Russian national character. National character of the Russian person

Scientists have been arguing for decades about what a Russian person looks like. They study genetic types, physical features, papillary patterns, and even hematological features of blood groups. Some conclude that the ancestors of Russians are Slavs, others argue that Finns are closest to Russians in genotype and phenotype. So where is the truth and what anthropological portrait does the Russian person have?

The first descriptions of the appearance of Russian people

Since ancient times people have been interested in the origins human race, attempts to explore this area have been made repeatedly. Ancient records of travelers and scientists who noted their observations in detail have been preserved. There are also records in the archives about Russian people, their external and behavioral characteristics. The statements of foreigners are especially interesting. In 992, Ibn Fadlan, a traveler from Arab countries described the perfect body and attractive appearance of the Russians. In his opinion, Russians “... are blond, red in face and white in body.”

Characteristics of Russians

IN XIX century famous scientist Anatoly Bogdanov created a theory about characteristic features Russian person. He said that everyone quite clearly imagines the appearance of a Russian. In support of his words, the scientist cited stable verbal expressions from people’s everyday life - “pure Russian beauty”, “the spitting image of a hare”, “a typical Russian face”.
The master of Russian anthropology, Vasily Deryabin, proved that in their characteristics Russians are typical Europeans. In terms of pigmentation, they are average Europeans - Russians are more likely to have light eyes and hair.

Generalized anthropological portrait of a Russian person

Characteristic types of appearance of Russian people

Despite whole line morphological characteristics characteristic of Russian people, scientists proposed a narrower classification and identified several groups among Russians, each of which has distinctive external features.
The first of them is the Nordids. This type belongs to the Caucasian type, common in Northern Europe, in northwestern Russia, it includes part of the Estonians and Latvians. The appearance of Nordids is characterized by blue or green eyes, an oblong skull shape, and pink skin.

All these moments formed a specific Russian national character, which cannot be assessed unambiguously.

Among positive qualities usually called kindness and its manifestation in relation to people - goodwill, cordiality, sincerity, responsiveness, cordiality, mercy, generosity, compassion and empathy. They also note simplicity, openness, honesty, and tolerance. But this list does not include pride and self-confidence - qualities that reflect a person’s attitude towards himself, which indicates the characteristic attitude of Russians towards “others”, their collectivism.

Russian attitude to work in a very unique way. Russian people are hardworking, efficient and resilient, but much more often they are lazy, careless, careless and irresponsible, they are characterized by disregard and sloppiness. The hard work of Russians is manifested in the honest and responsible performance of their labor responsibilities, but does not imply initiative, independence, or the desire to stand out from the team. Sloppiness and carelessness are associated with the vast expanses of the Russian land, the inexhaustibility of its riches, which will be enough not only for us, but also for our descendants. And since we have a lot of everything, we don’t feel sorry for anything.

“Faith in a good Tsar” is a mental feature of Russians, reflecting the long-standing attitude of the Russian people, who did not want to deal with officials or landowners, but preferred to write petitions to the Tsar ( Secretary General, President), sincerely believing that evil officials are deceiving the good king, but as soon as you tell him the truth, everything will immediately become fine. The excitement around the presidential elections over the past 20 years proves that the belief is still alive that if you choose a good president, Russia will immediately become a prosperous state.

Passion for political myths is another characteristic feature of the Russian person, inextricably linked with the Russian idea, the idea of ​​​​the special mission of Russia and the Russian people in history. The belief that the Russian people are destined to show the whole world the right path (regardless of what this path should be - true Orthodoxy, the communist or Eurasian idea) was combined with the desire to make any sacrifices (including their own death) in the name of achieving set goal. In search of an idea, people easily rushed to extremes: they went to the people, made a world revolution, built communism, socialism "with human face", restored previously destroyed temples. Myths may change, but the morbid fascination with them remains. Therefore, among the typical national qualities called gullibility.

Thinking "at random" is another Russian trait. It permeates the national character, the life of the Russian person, and manifests itself in politics and economics. “Maybe” is expressed in the fact that inaction, passivity and lack of will (also named among the characteristics of the Russian character) are replaced by reckless behavior. Moreover, it will come to this at the very last moment: “Until the thunder strikes, the man will not cross himself.”

Back side The Russian “maybe” is the breadth of the Russian soul. As noted by F.M. Dostoevsky, “the Russian soul is bruised by the vastness,” but behind its breadth, generated by the vast spaces of our country, hide both prowess, youth, merchant scope, and the absence of a deep rational calculation of the everyday or political situation.

The values ​​of Russian culture are to a large extent the values ​​of the Russian community.

The community itself, the “world” as the basis and prerequisite for the existence of any individual, is the most ancient and the most important value. For the sake of “peace” a person must sacrifice everything, including his life. This is explained by the fact that Russia lived a significant part of its history in conditions of a besieged military camp, when only the subordination of interests individual person the interests of the community allowed the Russian people to survive as an independent ethnic group.

The interests of the collective in Russian culture are always higher than the interests of the individual, which is why they are so easily suppressed personal plans, goals and interests. But in return, the Russian person counts on the support of the “world” when he has to face everyday adversity (a kind of mutual responsibility). As a result, the Russian person puts aside his personal affairs without displeasure for the sake of some common cause from which he will not benefit, and this is where his attractiveness lies. The Russian person is firmly convinced that he must first arrange the affairs of the social whole, more important than his own, and then this whole will begin to act in his favor at its own discretion. The Russian people are collectivists who can only exist together with society. He suits him, worries about him, for which he, in turn, surrounds him with warmth, attention and support. To become a person, a Russian person must become a conciliar person.

Justice is another value of Russian culture, important for life in a team. It was originally understood as the social equality of people and was based on economic equality (of men) in relation to the land. This value is instrumental, but in the Russian community it has become a target value. Members of the community had the right to their own, equal to everyone else, share of the land and all its wealth that the “world” owned. Such justice was the Truth for which the Russian people lived and strived. In the famous dispute between truth-truth and truth-justice, it was justice that prevailed. For a Russian person, it is not so important how it actually was or is; much more important is what should be. The nominal positions of eternal truths (for Russia these truths were truth and justice) were assessed by the thoughts and actions of people. Only they are important, otherwise no result, no benefit can justify them. If nothing comes of what was planned, don’t worry, because the goal was good.

The lack of individual freedom was determined by the fact that in the Russian community, with its equal allotments, periodic land redistributions, and stripes, it was simply impossible for individualism to manifest itself. Man was not the owner of the land, did not have the right to sell it, and was not even free in the timing of sowing, harvesting, or in choosing what could be cultivated on the land. In such a situation, it was impossible to demonstrate individual skill. which in Rus' was not valued at all. It is no coincidence that they were ready to accept Lefty in England, but he died in complete poverty in Russia.

The habit of emergency mass activity(suffering) was brought up by the same lack of individual freedom. Here in a strange way combined hard work and a festive mood. Perhaps the festive atmosphere was a kind of compensatory means that made it easier to carry a heavy load and give up excellent freedom in economic activity.

Wealth could not become a value in a situation where the idea of ​​equality and justice dominated. It is no coincidence that the proverb is so well known in Russia: “You cannot build stone chambers with righteous labor.” The desire to increase wealth was considered a sin. Thus, in the Russian northern village, traders who artificially slowed down trade turnover were respected.

Labor itself was also not a value in Rus' (unlike, for example, in Protestant countries). Of course, work is not rejected, its usefulness is recognized everywhere, but it is not considered a means that automatically ensures the fulfillment of a person’s earthly calling and the correct structure of his soul. Therefore, in the system of Russian values, labor occupies a subordinate place: “Work is not a wolf, it will not run away into the forest.”

Life, not oriented towards work, gave the Russian person freedom of spirit (partly illusory). It always stimulated creativity in man. It could not be expressed in constant, painstaking work aimed at accumulating wealth, but was easily transformed into eccentricity or work that surprised others (the invention of wings, a wooden bicycle, a perpetual motion machine, etc.), i.e. actions were taken that had no meaning for the economy. On the contrary, the economy often turned out to be subordinate to this idea.

Community respect could not be earned simply by becoming rich. But only a feat, a sacrifice in the name of “peace” could bring glory.

Patience and suffering in the name of “peace” (but not personal heroism) is another value of Russian culture, in other words, the goal of the feat being performed could not be personal, it must always be outside the person. The Russian proverb is widely known: “God endured, and He commanded us too.” It is no coincidence that the first canonized Russian saints were princes Boris and Gleb; They accepted martyrdom, but did not resist their brother, Prince Svyatopolk, who wanted to kill them. Death for the Motherland, death “for one’s friends” brought immortal glory to the hero. It is no coincidence that in Tsarist Russia the words were minted on awards (medals): “Not for us, not for us, but for Your name.”

Patience and suffering are the most important fundamental values ​​for a Russian person, along with consistent abstinence, self-restraint, and constant sacrifice of oneself for the benefit of another. Without this, there is no personality, no status, no respect from others. From here comes the eternal desire for Russian people to suffer - this is the desire for self-actualization, the conquest of inner freedom necessary to do good in the world, to conquer freedom of spirit. In general, the world exists and moves only through sacrifice, patience, and self-restraint. This is the reason for the long-suffering characteristic of Russian people. He can endure a lot (especially material difficulties) if he knows why it is necessary.

The values ​​of Russian culture constantly point to its aspiration towards some higher, transcendental meaning. For a Russian person there is nothing more exciting than the search for this meaning. For this, you can leave home, family, become a hermit or holy fool (both of them were highly revered in Rus').

On the day of Russian culture as a whole, this meaning becomes the Russian idea, to the implementation of which the Russian person subordinates his entire way of life. Therefore, researchers talk about the inherent features of religious fundamentalism in the consciousness of Russian people. The idea could change (Moscow is the third Rome, the imperial idea, communist, Eurasian, etc.), but its place in the structure of values ​​remained unchanged. The crisis that Russia is experiencing today is largely due to the fact that the idea that united the Russian people has disappeared; it has become unclear in the name of what we should suffer and humiliate ourselves. The key to Russia's exit from the crisis is the acquisition of a new fundamental idea.

For a Russian person, the concept of hard work is far from alien, as a result of which we can talk about a certain talent of the nation. Russia has given the world many talents from various fields: science, culture, art. The Russian people have enriched the world with various great cultural achievements.

Love of freedom

Many scientists note the special love of Russian people for freedom. The history of Russia itself has preserved a lot of evidence of the struggle of the Russian people for their independence.

Religiosity

Religiosity is one of the deepest features of the Russian people. It is no coincidence that ethnologists say that a corrective feature of the national self-awareness of the Russian person is. Russia is the main recipient Orthodox culture Byzantium. There is even a certain concept “Moscow is the third Rome”, reflecting the continuity Christian culture Byzantine Empire.

Kindness

One of positive traits The essence of the Russian person is kindness, which can be expressed in humanity, cordiality and spiritual gentleness. In Russian folklore there are many sayings that reflect these traits of national character. For example: “God helps the good,” “Life is given for good deeds,” “Don’t rush to do good.”

Patience and Fortitude

Russian people have great patience and the ability to overcome various difficulties. This conclusion can be made by looking at the historical path of Russia. The ability to endure suffering is a unique ability to exist. You can see the resilience of a Russian person in his ability to respond to external circumstances.

Hospitality and generosity

Entire parables and legends have been written about these characteristic features of the Russian national character. It is no coincidence that in Russia the custom of presenting bread and salt to guests is still preserved. This tradition demonstrates the cordiality of the Russian people, as well as the wish for good and prosperity to one’s neighbor.

A lot of research has been written - artistic and journalistic - about what the Russian character is, what traits are defining and original in it. They argued about the mysterious Russian soul the best minds Russian and Western philosophy and literature for several centuries. The same Dostoevsky, through the mouth of Dmitry Karamazov, argued that in the soul of every Russian person two ideals coexist - Madonna and Sodomy. Time has proven the complete truth of his words and their relevance today.

So, Russian character - what is it? Let's try to highlight some of its defining aspects.

Qualitative characteristics

• Domestic poets and writers, such as Khomyakov, Aksakov, Tolstoy, Leskov, Nekrasov, considered conciliarity to be a distinctive feature of a man from the people. It has long been customary in Rus' to resolve many issues “peacefully,” from helping impoverished fellow villagers to global problems. Naturally, this moral category was considered as an attribute village life. And since Russia was originally an agrarian country and the bulk of the population was the peasantry, it was the village peasant who personified the character of the Russian person. It is not for nothing that in Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” the value of all heroes is determined by spiritual closeness to the people.
• Another feature characteristic of the people is directly related to conciliarity - religiosity. sincere, deep, unpretentious, and the peacefulness, humility, and mercy associated with it are part of the character of a Russian person as an organic part of him. An example of this is the legendary archpriest Avvakum, Peter and Fevronia of Murom, Matryona of Moscow and many other personalities. It is not for nothing that saints and holy fools, wandering monks and pilgrims enjoyed special respect and love among the people. And although the people treated the official church ironically and critically, examples of true piety can be considered as features of the Russian national character.
• The mysterious Russian soul in to a greater extent Self-sacrifice is more common than other nationalities. as the personification of eternal sacrifice in the name of neighbors “while the world stands” - here it is, the Russian character in pure form, without any foreign impurities. And if you remember the Great Patriotic War, the simplicity and greatness of a soldier’s feat, then it will become clear that neither time nor change has power over true values, over what is eternal.
• Oddly enough, the natural properties of a person from the people include such qualities as stupidity, recklessness - on the one hand, and a sharp mind, natural savvy - on the other. The most famous and popular fairy tales- Ivanushka the fool and the lazy Emelya, as well as the skilled Soldier, who managed to cook porridge, embody these features of the Russian national character.
• Heroism, courage, devotion to one’s ideals, the cause one serves, modesty, love of peace - this also cannot be forgotten when talking about a Russian person. The writer Alexei Tolstoy has a wonderful essay in which the Russian character is defined capaciously, deeply and figuratively - “human beauty”.
• However, Russian people are ambivalent. It was not for nothing that Dostoevsky spoke about two ideals fighting in his soul. And therefore, along with boundless kindness and sacrifice, he is capable of the same boundless cruelty. “Russian revolt”, senseless, merciless, which Pushkin warned about, and then Civil War- terrible examples of what people are capable of if their patience is exhausted, if they are pushed to the limit of the possible.
• Drunkenness and theft are also, alas, primordially Russian qualities. The jokes included Karamzin’s famous phrase about what was happening in his homeland. His laconic answer is “They steal!” - says a lot. By the way, it is still relevant today!

Afterword

We can talk about Russian for a long time. Love to native land, to the “father’s coffins”, respect for ancestors and memory of them - these are Russians. But the Ivans, who do not remember their kinship, betrayed small homeland, - also Russians. Truth-seekers who are ready to suffer for an idea, who neglect material values ​​for the sake of spiritual ones - Russians. But Chichikov, Sharikov and others like him are just as Russian...

Russian people - representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population Russian Federation), the largest 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 importance in modern world, concepts are very important folk culture and the history of the nation, their formation and development. 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 throughout recent years Its erasure is especially noticeable against the background 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 formed by people, 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 plunder 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 includes matchmaking, 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 have been distinguished big amount 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 together 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 godparents kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds), 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 (from 6 to 7 July), once a year a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold riches. 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, thirsting for fun and positive emotions in the cold and dull season, turned the 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 the long-awaited warmth. The meaning has changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes remains, exciting winter activities: sledding and horse-drawn rides down hills, a straw effigy of Winter was burned, throughout Maslenitsa week relatives went to pancakes either with their mother-in-law or sister-in-law, an atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere, various theatrical and theatrical events were held on the streets puppet shows with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the very colorful and dangerous entertainment On Maslenitsa, fist fights were held; 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.