Russia Essay, Research Paper

Family SizeAbout three-quarters of Russians live in cities, mostly in large apartment blocks. The apartments are usually very small, often with just a bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom for a family of four. The living room may be used as a bedroom. In the country, people live in wooden and brick houses, some of which have outdoor toilets. At present, there is a shortage of housing in Russia. As a result, many newly married couples have to live with their parents for several years until they can find a home of their own. Average household size 2.8; 2 persons 26.2%; 3 persons 22.6%; 4 persons 20.5%; 5 persons or more 11.5%. Population in family households (1989): 128,787,000 (87.0%), nonfamily population 19,254,000 (13.0%).Religious practicesAlthough many religions are practiced in Russia, most Russians identify themselves as Russian Orthodox Christians. The Russian Orthodox church was established more than 1000 years ago by Prince Vladimir. It had its origins in a form of Byzantine Christianity. During the Soviet era, many churches were closed or destroyed. Some priests were shot or imprisoned. In 1990, official support for religion was renewed. The Orthodox church, as well as other churches, have experienced a revival. Today the Russian Orthodox church has an estimated 35 to 40 million members.Russian churches have onion-shaped domes, often painted gold. Inside, the churches are often lit by candles and beautiful frescoes cover the walls. There are no chairs or pews. People stand for services, which are long and elaborate. Priests chant and the choir sings without instrumental accompaniment, because it is believed that only human voices should be used in sacred music.Russia has a long history of Jewish settlement. The Jews used to be subject to violent attacks known as pogroms (the Russian word for devastation ), many of which were organized by the czarist government. Today, most Russian cities have synagogues. Many Buryats in Siberia are Buddhists. Other groups in Russia are shamanist, worshipping spirits of the earth and water. There is a significant minority of Muslims in Russia, such as the Tatars of the middle Volga region and the Urals.Holiday CustomsFrom time immemorial each folk holiday in Russia had its own, peculiar ceremonies, traditions, songs. The origin of many holidays doesn’t often relate to the Christian holidays, as far as the source of most ancient ceremonies lies in the remote times of the past, the times of paganism. Christianity had finished with the religious ceremonies of paganism. However, the people preserved many traditions in the forms of merry entertainment and festive occasions, some of them were even adapted to the Christian ceremonies and traditions.KolyadkiThe festive and merry days of Christmas are called Yule-tide in Russia. There is no any other holiday celebrated in compliance with so many specific traditions, ceremonies, etc. One of the ceremonies is called Kolyadki. The ceremony includes wishing of wealth and happiness for everybody. During the ceremony a snow-lady is made with a carrot nose, eyes of prunes and teeth of green beans. Lady Kolyada comes to the holiday to congratulate people and enjoy merry games and fun. Lady Kolyada is accompanied by some people bearing stars. They sing and dance in a ring on the snow with fired torches and push the festive Wheel. MaslyanitsaBy the end of winter, a Pancake week comes right before Lent, it is also called a “cheese week”. The Christian historians say that those were really “mad” days in the past. People wore funny masks and costumes, sometimes, men wore women clothing and vice a versa. Such masquerade gave start to merry festival, when nice food and a lot of wine was consumed. A big man of straw was burned as the final act of saying goodbye to the already passed winter. The feast fighting was one more great fun, which helped to warm up on cold winter days. Tsars and Grand Princes used to find a lot of fun in feast fighting. At present special performances are held on Pancake week. Through the whole week people cook pancakes served with honey, caviar, fresh cream and butter. In Russian Pancake week is called Maslyanitsa, this word means “butter” in English. It means that many different foods, including butter, may be eaten before the time when Lent comes. On the whole, the pancake week may be segmented into three parts, i.e. meeting of Maslyanitsa on Monday, broad Maslyanitsa, or the peak of festive occasion, on Thursday, and the last day, the good-bye day, which comes on Sunday morning. The EasterLike in all Christian countries the Easter Holiday is also celebrated in Russia. Special round-shaped sweet bread (Easter cakes) is cooked. On the Easter’s Eve the Easter cakes are on sale in nearly all bakeries. Moreover, Paskha (rich mixture of sweetened curds, butter and raisins) is also prepared on Easter and eggs are painted in different bright colors. The red egg is considered a symbol of Easter. The Easter egg has many specific purposes, it is a traditional Easter present given to friends and relatives as an Easter salutation. There is a proverb saying that once you wash your face in the water with the Easter egg in it, you will always be healthy and beautiful; the fire will die, if the Easter egg is thrown into it, etc. On Easter people usually visit their relatives. The traditional greeting, if translated from Russian, says: “Christ is alive”, the answer is “Christ is truly alive…”.Red HillThe first Sunday, which comes right after Easter, is called the Red Hill holiday. This day is considered the best for wedding ceremonies. In the past people welcomed spring during this holiday, as if “inviting” it to their lands. The first green leaves on the trees were usually met by singing and dancing in round.Ivan KupaloIn the Orthodox countries, as well as all over Europe, people celebrate the Holiday of St. John the Baptist. In Russia this holiday is called Ivan Kupalo. Everything in the holiday relates to water. In the past boys and girls used to swim in rivers till late at night, they burned fires and, taking each-others hands, jumped over the fires. If after the jump they still held their hands together, it considered to be a good sign saying that the wedding is close.

Courtship and Marriage CustomsCourtship, in Russia, typically begins in the late teens. The minimum legal marrying age is 18. The average age for first marriages, in Russia, is 24.4 for men and 21.8 for women (1989 data). With the onset of Soviet Russia, Church weddings; and the Church itself; became a thing of the past. ZAGS, or the Civil Registry Office, was established. This is where couples go to get a wedding certificate (marriage license) and to get married in a civil ceremony. The waiting period for the certificate is, typically, 30 days. These locations were/are known as Wedding Palaces and featured a public official bestowing the official blessing of the State.A Church wedding is still not considered official. Russian couples still need to get a certificate from the ZAGS. Additionally, if a couple lives together for two years, they are considered married. This is known as a Citizen Marriage. Today, whether one has a civil or Church wedding, a trip to the ZAGS to get the wedding certificate is required.Russian weddings last two days. The official ceremony is just a part of the wedding. Typically, The Bride and groom arrive in separate cars and are lead into separate rooms where they are to wait until they are called. When they are called they are greeted by the receptionist in the entry of the registration hall with bread and salt. Then they are lead into the hall where the actual rites are to be held, they stand on a special carpet and the official reads a short speech and then asks the bride and groom if they do. Then there is an exchange of rings, the couples sign in the registry, and then the witnesses sign and the couple are pronounced man and wife. The bread symbolizes the hope for health, long life and prosperity. After the wedding, it is customary for the wedding party to hop in their decorated cars and make a tour of their town’s historically sites, leaving flowers at each. Sprinkling of coins on the couple to symbolize wealth and others. After the tour of the town, a gala feast is held. This is not unlike wedding receptions in the West. The event features quantities of food, drink, and dancing, toasting, singing and general merriment.Methods of Child RearingRussian grandmothers play an important role in the family. It is said that the grandmothers hold Russian society together. A grandmother can be a great help to a Russian family because she cooks, cleans the house, does the shopping, and does the laundry, takes care of her grandchildren. Most Russian couples have only one child, so children are treasured. Childhood is seen to be a very special time. Families who do not have a grandmother living with them send their children to nursery and then play school.Economic RealitiesIn 1991, Russia joined with other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in a loose affiliation aimed in part at establishing a coordinated economic policy. In 1992, the Russian government promised to give citizens shares in many industries, and in 1996, farmers and others were permitted to buy and sell land for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution in 1917. The rapid change from a severely controlled system to the beginnings of a market economy created chaotic conditions; some Russians profited greatly, but most suffered economic hardship as privatization and other economic reforms progressed. By late 1997, inflation appeared to have been brought under control and industrial production had begun to slowly increase. The country was once again plunged into economic upheaval, however, when the ruble plummeted in May 1998, following a crisis in Asian financial markets. Unable to pay its foreign debts, Russia struggled to restructure loans and keep its new financial services sector from collapsing.Russia has among the world’s richest lodes of mineral resources, being one of the world’s biggest producers of coal, petroleum, and natural gas, as well as of iron ore, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, aluminum, and tin. Russia’s heavy industries are particularly extensive and produce much of the nation’s steel and most of its heavy machinery, such as steam boilers, grain-harvesting combines, automobiles, locomotives, and machine tools. Russia’s chemical industry is also well developed, and the country’s enormous forests are capable of supplying all its wood and paper products. Mostly thermal plants using the republic s vast fossil-fuel reserves generate energy. Light industry centers on the production of textiles.The fishing industry is extremely important, owing to Russia’s access to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Russian fishing fleets ply not only the seas around Russia but also fishing grounds off North America and West Africa. There are also important inland fisheries on lakes and rivers .EducationIn Russia, free compulsory education is available to all children. Children start school at six. Regular schooling lasts for 8 to 11 years, depending on where students live and their individual academic achievement. Gifted students are sent to special secondary schools, where they receive extra tutoring in art, music, languages or electronics. Vocational secondary schools concentrate on mathematics, chemistry or physics. Vocational or technical Schools have a traditional college setting. Careers learned include farming, mechanics, and homemakers. Academies are advanced technical training, careers include: green house production and mechanics.Students attend universities after secondary graduation. They attend it for 5 years and graduate with an equivalent of a Masters.