Other Resources
http://www.rach-c.org/pages/dos_donts.htm
This site will guide an American through the Do's and Don't's of visiting Russia. It deciphers what is appropriate in Russian culture and what is not.
http://www.goehner.com/russinfo.htm
This site gives an interesting insight on the differences between Russia and the United States. For anyone wanting to visit Russia, this can make them aware of how values and culture differ from those in Russia, as well as some commonalities.
This site will guide an American through the Do's and Don't's of visiting Russia. It deciphers what is appropriate in Russian culture and what is not.
http://www.goehner.com/russinfo.htm
This site gives an interesting insight on the differences between Russia and the United States. For anyone wanting to visit Russia, this can make them aware of how values and culture differ from those in Russia, as well as some commonalities.
Russian Orthodoxy around the world
This map shows which countries around the world practice Orthodoxy around the world- Eastern or Oriental. Eastern Orthodoxy is heavily prevalent in Russia and the Slavic countries. It is also practiced in Canada and Australia, but not nearly as heavily as in Eastern Europe.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy_by_country
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy_by_country
Statistics Chart
Changes over time
Fig. 2- These two graphs show the amount of children per woman in 1800 and 2011.
Fig. 3- These graphs depict the increase of the labor force in just over a 10 year difference.
The Russian population has seen its drastic increases and decreases, but like most of the rest of the world it has experienced the steady increase, as seen in Fig. 1. By 2012, the life expectancy was near 70 years of age, compared to about 33 in 1800. The population size and life expectancy have not risen or dropped very much in the last 60 years. This may be due to the fact that women are having less children. Fig. 2 is a representation of children per woman, which has decreased. Because childbirth is risky to a woman's health, the decrease in births has increased their life expectancy. Furthermore, due to women having less children and having less pressure to remain domestic homemakers, they have entered the workforce which has increased the total labor force, shown in Fig. 3.
Religion in Russia
Russia’s dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity, one of the many sects of Christianity throughout out the world. Today, more than 70% of Russians practice this religion (Weir, 2014). While the orthodox denomination has travelled to Eastern Europe, it originated with Christianity in Palestine. Christianity is a monotheistic religion, who looks to God and heaven to give eternal life even after the soul has left the physical body. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, and he spread the word of his Holy Father by performing miracles which gained him followers. Missionaries helped the spread of Christianity from Palestine outward from the Middle East, where it would soon reach Europe (The Spread of Christianity) and the rest of Eurasia. Europe played a heavy hand in bringing the Christian belief system to the New World.
Christianity in Russia was, for many years, the definition of a person. Not only did it unify lands when it was first introduced into Russia, but it served as a way of life for all. It was actually first introduced by Prince Vladimir of Kiev, to allow Russians the right to drink alcohol which was forbidden in all other religions of the time (Christianity in Russia). When building churches, the Russian people made the iconic onion shaped domes which can be seen all over the landscape. They also built much of their early art and literature based on Christianity. Today, people practice by going to church on Sundays, celebrating holidays and baptisms, and participating in communion and confession.
Christianity has several spots that are sacred. Jerusalem, Israel has significance to Christianity as well as Islam and Judaism. This is the city where Christ was crucified, and other biblical events occurred. Bethlehem also serves as a significant city in Christianity- this is where Jesus was born, and the first men witnessed Christ (Holy Cities of the World, 2014). Finally, Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, gives light to Jesus’s early teachings and of his mother, Mary, revered by Christians (The Importance of Nazareth in the Christian Tradition, 2008). While there are no sacred places in Russia, there are several churches which have been revered for their architecture and art. To name a few, Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, the Moscow Kremlin churches, and the Novodevichy Convent are some of the most popular and visited churches in Moscow ( 20 Most Beautiful Churches and Temples in and Around Moscow, 2010).
For many centuries, the state and church were run together. Monarchs cooperated with the Church and used it to base many of their laws. The greatest disparity between the Church and State, perhaps, was during the Communist era. Communism is the idea of an equal society, where no classes exist and people receive everything based on need and skill. With that, religion was outcast. Joseph Stalin, the communist dictator of the former Soviet Union from 1929-1953, claimed Russia’s national religion as atheism, which holds the belief of no deity or spiritual life. He actively used propaganda and school to further the idea that religion was a threat to a perfect communist society (Kershaw, 2012). Russian Orthodoxy was quieted, but not completely eradicated. The fall of the Soviet Union brought back religion to the country, and orthodoxy resurged.
As one of many sects of Christianity, Russian Orthodoxy has faced its battles against other denominations and religions. Through its followers and rich background on Russian culture as well as landscape, it has thrived to be Russia’s top religion. Beautiful art and architecture still remain as major attractions and reminders of the influence that Christianity has had on Russia.
Sources:
Kershaw, T. (2012, September 17). The Hollowverse. Joseph Stalin's Religion and Political Views. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://hollowverse.com/joseph-stalin/
20 most beautiful churches and temples in and around Moscow. (2010, June 10).Travelever.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://travelever.com/places-to-see/7-20-most-beautiful-churches-and-temples-in-and-around-moscow
Blech, A. (n.d.). The Russian Orthodox Church- History and Influence. The Russian Orthodox Church- History and Influence. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from https://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/_files/pdf/curriculum/CREEES-developed-units/russian_orthodox.pdf
Christianity in Russia. (n.d.). Christian Assemblies International. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.cai.org/bible-studies/christianity-russia
Holy Cities of the World. (n.d.).Kidzworld. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4019-holy-cities-of-the-world
Holy Land Catholic News & Events. (2008, September 17). : The Importance of Nazareth in the Christian Tradition. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://lordmovie4u.blogspot.com/2008/09/nazareth-is-located-between-open-space.html
The Spread of Christianity. (n.d.). The Spread of Christianity. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.waupun.k12.wi.us/Policy/other/
Weir, F. (2014, March 5). Russia Emerges as Europe's Most Religious Nation. Jewish World Review. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1211/russia_r
Christianity in Russia was, for many years, the definition of a person. Not only did it unify lands when it was first introduced into Russia, but it served as a way of life for all. It was actually first introduced by Prince Vladimir of Kiev, to allow Russians the right to drink alcohol which was forbidden in all other religions of the time (Christianity in Russia). When building churches, the Russian people made the iconic onion shaped domes which can be seen all over the landscape. They also built much of their early art and literature based on Christianity. Today, people practice by going to church on Sundays, celebrating holidays and baptisms, and participating in communion and confession.
Christianity has several spots that are sacred. Jerusalem, Israel has significance to Christianity as well as Islam and Judaism. This is the city where Christ was crucified, and other biblical events occurred. Bethlehem also serves as a significant city in Christianity- this is where Jesus was born, and the first men witnessed Christ (Holy Cities of the World, 2014). Finally, Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, gives light to Jesus’s early teachings and of his mother, Mary, revered by Christians (The Importance of Nazareth in the Christian Tradition, 2008). While there are no sacred places in Russia, there are several churches which have been revered for their architecture and art. To name a few, Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, the Moscow Kremlin churches, and the Novodevichy Convent are some of the most popular and visited churches in Moscow ( 20 Most Beautiful Churches and Temples in and Around Moscow, 2010).
For many centuries, the state and church were run together. Monarchs cooperated with the Church and used it to base many of their laws. The greatest disparity between the Church and State, perhaps, was during the Communist era. Communism is the idea of an equal society, where no classes exist and people receive everything based on need and skill. With that, religion was outcast. Joseph Stalin, the communist dictator of the former Soviet Union from 1929-1953, claimed Russia’s national religion as atheism, which holds the belief of no deity or spiritual life. He actively used propaganda and school to further the idea that religion was a threat to a perfect communist society (Kershaw, 2012). Russian Orthodoxy was quieted, but not completely eradicated. The fall of the Soviet Union brought back religion to the country, and orthodoxy resurged.
As one of many sects of Christianity, Russian Orthodoxy has faced its battles against other denominations and religions. Through its followers and rich background on Russian culture as well as landscape, it has thrived to be Russia’s top religion. Beautiful art and architecture still remain as major attractions and reminders of the influence that Christianity has had on Russia.
Sources:
Kershaw, T. (2012, September 17). The Hollowverse. Joseph Stalin's Religion and Political Views. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://hollowverse.com/joseph-stalin/
20 most beautiful churches and temples in and around Moscow. (2010, June 10).Travelever.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://travelever.com/places-to-see/7-20-most-beautiful-churches-and-temples-in-and-around-moscow
Blech, A. (n.d.). The Russian Orthodox Church- History and Influence. The Russian Orthodox Church- History and Influence. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from https://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/_files/pdf/curriculum/CREEES-developed-units/russian_orthodox.pdf
Christianity in Russia. (n.d.). Christian Assemblies International. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.cai.org/bible-studies/christianity-russia
Holy Cities of the World. (n.d.).Kidzworld. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4019-holy-cities-of-the-world
Holy Land Catholic News & Events. (2008, September 17). : The Importance of Nazareth in the Christian Tradition. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://lordmovie4u.blogspot.com/2008/09/nazareth-is-located-between-open-space.html
The Spread of Christianity. (n.d.). The Spread of Christianity. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.waupun.k12.wi.us/Policy/other/
Weir, F. (2014, March 5). Russia Emerges as Europe's Most Religious Nation. Jewish World Review. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1211/russia_r
Average costs of food in russia
where does russia get its food?
As stated at other points on this site, Russia is a lead producer in oil and petroleum. When it comes to producing food, though, Russia is a world leader in imports. In some of the larger cities, nearly 85% of the food consumed is imported. In addition, 75% of the meat that is consumed in Russia is imported (Yasmann, 2008). There is also a rise in imported foods. While a majority of food does not come from Russia, there is still some agriculture. Of the 13.2% of arable land, almost 22% of that is used for crops of wheat , barley, sunflower seeds, oats, and potatoes. Russia's food independence is a rising problem, and other methods of food production need to be addressed.
Sources:
Yasmann, V. (2008, May 16). Analysis: Global Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1117497.
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/est/meetings/wto_comm/Trade_Policy_Brief_Russia_final.pdf
Sources:
Yasmann, V. (2008, May 16). Analysis: Global Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1117497.
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/est/meetings/wto_comm/Trade_Policy_Brief_Russia_final.pdf
Recipe
Borscht is a popular stew eaten in Russia, usually as a main course. It is composed of mostly beets with other vegetables, potatoes, and meat. This is one of the most identifiable Russian dishes.
The source for this recipe was found at www.foodbycountry.com
For more Russian recipes from this website please click the link! |
russian mardigras
Maslyanitsa, meaning 'butter' in Russian, is more of festival than a religious holiday. It is a week long, and celebrates the end of winter and welcomes spring. One of the main components of the festival is the mass eating of food- particularly, bliny, which is a Russian pancake. The pancakes are topped with butter, honey, caviar, or other yummy toppings! People wear bright costumes and masks- similar to what can be seen at Mardigras in New Orleans.
The festival began as a pagan ritual to say good bye to winter. A large stuffed dummy is burned to symbolize this action. The hotter and longer the fire burned was a measure of how long and hot the pursuing summer would be. Similarly, the bliny was symbolic of the sun. The more toppings you could fit onto the pancake resembled how hot the summer would be. Hence this is why the blinys appear so large. After a cold winter, the festival is a bright and welcoming flurry of people, food, and warmth.
Source: Russian Festivals- Maslyanitsa . (n.d.).Maslyanitsa a Russian Festival and Occasion at Russian.Net.. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.russian.net/maslyanitsa.htm
The festival began as a pagan ritual to say good bye to winter. A large stuffed dummy is burned to symbolize this action. The hotter and longer the fire burned was a measure of how long and hot the pursuing summer would be. Similarly, the bliny was symbolic of the sun. The more toppings you could fit onto the pancake resembled how hot the summer would be. Hence this is why the blinys appear so large. After a cold winter, the festival is a bright and welcoming flurry of people, food, and warmth.
Source: Russian Festivals- Maslyanitsa . (n.d.).Maslyanitsa a Russian Festival and Occasion at Russian.Net.. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.russian.net/maslyanitsa.htm