Russian people: culture, traditions and customs. Culture of the peoples of Russia - the most interesting message on the topic of population and culture

27.11.2020

The official name is the People's Republic of China, PRC (People's Republic of China). Located in the eastern part of the Eurasian continent on the western coast of the Pacific Ocean. The area is 9.6 million km2, the population is 1284.53 million people. (end 2002). The state language is Chinese. The capital is Beijing (14.23 million people with adjoining counties, end of 2002). Public Holidays: Agricultural Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) - Gregorian January-February; Day of the People's Republic of China on October 1. The monetary unit is the yuan (ren-minbi).

In the PRC there are: Xianggang Special Administrative Region (UAR) (Hong Kong), Aomen Special Administrative Region (UAR) (Macao) - both in Southeast China.

In the East China Sea, there is the island of Taiwan, separated from the continent by the Taiwan Strait, which China considers the 23rd province.

Member of 677 international organizations, incl. UN (since 1971) and its specialized organizations, WTO (since 2001), APEC (since 1991), IMF, IDA, etc.

SIGHTS OF CHINA

Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan)

Terracotta Army

Shaolin monastery

Forbidden City (Beijing)

The great Wall of China

GEOGRAPHY OF CHINA

It is located from west to east from 73 ° east longitude west of Wujia county in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the Pamir Highlands up to 135 ° east longitude at the confluence of the Amur (Heilongjiang) and Ussuri (Usulijiang) rivers; from north to south from 53 ° north latitude from the median line of the Amur (Heilongjiang) River at Mohe to 4 ° of the southern tip of the Nanshaqundao archipelago at Cape Zengmuansha.

The coast of the country is washed in the east and southeast by the waters of the Bohai Gulf, the Yellow, East China, South China Seas and the Gulf of Tonkin.

There are 5,400 islands in China's vast offshore area. The largest of them are Taiwan - 36 thousand km2 and Hainan - 34 thousand km2. The length of the continent's coastline is 18 thousand km. In its northern part, it forms the Liaodong Peninsula (Liaoning Province) and the Shandong Peninsula (Shandong Province), and in the southern part opposite the Hainan Island - the Leizhou Peninsula (Guangdong Province). There are many natural harbors on the basis of which the most important seaports of the country operate - Dalian, Qinghuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang and Beihai.

The length of the land border is 22,800 km. China borders on the DPRK in the northeast (1,416 km); in the north-east and north with the Russian Federation (3605 km and 40 km), in the north with Mongolia (4673 km); in the northwest with Kazakhstan (1533 km) and Kyrgyzstan (858 km); in the west with Tajikistan (414 km), Afghanistan (76 km), Pakistan (523 km); in the southwest and south with India (3380 km); in the south with Nepal (1,236 km), Bhutan (470 km), Myanmar (2,185 km), Laos (423 km) and Vietnam (1281 km). In the east and southeast, China has maritime borders with the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.

There are many lakes in China, their total area is approximately 80,000 km2. Lakes in China can also be divided into external and internal. The external ones include freshwater lakes rich in fish and other aquatic products in the region of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, such as Poyang Hu in Jiangxi Province, an area of \u200b\u200b3583 km2, a depth of 16 m; Dongtinghu in Hunan province, area 2,820 km2, depth 30.8 m; Taihu in Jiangsu province, area 2,425 km2, depth 3.33 m, as well as Lake Xingkai (Hanka) in Heilongjiang province on the border with the Russian Federation, total area 4,500 km2 (1/3 is located on Chinese territory), depth 10 m. internal include salt lakes, the largest of which is Qinghai in the province of the same name, an area of \u200b\u200b4583 km2, depth 32.8 m. Among the internal lakes there are many dry ones, such as Lop Nor.

The plains of northeastern China consist of the Sanjiang lowland, located along the lower reaches of the Songhua River between the Amur and Ussuri, and another vast lowland located in its northern part along the middle course of the Songhua River and in the southern part along the course of another large northeast river, the Liaohe. They are connected to each other by the narrow valley of the Songhua River and together form the Songliao Plain. This plain extends to the Liaodong Bay and is connected there with the country's largest Great Plain of China. The Great Plain of China stretches from the Great Wall of China in the north to the Yangtze River in the south.

Austria is a small state located in the territory of Central Europe. A country that has a great past and an even more interesting future, as Austria is one of the richest countries in the world, where more than 20 million tourists come every year.

Population

Austria is a state with a population of 8,404,252 people. About 98 percent are Austrians themselves. The rest is occupied by Hungarians, Slovenes, Czechs, Roma and Croats. Since 1970, the population growth of Austrians began to fall, as the birth rate fell, but life expectancy increased markedly. The main language spoken by Austrians is German. But it is very different from literary German. Most Austrians (73.6 percent according to the 2001 census) consider themselves Catholic.

Culture

The culture of Austria, like the country itself, is really special. The reason for this is the intertwining of history and modernity, as well as the fact that the culture itself was formed under the influence of several neighboring states. Austria is developed in technological progress, but it does not forget its traditional culture, which is more and more vividly reflected in architecture, music and painting.

If you visit the territory of the Danube lowland, you can see large villages where they are engaged in agriculture. And if you look into the mountainous regions, you can see houses that are built of stone from below, and from a tree above. Really interesting. You can feel the whole atmosphere of the past.

Although folk costumes are not worn in everyday life, they are not forgotten during important events. As for the costume itself, it is made of homespun cloth.

Women's clothing: White jacket with puffy sleeves. There is a bodice and a fluffy skirt on which there are huge aprons.
Men's clothing: White shirt, leather pants (short), jacket and always a hat with a feather.

Austrian cuisine is different, but special in its own way. For example, dairy products prevail in the Alpine regions. In the Danube region, more flour is used.

Austria is still famous for its folk dances, one of which resembles a Viennese waltz.

Austria is a really interesting country that will not make any traveler or tourist bored.

Option 2

The history of Austria is rooted in the distant past, and its ethnic composition has undergone many changes during the formation of the state. Historians have established that one of the first peoples who inhabited the territory of modern Austria were the Celts, who founded in the II century. BC. Kingdom of Norik (the area between the upper Danube and the Drava). Thanks to allied relations with the Romans during the era of the Roman Empire, the local population gradually became more and more diverse. By the end of the 5th century. AD under the onslaught of neighboring Germanic tribes, the Romans were forced to leave the Coastal Norik. This event marked the beginning of the Germanic period in the history of Austria, which had a significant impact on its culture and language.

The territory of modern Austria is located in the center, or, as the Austrians themselves like to say, in the heart of Europe and has no access to the sea. The largest (approx. 89%) ethnographic group in Austria is the German-speaking Austrians who speak the Austro-Bavarian dialect. In addition to Austrians, immigrants from neighboring countries (the former Yugoslavia, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic) and immigrants (mostly Turks) also live here. The population of Austria as of 2013 is 8.47 million people.

The culture of Austria is closely intertwined with the culture of Germany, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic and represents a kind of synergy of all four cultures. In the Middle Ages, the cultural landmark of Austria remained hidden in the shadows, but with the beginning of the New Age, it began to shine. She showed herself especially vividly in music: in the XVIII-XIX centuries. Vienna was considered the capital of European classical music (thanks in large part to the Vienna Opera and such outstanding composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven and many others).

As for the Austrian holidays, they are quite diverse. Most of them are related to religious themes (for example, Christmas, Epiphany, Catholic Easter, All Saints' Day, etc.), but Austrians also like to celebrate carnivals, and each region has its own way.

It is worth mentioning the Austrian cuisine, because it has also not been spared by the influence of neighboring cultures. Desserts are very popular in this country. Traditional desserts are strudel, Sachertorte, Linz cake, etc. Their main meal is lunch, so they have a very satisfying high-calorie meal consisting of soup, a second course of meat, a side dish and salad.

The culture of Austria is colorful and multifaceted, thanks to the unique historical development, it has absorbed the best features of various countries and transformed them into something new, its own, which today is considered natively Austrian, and this cannot but surprise.

Grade 3 The world around

Cigarettes and tobacco in general have a huge negative impact on the human body. Although many do not believe that smoking has serious consequences, scientists have long proven that it is not.

The plant with an unusual mysterious name, dream-grass, is a beautiful flower. He also has other names: Lumbago or Anemone open. A flower emerges in the buttercup family

Greece is of interest to almost any person. Someone is interested in the history of Ancient Hellas, someone aspires to this country, considering it the cradle of Orthodoxy, and some tourists, and they seem to be the majority, just want to relax in the beautiful beach Greek resorts. More than 15 million tourists from around the world visit Greece every year.

In the 5th century BC, Greece was the center of the oecumene, the undisputed leader in the arts, architecture, science, mathematics, philosophy, theater and literature. Now Greece is famous for its amazing landscape, natural beauty, numerous historical monuments, as well as beautiful beach resorts.

Geography of Greece

Greece is located in southeastern Europe. In the east and northeast, Greece borders with Turkey, in the north - with Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, in the south it is washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - the Ionian, and in the east - the Aegean Sea.

The total area of \u200b\u200bGreece is almost 132 thousand square kilometers, including islands (approximately 20% of the territory of Greece is islands), and the total length of the state border is 1 228 km.

A significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains. The highest of them is the famous Mount Olympus in Thessaly (2,917 m).

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest Greek islands are Crete in the Mediterranean and Euboea in the Aegean.

Capital

The capital of Greece is the ancient city of Athens, which is now home to more than 5 million people. This city was founded about 3,500 years ago.

Official language of Greece

The official language of Greece is Greek, which is a branch of Indo-European languages. The first archaeological evidence for the existence of the Greek language dates back to the 15th century BC.

Religion

About 97% of the Greek population consider themselves Orthodox Christians, belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. According to a Eurostat survey, 81% of Greeks believe that “God exists”.

State structure

Greece is a parliamentary republic in which the President is the head of state (elected by Parliament). The current Greek Constitution was adopted relatively long ago, in 1975.

Legislative power in this country belongs to a unicameral Parliament (300 deputies).

The main political parties are the liberal New Democracy, the leftist Pan-Greek Social Movement, the Coalition of the Radical Left, the People's Orthodox Call, and the Communist Party of Greece.

Climate and weather

In the coastal regions of Greece (Athens, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, the Peloponnese and part of Central Hellas), a Mediterranean climate prevails (winters are mild and humid, and summers are dry and hot).

In the mountainous regions of northwestern Greece (some of Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly and Western Macedonia), as well as in the mountainous part of the Peloponnese, including Achaia, Arcadia and Laconia, the climate is alpine with heavy snowfalls.

In the interior of central Greece, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the climate is temperate.

In July, the average air temperature in Athens is + 28.7C, on the island of Corfu - + 27.8C, and on the island of Rhodes - 26.8C.

Sea in Greece

Greece is washed by the Ionian (in the west), Mediterranean (in the south) and the Aegean (in the east) seas. The total coastline is about 17,000 km. The coastal areas (up to 50 km from the coast) are home to about 85% of the population of all Greece.

Sea water in Greece amazes and surprises all tourists. Its deep blue color is due in part to the reflection of the blue sky and the fact that it does not contain a lot of solids (such as plankton, dirt and dust).

In the Greek seas, there are about 450 species of fish and 12 species of cetaceans.

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest of these are Crete in the Ionian Sea, Euboea in the Aegean Sea, and Corfu in the Ionian Sea.

Average sea temperature in Greece:

january - + 15C
february - + 14C
march - + 14С
april - + 15C
may - + 18С
june - + 22C
july - + 24C
august - + 25C
september - + 23C
october - + 21C
november - + 19С
december - + 16C

The average water temperature near Crete in May is + 19C, in August - + 25C, and in October - + 23C.

Rivers and lakes of Greece

Despite the fact that a significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains, this country also has many rivers. In ancient times, the Greeks believed that rivers belonged to the world of gods and worshiped them as separate deities.

The largest rivers in Greece are Alyakmon (297 km), Acheloos (217 km), and Mesta (230 km).

Perhaps tourists will be interested in the Greek lakes, among which we will single out Trichonis, Volvi, and Vegoritis.

History of Greece

Greece laid the foundation for European civilization. The Greek city-states of Athens, Corinth and Sparta only joined forces when faced with a Persian invasion.

In the 5th century BC. Athens was the political, economic, and, of course, the cultural center of the Mediterranean. Then the dominant role over the Greek lands was given to Sparta, led by Alexander the Great. At this time, the Greeks defeated the Persians and spread their influence over vast territories, up to India.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire. In 395 AD, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Byzantium was formed (the official name is the Eastern Roman Empire), the capital of which was Constantinople (modern Istanbul).

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was abolished, and the territory of modern Greece fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. For the next 350 years, Greece was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

As a result of the liberation war of 1821-1829, Greece finally gained independence. In 1833, Otto of Bavaria became the king of Greece. The monarchy in Greece (from 1863, the Danish royal family ruled the Greeks) lasted until 1973.

After World War II, Greece plunged into civil war until the right-wing monarchists defeated them in 1954. From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by the so-called. "Black colonels".

In 1981, after years of consultations, Greece became a member of the EU.

Culture of Greece

Greek culture begins with the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations (this is an example of 2000 BC). After that, there was a period in the history of Greece that historians call classical. At this time, Greek culture was formed, which began to influence the neighboring peoples. In general, Greece is the birthplace of humanity, and one way or another, Greek culture has influenced a huge number of countries. The successors of Greek culture are Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the culture of Greece was greatly influenced by the Ottoman Empire. But this is understandable, since for about 350 years Greece was just one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

It was in Ancient Greece that science was born. Modern philosophy, mathematics and astronomy are based on the knowledge obtained by the ancient Greeks.

The most famous ancient Greek philosophers are Aristotle, Plato, Diogenes, Cratet of Athens, Diogenes and Socrates.

The most famous ancient Greek mathematicians are Archimedes, Pythagoras, Democritus and Euclid.

The Greeks are very superstitious, they believe not only in God, but also in supernatural powers. Until now, the Greeks take seriously the myths of Ancient Greece. Moreover, every region of Greece, every village, every island has its own superstitions and traditions.

The Greeks will never personally hand over the knife to the person who asks them for it, but will simply put it, for example, on the table. It is believed that if you give someone a knife, then that person will have to fight.

The most popular Greek folk (and very often religious) holidays are Epiphany, Gynecocracy., Tsiknopempti (Meat Thursday), Clean Monday, Annunciation, Good Friday, Easter, Pontic Genocide Memorial Day, Trinity, Polytechnio and Christmas.

If two Greeks say the same word at the same time, they will definitely touch some red object, otherwise, it is believed that they will fight and become enemies. Where did this superstition come from - history is silent.

Greek cuisine

Tourists are definitely advised to visit local restaurants in Greece and enjoy Greek cuisine. The variety of dishes as well as their taste make Greek cuisine unique. A characteristic feature of Greek cuisine is the use of olive oil in absolutely every dish.

Also, the Greeks usually use a lot of vegetables and spices in cooking. However, the spices are quite mild, and there is no need to be afraid of strong spiciness.

We all know Greek salad and moussaka. However, these dishes are just a prelude to authentic Greek cuisine. Each region of Greece, each island has its own dishes and methods of preparation. Therefore, the taste of moussaka in Corfu will be completely different from that of moussaka on the Dedecanese islands.

Tourists in Greece are definitely advised to try Fasolada bean soup, shrimps fried in butter, souvlaki (kebabs on wooden sticks), Greek fish fillet, flatbread with meat, potatoes and tomato “gyro”, “fritta” from vegetables with dzaziki sauce, as well as kakavia fish soup.

Ancient Greeks considered wine to be the drink of the gods, and in modern Greece this alcoholic drink is very popular. True, the ancient Greeks diluted their wine with spring water, while the modern Greeks for some reason forgot this, in general, a very useful tradition.

The most famous Greek spirits are tsipuro (also called tsikudya or raki), with a strength of 38-47% alcohol, ouzo (anise vodka with a strength of 40% alcohol), and Metaxa brandy.

Sights of greece

Greece ranks 1st in the world in terms of the number of attractions (in second and third places are Italy and Bulgaria, respectively). Therefore, we will highlight, in our opinion, ten of the best attractions in Greece, although in fact there are many more.

Top 10 best attractions in Greece:

Cities and resorts

The largest Greek cities are Athens, Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion.

The coastline in Greece is 13,676 kilometers, which means that there are a huge number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, which are surrounded by cliffs with pine and palm trees.

The most popular beach resorts in Greece are Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Chania and the Halkidiki peninsula.

Souvenirs / shopping

Greek shoes (in particular, handmade sandals).
Gold jewelry.
Folk talismans that "ward off the evil eye."
Bouzuki (baglama) is a small stringed musical instrument.
CDs with Greek folk music.
Olives, olive oil.
Greek cheese.
Kitchen utensils.
Alcoholic drinks - ouzo, tsipuro (tsikudya or raki) and Metaxa brandy.

Opening hours of institutions

Bank opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 08: 30-14.30
Fri: 08: 30-14.00

Banks on the larger islands are usually open in the afternoons to serve tourists.

Shops in Greece are open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am (in summer from 8:30 am)

Visa

The Russian people are representatives of the East Slavic ethnos, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population of the Russian Federation), the largest ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora numbers about 30 million people and it is concentrated in such states as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, in the countries of the 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 particular religion. The national language of the Russian people is Russian.

Each country and its people have their own meaning in the modern world, the concepts of folk culture and history of the nation, their formation and development are very important. Each nation and its culture are unique in their own way, the color and uniqueness of each nation should not be lost or dissolve in assimilation with other nations, the younger generation should always remember who they really are. For Russia, which is a multinational power and home for 190 peoples, the issue of national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that in recent years its erasure is especially noticeable against the background of the 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, the breadth of the soul and the strength of the spirit. But the national culture is formed by people, it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.

One of the distinguishing features of the Russian people has always been and is simplicity, in former times Slavic houses and property were very often plundered and completely destroyed, hence the simplified attitude to everyday life. And of course, these trials, which fell to the lot of the long-suffering Russian people, only hardened their character, made them stronger and taught them to get out of any life situations with their heads held high.

Kindness can be called another trait that prevails in the character of the Russian ethnos. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when "they feed, and give, and put to sleep." A unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, which are very rare in other peoples of the world, all this is fully manifested in the very breadth of the Russian soul.

Diligence is another of the main traits of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both her love for work and her enormous potential, and her laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov's novel). But all the same, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact, against which it is difficult to object. And no matter how 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 “highlight” will forever remain a secret for 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 far past with the present. Some of them are rooted in the pagan past of the Russian people, even before the baptism of Russia, little by little their sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been 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 associated with a more isolated lifestyle of urban residents.

A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life (this is matchmaking, and wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). Carrying out ancient ceremonies and rituals guaranteed a successful and happy life in the future, the health of descendants and the general well-being of the family.

(Colorized snapshot of a Russian family in the early 20th century)

For a long time, Slavic families were distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already married, remained to live in their own home, the head of the family was a father or an older brother, they all had to obey and unquestioningly fulfill all their orders. Usually wedding celebrations were held either in the fall, after the harvest, or in the winter after the Epiphany (January 19). Then the first week after Easter, the so-called "Red Hill", was considered a very good time for a wedding. The wedding itself was preceded by a matchmaking rite, 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 the bride was held (acquaintance of the future newlyweds), then there was a ceremony of conspiracy and mating (the parents decided on the dowry and the date of the wedding festivities ).

The rite of baptism in Russia was also interesting and unique, the child had to be baptized immediately after birth, for this, godparents were chosen, who would be responsible for the life and well-being of the godson throughout their lives. At one year old, the baby was seated on the inside of a sheep's sheepskin coat and sheared, cutting off a cross on the crown, with such a meaning that impure forces would not be able to penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a little grown godson must bring kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds) to the godparents, and they, in turn, must present him with 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 the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, going back centuries and keeping the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rituals and sacraments. And to this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to the signs and age-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.

Major folk holidays:

Christmas January 7th
Christmastide January 6 - 9
Epiphany January 19
Maslenitsa from 20 to 26 February

Forgiveness Sunday ( before the onset of Lent)
Palm Sunday ( sunday preceding Easter)
Easter ( the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conditional vernal equinox on March 21)
Red hill ( first Sunday after Easter)

Trinity ( sunday Pentecost - 50th day after Easter)
Ivan Kupala 7 july
Day of Peter and Fevronia July 8
Ilyin's day August 2

Honey Savior 14 august
Apple Spas August 19
Third (Khlebny) Spas August 29
Cover 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 kindled near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive Old Russian robes lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths go down the stream, hoping to find their soul mate.

Maslenitsa is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Great Lent. For a very long time, Shrovetide was rather 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 changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes remained, exciting winter entertainment appeared: sledding and horse-drawn sledding downhill, a straw effigy of Winter was burned, a relative went to pancakes all through the Shrovetide week, sometimes to the mother-in-law, then to the sister-in-law, the atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere , various theatrical and puppet performances with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters were held on the streets. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Shrovetide was fist fights, in which the male population participated, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of "war effort", testing them for courage, courage 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, are reopened to society in the modern world and rethought by it. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve, because the main dish of the festive table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge "sochivo", consisting of boiled cereals sprinkled 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 the same table, ate a festive meal and gave each other gifts. 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmastide, earlier at this time girls in Russia held various gatherings with fortune telling and rituals to attract grooms.

Bright Easter has long been considered a great holiday in Russia, which people associated with the day of general equality, forgiveness and mercy. On the eve of Easter celebrations, Russian women usually bake cakes (festive Easter bread) and Easter, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to 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 threefold kiss and exchange of festive Easter eggs.

The country's population (estimated in 1995) is about 125,879,000 people (seventh in the world), with an average density of about 334 people per square kilometer (also one of the first places in the world; for comparison, in the USA it is 28 people per square kilometer, and in the UK 238). Ethnic groups: Japanese -99%, Koreans - 0.5%, Chinese, Ainu. Over 100 years, the population of Japan has increased by 3 times. Average life expectancy (1992): 77 years - men, 82 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) - 10. The death rate (per 1000 people) - 7. In the NP per capita: 32,640 US dollars. Language: Japanese (state), many Japanese speak English. Japanese is very specific and is not included in any linguistic group. Religion: Shinto (a religious movement in which there are about 200 sects), Buddhism, Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy); almost all Japanese are Shintoists, however, most Shintoists also profess Buddhism. The capital is Tokyo. Most Japanese people live in overcrowded cities located on the coastal plains. The metropolitan regions of Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo are among the most populated in the world. These cities have subways. The islands are connected between themselves by underwater tunnels, ferries and bridges. In order to save space, the Japanese invented the so-called "capsule rooms", in which only one sleeping place is located. Hotels with such rooms are much cheaper than ordinary hotels, and they are used by businessmen who come for a short time on business. Over the past decades, the nature of the natural movement of the population has changed dramatically. Japan became the first state in Asia to switch from the second to the first type of population reproduction. This “demographic revolution” happened in very short lines. It was the result of socio-economic transformations in Japanese society, advances in education and health care. Japan is the country with the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. State demographic policy also had a great influence. The ratio of men and women in the Japanese population is almost equal to one. In recent years, the process of "aging" of the population, as a result of declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy, has become an acute problem in Japan. This process is happening here much faster than in other developed capitalist countries. The growth rate of the economically active population in Japan (which includes people 15 years of age and older, employed in public labor, as well as the unemployed) decreased due to a decrease in the inflow of young people, which in turn was associated with a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in the time required to obtain education ... The unemployment rate in Japan is currently much lower than in other advanced capitalist countries. In Japan, it is the highest among men, mainly of middle and older age. The aggravation of the problem of employment of the population was caused by the accelerated transformation of the production structure and the growth of technical equipment of production. The Japanese state took a number of measures: through tax incentives, it encouraged private companies to create new jobs, retrain their workers, use part-time labor, attract capital to areas where there was a surplus of labor. In addition, the state allocated its own funds to ensure the priority creation of enterprises in labor-surplus areas, and also took on the costs of moving labor from areas with surplus labor, labor, where there is a shortage of labor. On the whole, this government policy has proven to be very effective, and the Japanese desire for knowledge deserves special attention. There are about 50 universities in the country (more than in the whole of Western Europe). The capital is home to the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts and Music, theaters and libraries. From the very early age, children are taught curiosity and interest in nature. Firms sponsor the education of their employees' children, provide housing, vacations and medical care for their employees. The high intensity of work, where every minute is valued, is combined with mandatory group sessions to improve the quality of the manufactured product, as well as obligatory trips of all employees of the company to some healing thermal source or to an area famous for a particularly beautiful landscape. Japan has long been respectful of nature. To admire flowers has become a national tradition. The cherry blossom (sakura) festival is the most beautiful national holiday. One of the most common Japanese traditions is to recreate nature in miniature - either in the form of a very small, dwarf garden at home, or in the form of a kind of small landscape. Japanese steadfastly adhere to traditional family rituals, the observance of which is considered a prerequisite for decency and dignified social behavior. Wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto shrines. Cultural artistic and everyday traditions include: ikebana - the art of making bouquets and arranging flowers and tree branches in vases, bansai - growing bonsai, calligraphy - beautiful brush and ink writing, music, painting on paper and silk , original temple and landscape architecture, shadow theater, tea ceremonies, women's clothing, kimono, heavyweight sumo wrestling, judo, karate, chopsticks, and also a specific cuisine. Among the most important traditions are the veneration of the elders, the conclusion of marriages by agreement of parents, belief in numerous omens, the rite of meditation, the use of various calendar systems, an abundance of official public holidays (including children's day, the day of adulthood, the days of the spring and autumn equinox, various kinds of festivals). With the exception of a few modern galleries in major cities, they are treasures and are located in temples and shrines. The most famous of this kind is the Myohoin Temple in Kyoto. Tokyo is also home to numerous museums, including: the largest art museum in the country, the National Museum; Museum of Calligraphy; National Museum of Western Art; Museum of Japanese Folk Art, Meiji Shrine Treasury Museum; National Science Museum. Among the historical and architectural sights of Japan, one can note in Tokyo - the Imperial Palace; many Buddhist temples, the main among which is the Rakanji temple; Tokyo TV Tower, 333 meters high; the zoo, in Kobe - a large number of Christian churches and Buddhist temples; a magnificent art museum in Kyoto (the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868) - more than 2000 ancient temples and shrines; 24 museums; Nijo Castle; imperial palace; Katsura palace; ancient imperial tombs; magnificent gardens and parks, in Nagoya - Nagoya Castle (1612): the two main and oldest shrines of Shinto - Atsuta and Isya.