important weekly event for us is baking “Alexandrovsky” bread with the children every Friday. The children knead the dough themselves (they bring various seeds from home: poppy, pumpkin, sunflower and add them to the dough), then they make bread from it and take it to their parents in paper bags painted for this purpose by the children.
Throughout the year we, to a greater or lesser extent, prepare for and experience such Holidays as Intercession Mother of God, Birthday of the School (day of St. John Chrysostom), Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Day of St. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Nativity of Christ (we arrange a nativity scene, go caroling, paint roe deer), Maslenitsa, Easter, Magpies (March 22)
In his pedagogical activity I meet completely different children, all children have some kind of psychological, age, behavioral, physical features that we encounter, live and work with. It is difficult for me to trace the dynamics of solving a specific problem with the accuracy of tests and figures; to say specifically: the child had a problem, he began to sing - the problem disappeared. Sometimes there seems to be no result, it happens like this - it seems that the child is passive, does not perceive what is happening (dance, round dance, song...). But suddenly, after some time, he sings a lullaby to his doll - and it makes him so happy. One three-year-old girl, when the group and I were putting up a nativity scene, did not participate with us in the “common activity”, she was doing something of her own, it was not clear whether she understood anything at all, but when she came home and saw the wooden nativity scene, the little girl gave it all away. the plot of the nativity scene by heart (without a break, with its own inserts, with all the songs) - to the surprise of everyone... It’s very pleasing when you suddenly see children at school - without a teacher - they dance in a circle themselves - it’s worth a lot.
I firmly believe that accommodation together with children, a full, conscious life, in the bosom of Russian traditional folk culture, gives us an inexhaustible source of joy, helps not only to solve the problems of a healthy nation, but also to become full-fledged individuals with correctly placed spiritual guidelines.
V. V. Zenkovsky “Psychology of Childhood” 1995, P 43
V. V. Zenkovsky “Psychology of Childhood” 1995 P.44
M. M. Gromyko “The World of the Russian Village”, S. 7.
Nazarova L. D. “Folklore art therapy”, P. 9
Abramenkova V.V. What our children play: Toy and anti-toy
Prot. Andrey Kononov " Spiritual meaning modern and folk toys", P.63