• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

RussiaRussia's name comes from the historic Rus people that are the ancestors of today's Russians and other eastern Slavic people.

Ρоссия

WARNING: Russia's border with Ukraine is unstable and tensions are high, read this travel warning before going!

Introduction:

Russia is a massive country that has one of the world's most intriguing cultures. To many visitors, the buildings, traffic, and clothing may appear to be no different than that found at home, but culturally, the Russians are incredibly unique and this culture is rooted in their long history, priorities, and mentality.

Despite the huge landmass that makes up Russia, the people today are very similar culturally from region to region, but this wasn't always the case. Despite the long and impressive history, the Russian people and their culture only began in about 1000 and they weren't unified until a couple centuries later. Prior to this, the lands were diverse and sparsely populated. The cold weather, snows, and long winters have meant the lands aren't ideal for farming and this often dictated where people settled in early history.



With advancements in technology the Russians spread across the lands, incorporating many ethnic minorities along the way. At nearly this same time, the Russian culture began to develop and became more narrowly defined as the language evolved, the foods changed, the lifestyle was altered, and the Christian Orthodox religion became a stronghold in the culture.

Over time the Russians created and defined their culture in numerous ways, but primarily in terms of what it is not. As a diverse land, the people drew comparisons to the Caucus people in the south, the ethnic Turks and Tajiks in the south, and the ethnic Mongol and Chinese in the southeast, plus the many other people, including the Tatars. Eventually, the ethnic Russians dominated these other people and expanded their territory.

As Russian power grew politically, so too did their culture as many czars were from other parts of Europe, introducing European technologies and culture to the people, particularly those in the western part of the country. However, the western European influence never took over Russian culture, although revolutionary thoughts from the west arrived and helped spark the communist revolution.

Communism changed much of Russian culture, while also magnifying other aspects of Russian culture. Religion was outlawed and the government began to define moral questions, the historic town lifestyle was abandoned to a great degree as people urbanized and industrialization expanded, and traditional clothing was destroyed. However, the government also tried to force ethnic minorities to become "Soviet" and this culture was heavily defined using other aspects of Russian culture, such as the Russian language being taught to everyone. More than this though, communism changed the mentality of the people as trust was destroyed, loyalty was redefined, and forced social interactions took the place of the family and religion as social and cultural focus points.

Today Russia remains a misunderstood and confusing place for many visitors as Russian culture is rooted in this diverse and ever-changing past. Today rural life is slowly returning as are cultural aspects tied to this lifestyle, such as their saunas (banya), religion is slowly returning, and the attitude towards alcohol is no longer viewed the same way. However, western influences have also arrived as dance clubs are everywhere, technology is flooding the country, and western entertainment is everywhere. This new money is also making bribery and connections more important than knowledge and hard work, preventing much social fluidity. Russia is ever-changing, yet rooted in the past; it is the land of confusion.

The Russian flag is likely based off the pan-Slavic flag, which also includes stripes of blue, white, and red. The origin of this flag, its colors, and style are unknown.

Name: Russian Federation
Independence: August 24, 1991
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Ruble
Population: 142,500,482 (2013 estimate)
Ethnicity: Russian & others
Language: Russian
Religion: Russian Orthodox & Muslim

Information for Russia was last updated: March, 2014 ● View our: Sources & Special Thanks