Russia: The Largest Country On Earth

When Russian novelist Fyodor Dostyoevsky stated, “It is beauty that is going to save the world”, he was talking not of a lady love but of his infatuation of Russia. When visiting Russia you will notice the old times from the Romanesque and Byzantine architecture and nearly all are open for viewing.

While virtually every place you might visit during your travels here lives and breathes this culture, it is often most easily absorbed while visiting several of the country’s attractions.

The Hermitage Museum and Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg are filled with brilliant art collections, while the many hamlets and small towns of the countryside exude a different sort of lifestyle. Old Cloisters and castles help visitors reflect on Russia’s past and give the history of the country and interesting perspective.

Russia is home of the longest river in Europe and has nine different time zones to pass through while traveling the Trans Siberian Railway. The Bolshoi Ballet, located in Moscow is a famous destination for those that bring their husband or wife. Moscow is also home to Russia’s biggest structure, St Basil’s Cathedral. Oh, and be sure to remember Russia’s answer to Shakespeare, Pushkin. Museums are always a way to escape the realities of life and explore new thoughts; this one is no different.

The more you travel the country, the more you will come to realize just how extensive the history and traditions of the country truly are. Russia is also a culturally diverse country, with dozens of ethnic groups each contributing their own languages, religious beliefs, customs and folk music. The rich blend that results from the cosmopolitan mixture is fascinating to discover and visitors will find that there is always something new to explore and learn about.Russia has a rich cultural heritage that is expressed in the cities, the countryside and the small towns of this striking and proud nation.

Another aspect of Russian culture that you may consider investigating is its performing arts. For centuries Russian theatres have been housing some of the top performances in the world in terms of ballet and opera. There are a variety of other theatrical productions worth seeing – such as drama and musicals – and visitors may even consider visiting a cinema during their stay to discover a more youthful form of theatrical expression.

So come to this exquisite country and discover the rich cultural heritage that it has to offer. Whether you enjoy art, theatre, history, architecture or local customs, Russia has it all. Make sure that you explore Russian culture the next time you visit this fascinating country!

Russian culture and history is often celebrated with many holidays. Some are observed twice due to the Julian and Gregorian calendars such as Christmas and the New Year, although many more special dates are recognized which may be largely unknown to American culture. Residents of European and Latin American countries celebrate special holidays called name days all throughout the year and many residents of Russia still continue this long standing tradition.

The Orthodox calendar of saints was what first started the tradition of celebrating Russian name days as early as the 17th century. The dates of saints’ deaths were marked on calendars and the people who shared their names would honor the saints and themselves on those special days. Also known as saints’ feast days, or angel days, these dates were highly endorsed by the churches and became increasing more popular than birthdays.

Over the years, the custom of celebrating name days has decreased in popularity, although lots of Russian ladies, more often than men, still look forward to these days. Special calendars are usually kept to take note of whose days are when, since some dates honor multiple names and some names are celebrated many different days. For instance, January 19th is the name day for Lidia and Maria, but Maria is also celebrated on February 8th, March 31st, and many other dates throughout the year since there are many saints who share that name.

There are several references to name days in Russian literary works such as Anton Chekov’s play Three Sisters. The play opens with the youngest sister Irena celebrating her saint’s day and she receives a spinning top as a special gift. Another example is Alexander Pushkin’s novel Eugene Onegin where a large, formal gathering is held in honor of the female heroine Tatiana on her name day of January 25th. That date is also known as Student’s Day because Moscow University was established on that same day in 1775 so Russian students named Tatiana get an extra special celebration!

These days, many Russians still honor their angel days, or saint days, by attending sacred religious services, or just getting together with friends and family. Some congratulate each other by exchanging name day greeting cards and gifts. No matter how they celebrate, these name days are just another way that Russians show their strong admiration for their history and their culture.

Russian Culture is shrouded in mystery. In the Western world, the view of Russia is clouded by years of isolation, conflict… and Hollywood movies! The reality is far removed from this.

If you’ve ever looked at a map of Russia, and I mean really looked at a map of Russia, the first thing that will strike you is the sheer size of it. Russia is enormous! Ok, I know this is a section about culture, not geography, but it’s a really important point to note. Throughout its history, Russia has had to protect its vast, vast borders from countless invasions. It has had to provide for its population, using resources from inside its borders, and it has had to survive in extremely cold, harsh winters. All of these factors have combined to make Russians one of the most hardy and nationalistic peoples on earth.

So, what are the core features associated with being ‘Russian’? What can you take from this that will help you in your relationships (romantic, business, or otherwise) with Russian people? What can you learn from Russian culture that will open your eyes to the real warmth that exists in Russian society?

We have outlined for you here a good selection of the major contributors to Russian culture. With so many ethnic groups making up the Russian population nowadays, your experiences will depend very much on where you are and with whom you associate, but you can be sure that the Russian persona has been very much influenced by the common issues outlined for you here.

Culture can be defined in many ways, but the bottom line is that culture refers to the aspects of a country that make it unique. So, in this case, what makes Russia truly ‘Russian’.

Culture is like a living organism – always growing and changing. From the State to the street, from the concert hall to the corner store, the culture of Russia is rich in history, tradition, and warmth. By taking a closer look, we hope you will begin to see the beauty and wonder of this amazing country and its people.