Russian people: culture, traditions and customs. The mysterious Russian soul - what is it like

One of the founders of classical Russian literature, S. T. Aksakov, begins his "Family Chronicle" with the words: "It became crowded for my grandfather to live in the Simbirsk province ..." Around the same time, M. Yu. Lermontov in "Prayer" asked for forgiveness from God for the fact that "the earthly world is small for me." Closely Russian people because of its breadth. "A man is wide, too wide, I would narrow it down," says the hero of F. M. Dostoevsky, Dmitry Karamazov. The natural cause of the breadth of the Russian character is the Russian space itself, the breadth of the Great Russian Plain. This explanation may seem incredibly simplistic if not based on the principle of the unity of man and nature.

The role of natural conditions in the formation of the Russian national character has always been emphasized. Geographer V. A. Anuchin in the book "The Geographical Factor in the Development of Society" (M 1982) wrote: "Geographic expanses ... played a peculiar, but always significant role in the history of Russia." Then the words of Gogol: "What prophesies this vast expanse, is it here, is it not possible for you to be born an infinite thought, when you yourself are without end?" - will be accepted as normal. Then the notorious laziness, the dialectical complement of which is endurance, can be explained by "a climate that allowed full-fledged agricultural work for only four or five, maximum (in the southernmost regions) six months," writes V. V. Kozhinov. Meanwhile, in the main countries of the West, this agricultural season lasted eight to nine months. "The brevity of the period of the main activity (it lasted, in fact, less than a third of the year: from "Irina Rassadnitsa", May 5, according to the old style, to the "third Savior" - August 16, "dozhinki") contributed to the "vagrancy" ... of the Russian people , but, on the other hand, it gave rise to the habit of short-lived, extreme exertion," concludes Kozhinov.

The breadth of the Russian national character- the same objective property as the width of the Volga or the area of ​​the Great Russian Plain. How to treat this is a question of value. Dmitry Karamazov believed that "it would be necessary to narrow it down", while someone else, on the contrary, is inclined to admire this. However, one and the same person is capable of admiring a tyrant and considering himself an anarchist at the same time, dreaming of a strong hand and longing for freedom.

"Russian man is a child of space, a man of freedom and will," says contemporary writer Vladimir Lichutin. Therefore, a strong government in Russia is necessary to preserve the nation. “I praise the autocracy, not liberal ideas; that is, I praise the stove in the winter in the northern climate,” wrote Η. M. Karamzin. The Russian man himself, in order to overcome his desire for will, has humility and long-suffering. It has to do with climate. Life in the North requires patience. We must endure a long winter and hardships. The landscape and climate of Russia explain the breadth, longsuffering, humility, endurance, laziness, the ability to make an incredible effort in short period, unpretentiousness, catholicity (one cannot survive). All the main qualities of the Russian character are explained by the conditions of its existence.

We find one more observation about the connection between nature and character from A. S. Suvorin: "... we got used to the convulsions the sooner that our seasons do not gradually pass into each other, as in Europe, namely convulsively. Spring comes convulsively , convulsively winter fetters nature. Convulsions formed and convulsions acted Ostrovsky's petty tyrants. “We are in a hurry, then we are slow, but there is no even step in us,” adds S. P. Shevyrev.

Latitude is associated with non-attachment to everyday life, home, society: "The type of wanderer is so characteristic of Russia ... The wanderer is the most free man on earth ... The greatness of the Russian people and their calling to higher life concentrated in the wanderer type. Russia is a fantastic country of spiritual intoxication ... a country of impostors and Pugachevism - a country rebellious and terrible in its spontaneity.

In Russian literature, the type of "superfluous person" and just drunkards are common. Drunkenness at all levels of the social ladder acts as a way out of this world. The bum is the same "enchanted wanderer" in modern form. Contemporary art is just as ready to poeticize him as N. S. Leskov.

The striving for the infinite in the Russian national character was well described by V. G. Belinsky: "Without striving for the infinite, there is no life, no development, no progress." N. O. Lossky spoke about the thirst for the infinite breadth of life. According to VV Kozhinov, "Russians are not even a 'subject', but an 'element'". Inconsistency, disregard for the law, a thirst for destruction, drunkenness are associated with the breadth of character.

In the famous Russian pity for criminals, there is the same approval of national latitude. The criminal steps over prohibition, goes "outside the flags", speaking philosophically transcends itself and society. Blessed Augustine in his "Confessions" was tormented by the fact that in his childhood he climbed into someone else's garden for pears. Raskolnikov is worried that he cannot commit a crime, and in the end he admits that he "wanted to kill." AT modern Russia until recently, the profession of a killer was one of the most prestigious. Despite the fact that most crimes are not investigated and disclosed, about 1 million people are in prisons. The number of law enforcement officers in various public and private offices is several times greater. The number of internal troops is comparable to the size of the army.

The Russian man submits to discipline, and therefore it is easy to control him. But he has no inner sense of order, and therefore, when the outer reins are weakened, he cannot maintain discipline himself. This is both the strength of the Russian state and its weakness.

The lack of measure, moderation, unwillingness to be satisfied not only with the middle, but also with one direction for a long time is also associated with breadth. Either they were building communism, or they suddenly wanted to return to capitalism. "AT human soul, - wrote K. D. Balmont, - two principles: a sense of proportion and a sense of the extra-dimensional, a sense of the immeasurable. "In the Russian soul, the second clearly prevails. "We have no middle ground: either in the snout or the pen, please!" Saltykov-Shchedrin. "The Russian spirit knows no middle ground: either everything or nothing - that is its motto" (this is already S. L. Frank). From all sides they talk about the importance of a sense of proportion and the golden mean: Confucius in the East, Aristotle - in the South, Hegel in the West. But these philosophical trends are shattered against the elemental cliffs of the Russian national character. The golden mean of moderate peoples is opposed by Russian immensity, and state oppression in Russia is an attempt to limit the Russian desire to surpass all permissible limits.

Characteristic is the remark of the French ambassador Maurice Padeodog: “There are no excesses that a Russian man or a Russian woman would not be capable of, as soon as they decide to “assert their free personality” ... Oh, as I understand the staff of Ivan the Terrible and the club of Peter the Great.” “When you compare a Russian person with a Western one, you are struck by his indeterminacy, inexpediency, lack of goans, openness to infinity,” concludes N. A. Berdyaev.

From latitude come such characteristics as integrity and duality. Preserved breadth gives integrity, and cracked breadth leads to duality. Russia is a country of extremes, polarities, but these extremes create breadth. The polarity that Berdyaev wrote about is the result of the breadth of the Russian national character, which includes actions that are opposite to their direction. Properties such as Russian laziness and the ability for an incredibly powerful labor effort in a short period of time seem to be opposites, but they combine well even in one person. Let us recall the description of Pechorin in "A Hero of Our Time". BUT epic Ilya Muromets, who lay on the stove for 33 years and then defeated all enemies?!

Out of breadth come the unselfishness of the Russian man and his catholicity. "Providence has created us too great to be selfish," wrote P. Ya. Chaadaev. Hence the self-criticism, which N. I. Skatov calls the true essence of Russian art, up to the rejection of his own, national (only in Russia there is Westerners).

“It was not for nothing that we declared such strength in self-condemnation, which surprised all foreigners,” wrote F. M. Dostoevsky. a more impartial look at oneself is in itself a sign of the greatest peculiarity ... "

"The ideals of Russian literature... were 'beyond'," sums up N. I. Skatov, "they were located behind... all possible visible horizons, behind, so to speak, observable history." V. V. Kozhinov adds: "The infinity of the ideal is inextricably linked with the "ruthlessness of lynching." The unparalleled originality of the most ancient epos of Russia - "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" - is also connected with self-condemnation. This work is not about a victorious battle and not even about a heroic death, but about the tragic humiliation of a hero.

“By nature, you are easily changeable... Our nature is conveniently acceptable for both good and evil,” said St. Macarius the Great, an ascetic of the 4th century, one of the founders of monasticism. Apparently, there is no more changeable person than a Russian. And those achievements of Russian culture, which are called its "golden age", are connected with this. Here is not only breadth, but also depth - the depth of the spirit and the depth of the abyss. In general, we can say that the space of the Russian soul is very large, and hence all its virtues and vices, achievements (including spiritual ones) and omissions.

Breadth in the spiritual sense is characterized by N. A. Berdyaev as "the boundless freedom of the spirit." In philosophical language, breadth means the ability to granscend, to overcome established forms and boundaries. Such an orientation stimulates self-sacrifice - an orientation towards giving, not taking, which is necessary for creativity; maximalism, without which one cannot overcome difficult obstacles. But it is also related to the weakness of form, which Berdyaev wrote about, and which stems from the focus on transcending, not building; with insufficient rationalism, prudence, caution, which limit the craving for granscending. From the lack of rationalism stems the impossibility of understanding Russia with the mind. Logic does not go well with breadth, and rationality does not go well with orientation to "maybe". But it is the Russian national character that is closer to us. Therefore, Ivanushka the Fool, who expresses it, in Russian fairy tales will always turn out to be smarter than his prudent brothers.

Let us say in more detail about other important properties of the Russian national character related to latitude.

† Maximalism as the desire for the fastest achievement of the ideal and focus on it, manifested itself, in particular, in Hilarion and Lenin.

About striving for the ideal, N. A. Berdyaev said this: “The Russian soul does not sit still, it is not a petty-bourgeois soul, not a local soul. In Russia, in the soul of the people, there is some kind of endless search, the search for the invisible Fada of Kitezh, the invisible home. .. The Russian soul burns in a fiery search for truth, absolute, divine truth and salvation for the whole world and the universal resurrection in a new life.It is eternally sad about the grief and suffering of the people and the whole world, and its torment knows no quench... There is rebelliousness, disobedience in the Russian soul, insatiability and dissatisfaction with anything temporary, relative and conditional. Therefore, they chose the most strict religion, and the most rigid ideology.

N. O. Lossky calls the pursuit of the ideal "the search for absolute good." The very name "Holy Russia" testifies to the thirst for the ideal. In this craving for the ideal, the Russian people are truly God-bearing people. From other positions, close to this is the statement that "Russia is like a laboratory of God, in which he experiments on us" (Pavel Lungin). We read about the same in P. Ya. Chaadaev, who believed that the Russian people are outside of history and outside of time. This is true in the sense of striving to jump over history and time into the timelessness and eternity of the ideal. Everything must be done instantly or, at least, in the historically shortest possible time. “The most impossible things are carried out in our country with incredible speed,” A. I. Herzen was surprised. This also affects the ability to concentrate forces as an addition and counterbalance to falling into extremes, characteristic of the Russian people. This is also inherent in the Russian intelligentsia, which, in its “best, heroic part, strove for freedom and truth, incompatible with any statehood” (N. A. Berdyaev).

As L.P. Karsavin noted, “a Russian person does not want to be a “gradualist” and does not know how, dreaming of a sudden upheaval. only the remoteness of his ideal, and he immediately loses all desire to live and act. For the sake of the ideal, he is ready to give up everything, sacrifice everything; having doubted the ideal or its close feasibility, he is an example of unheard-of bestiality or mythical indifference to everything.

A well-fed, moderately measured life is not for a Russian. Inspired by some ideal, he can work dozens, hundreds of times more intensively than usual, but without an ideal, he works through a stump-deck. How are the passivity, laziness, contemplation of the Russian people that have set the teeth on edge related to the desire for an ideal? It is worth thinking about this, if you do not agree with Karsavin, that "primordial, organic passivity stands in connection with the striving for the absolute, which is somehow more clearly perceived through the haze of slumber that envelops concrete reality." A Russian person is seduced by everything that goes beyond the framework, as leading to the ideal. The Russian does not like the law as an element of normal life. He needs an ideal. Moral attitudes are justified by them only absolute and in themselves have no meaning ("if there is no God, then everything is permitted"). But if there is no absolute, “the norms of morality and law lose all meaning, because nothing exists for a Russian person outside of relation to the absolute,” concludes L.P. Karsavin.

Some cautionary voices were ignored. "Not a complete and universal triumph of love and universal truth on this earth is promised to us by Christ and his apostles, but, on the contrary, something like an apparent failures evangelical preaching on the globe ... "- wrote K. N. Leontiev in the article "On Universal Love" (1880). "But the ideal will always remain an ideal: humanity can approach it, never reaching it" (E. Hartmann This is the origin of the tragedy of a Russian person. His desire is not destined to come true; there remain longing, sadness, drunkenness and anger. Therefore, in a Russian person, not only Kitezh, but also Inonia, because only in one Russian soul can such contradictions coexist. "I'm nothing I don’t know more terrible than this combination of completely sincere piety with a natural inclination to crime,” wrote A. I. Kuprin.

The Russian is a man of extremes. This is manifested in the antinomy of the properties of the Russian soul, which, in contrast to the four main ones, which may not be realized, lie on the surface of mental life: patience - impulsiveness, passivity - enthusiasm, gullibility - alertness, laziness - obsession with work. This series, which can be easily continued, gave G. P. Fedotov reason to speak of two different types of Russian people. Individuals may, of course, differ in their ideals, justifying Dmitri Karamazov's exclamation about the breadth of the Russian man. Common, however, is the focus on the ideal as a deep motive for the behavior of Russian people.

V. V. Kozhinov noted extremism characteristic of Russians. However, the fact that all the peoples who lived as part of Russia have survived indicates the absence of an aggressive beginning among the Russians.

† messianism- another fundamental feature of the Russian character, closely related to maximalism. This is the belief that it is precisely the Russian person who is most capable of gaining earthly or heavenly grace: either because his faith is the most true, or because he belongs to the advanced stratum of society. Speaking about the connection between the desire for an ideal and messianism, N. A. Berdyaev noted: "Russian messianism relies primarily on Russian wandering, wandering and searching ... on Russians who do not have their own city, who seek the city of the future."

Messianic the person to whom he refers the first Christians and most of the Slavs, Walter Schubart contrasts the person Prometheus those. western.

"The messianic man is not inspired by a thirst for power, but by a mood of reconciliation and love. He does not divide in order to rule, but seeks the divided in order to reunite it. He is not driven by feelings of suspicion or hatred, he is full of deep trust in the essence of things. He sees in people not enemies, but brothers, and in the world there is not prey to be thrown at, but rough matter to be illuminated and sanctified. He is haunted by the desire for the all-encompassing and the desire to make it visible and tangible."

Russian religious philosophy, Russian cosmism, and even Russian atheistic philosophy went in this direction.

They warn that messianism is dangerous by exalting one's own nation, but, as noted Albert Camus: "Every self-sacrifice is messianism." Self-sacrifice is the highest degree of morality.

E. N. Trubetskoy believed that the Russian idea should not be identified with one of its specific forms - Orthodoxy, as the Slavophiles did, although it was precisely in the desire of Russian Orthodoxy for the ideal that the reason for this confusion. As N. A. Berdyaev emphasized, one of the differences of Russian Orthodoxy is that it is focused on eschatology, on striving for the Kingdom of God. In announcing the collapse of Christian messianism, Trubetskoy underestimated the fact that the national spirit would sooner abandon its form than its essential features. And now messianism arose in a new form - as the worldwide mission of the Russian proletariat, which Trubetskoy, making his report "Old and New Messianism" in 1912, did not notice. He objected to the announcement of the Russian "all-man", the idea that the universal and truly Russian are one and the same, as F. M. Dostoevsky and V. S. Solovyov thought. But there are reasons for this: the desire for the common good is a property of the Russian national character.

† All-humanity. The Russian man is not satisfied with the grace received from above alone. He carries it to all people, watching over the interests of others as if they were his own. Only in ecumenical catholicity can a Russian person feel complete happiness. The conviction that it was Russia that was called upon to bring happiness to the whole world permeated Russian Christian ascetics such as Stephen of Perm and Russian pilots who fought in the skies of Spain in 1936. his national spirit," wrote N. A. Berdyaev.

In the famous "Pushkin Speech" F. M. Dostoevsky for the first time formulated this feature of the Russian national character: "To become a real Russian, to become completely Russian, perhaps, it only means ... to become a brother of all people," all-human ", if you like." The "universal responsiveness" about which Dostoevsky spoke reveals the craving of a Russian person for the happiness of all people.

“This is the Russian idea that individual salvation is impossible, that salvation is communitarian, that everyone is responsible for everyone,” wrote N. A. Berdyaev. And further: "The Russians thought that Russia was a very special country, with a special vocation. But the main thing was not Russia itself, but what Russia brings to the world, first of all - the brotherhood of people and freedom of spirit."

The Russian is tormented by all the passions of the world, because he is above his personal passions. Hence the "world sorrow" A. II. Chekhov and Russian sadness, for which Friedrich Nietzsche gave all Western contentment.

"Russia is the most non-chauvinist country in the world. Nationalism in our country always gives the impression of something non-Russian, superficial, some kind of German... Russians are almost ashamed of being Russians; national pride is alien to them, and often even - alas! - alien to national dignity... Supernationalism, universalism is the same essential property of the Russian national spirit as statelessness, anarchism," concludes N. A. Berdyaev.

Inhumanity as a national trait is not identical to cosmopolitanism as a separation from the popular soil. F. M. Dostoevsky wrote that the most national Russian strength of Pushkin was expressed in universal responsiveness, “it was precisely the nationality of his poetry that was expressed ... For what is the strength of the spirit of the Russian nationality, if not its striving in its ultimate goals for universality and for all-humanity?”

It was believed that thanks to all-humanity, the Russians would save the world. But why not consider another possibility: because of their all-humanity, the Russians themselves will perish. Now this is a very likely outcome, given current demographic trends.

† self-sacrifice. Belief in the possibility of universal happiness and focus on it, the conviction that it was Russia that would lead the whole world to it, gave rise to readiness for incredible efforts to achieve this goal.

As P. A. Sorokin noted, “the growth of the Russian nation, the gain of independence and sovereignty could be achieved only as a result of the deepest devotion, love and readiness of its representatives to sacrifice their lives, destinies and other values ​​in the name of saving their Motherland in critical periods of its history.. The Russians made gigantic sacrifices voluntarily and freely, and not under pressure or coercion from the tsarist and Soviet governments."

N.A. Berdyaev associated the propensity for self-sacrifice with the femininity of the Russian soul: “Passive, receptive femininity in relation to state power is so characteristic of the Russian people and Russian history ... Russian statelessness is not the conquest of freedom for oneself, but the surrender of oneself, freedom from activity". Within the framework of self-sacrifice is also what Vyacheslav Ivanov wrote about the love of descent characteristic of the Russian intelligentsia.

"Love for descent, manifested in all these images of subversion, both positive and negative, love, so opposed to the unceasing will to ascent, which we observe in all pagan nations and in all those who have emerged from the world-embracing bosom of the Roman state, constitutes a distinctive feature of our popular psychology. Only we have a true will to the all-people organic, affirmed in hatred of the culture of isolated elevations and achievements, in its conscious and unconscious belittling, in the need to abandon or destroy what has been achieved and descend from the heights conquered by a person or group to all ... In terms of religious thought, descent is the action of love and the sacrificial bringing down of the divine light into the darkness of the lower sphere, seeking enlightenment.

The essence of the Russian intellectual (and the first Russian intellectual, according to Berdyaev, A. N. Radishchev) was the talent of compassion, and not high intelligence, as one might think, the talent to understand and sympathize with the suffering of others.

The Russian people, continues V.I. Ivanov, are ready to die, because they yearn for the resurrection. "Because ( feature of our religiosity) in Russia alone, the Bright Resurrection is truly a holiday of holidays and a triumph of celebrations. "Christianity is close to Russia by the realization of the ideal and suffering in the name of it. V. I. Ivanov expressed the Russian idea rather poetically than logically, but no less accurately than V. S. Solovyov.

Russian people are poor - not only in the sense of a poor life, but also in the sense that they live at God; not for himself, but for God, not thinking about his own material prosperity, dignity and rights of the individual, or about the rational structure of society, forgetting himself for others and, above all, for the ideal. Self-sacrifice is an integral part of love, which I. A. Ilyin considered a distinctive feature of the Russian idea, and the object of love is the ideal.

Self-sacrifice as a psychological feature can be considered both positively and negatively, because "every dignity causes some kind of disadvantage." This trait is ethically neutral, but can lead to various consequences. In a diseased state of a person, it leads to masochism, and it is not for nothing that Sacher-Masoch made the main character of his sensational novel Venus in Furs a Slav, and Sigmund Freud concluded that Russians are prone to masochism. In a morally exalted state, self-sacrifice leads to asceticism and foolishness, for which Orthodoxy became famous, and to revolutionary and labor enthusiasm, kindled in Soviet times.

Slavophiles spoke of humility, patience and love inherent in Russians. Humility and patience are manifested in the ability to sacrifice for the sake of a great goal. Giving yourself to this goal is love in its highest dimension. According to I. A. Ilyin, the Russian idea asserts that the main thing in life is love, and the Russian-Slavic soul historically accepted this idea from Christianity. Love is the main spiritual and creative force of the Russian soul and Russian history. Civilizing surrogates for love (duty, discipline, formal loyalty, the hypnosis of outward law-abidingness) in themselves are not very characteristic of Russians, he believed.

We can consider that love is a more or less accidental event in the life of an individual. But, as Erich Fromm rightly believed, love is a character trait, an attitude, an orientation of a person's character, which determines the person's attitude to the world as a whole, and not to just one "object" of love. Therefore, it may, to a greater or lesser extent, be inherent in a given person and a given people.

According to Fromm, "love is a connection that presupposes the preservation of the integrity of the personality, its individuality. Love is an effective force in a person, a force that destroys the barrier between a person and his fellows, a force that unites him with others; love helps a person overcome feelings of loneliness and despair and at the same time, it allows him to remain himself, to preserve his integrity.

"Love," emphasizes Fromm, "is the greatest and most difficult achievement of mankind." The inclination to love and the ability to love are more connected with the feminine principle, and this also explains the name of the Russian feminine soul. Love is not a property of law, but of grace. "Holy Russia" - because God is love, and love - not reasoning, but sacrificing itself - is a property of the Russian soul. Who does not see this love, he notices only slavery, humility, longsuffering, which are also associated with self-sacrifice.

To live for others is on the verge of human possibilities. It is difficult to be in perfect interaction with others. Hence quarrelsomeness, uncompromisingness, anger and dissatisfaction with oneself. In our claims to others, there is not a desire for profit for ourselves, but an offended idea of ​​​​justice. To live for others, you need a great idea, ideal and universal. However universal has the danger of falling into a totalitarian, and perfect makes you neglect the material conditions of life.

In a Russian person, unlike the Western one, there is less earthly and there is no orientation towards one's own personality. Nor is it in the East. What is the specificity of the Russian character? Just as there are fundamental differences between the Western and Eastern approaches to the world, so there are the specifics of Russia. It is distinguished from the West by the lack of emphasis on individual rights, freedom and property, from the East by the absence of the desire to dissolve in the universal - otherworldly or thisworldly (the One or the state). Unlike the Indian, the Russian needs bliss on Earth, but unlike the Chinese, he is less prone to hierarchical organization in the social sense, more mystical and transcendent. The Russian is far from both the extraterrestrial mysticism of the Indians and the social stability of the Chinese. He is patient to infinity, but longs for the realization of the ideal in this life and immediately.

The talent of love (I. A. Ilyin), the craving for truth as truth-justice (N. A. Mikhailovsky) and sadness-longing for the ideal (the heroes of A. P. Chekhov’s plays are all torn somewhere, without really knowing why : "To Moscow, to Moscow! .."), the ability to make any sacrifices for the sake of realizing the ideal, the belief that the ideal is feasible in Russia and the whole world can be transformed in accordance with it - this fusion of qualities determines the Russian character. Of course, specific mental properties can be antinomic, but the character structure must be clear enough to be revealed. Under the external opposites of mental properties are stable substantial characteristics. Their spiritual expression is changing - a set of rational provisions that evolve, but themselves remain unchanged throughout the entire existence of the nation. Such a main feature of the Russian national character, it seems, is breadth, from which maximalism, messianism, all-humanity, self-sacrifice follow. All of them are closely interconnected, forming the framework of the national character. From breadth follows all-humanity, from all-humanity - messianism, from messianism - maximalism, from maximalism - self-sacrifice. In the future, we will see how these features manifested themselves in Russian culture at all stages of its development.

So, the main features of the Russian national character stem from natural conditions and original mythology and influence culture. Nature, mythology and national character - these are the three foundations of Russian culture, dependent on each other. In turn, culture itself influences the national character and, as we now see, the surrounding nature.

Exclaiming: "Strange Russia!", A. I. Herzen was surprised that its highest fruits are either people who are ahead of their time to the point that they are crushed by the existing, they fruitlessly die on exile, or people who are based on the past, have no sympathy having in the present and also fruitlessly dragging out life.

This time latitude is also important for Russian culture, in which, on the one hand, Η. F. Fedorov with the idea of ​​patrophication (resurrection of the fathers), and on the other - "a man in a case". This is another additional source of conflict. If we do not have a monolith, then the pluralism of opinions reaches such a dispersion that people cannot agree on anything among themselves. Hence the rationale for censorship and lack of publicity. At the same time, the breadth of the Russian person leads to the fact that "Russia is a country of unlimited freedom of spirit" (N. A. Berdyaev).

The breadth of the Russian national character determines the special cultural opportunities associated with synthesis. Culture as a whole is a product of synthesis, and the higher the synthetic possibilities, the greater the heights a culture can achieve. Russians are not a European or Asian people, but a Eurasian one, which synthesizes both of these elements in Russian culture. Breadth as a property of the national character in culture turns into synthesis.

Finding the foundations of a synthetic character in the language, V.V. Kozhinov writes: "And it is impossible to overestimate the fact that in Russian all such numerous peoples of Eurasia - from Moldovans to Chukchi - are called names nouns and only one Russian - by name adjective... The meaning of this - even, you will agree, rather strange - exception can, in particular, be defined as follows: it implies that the Russians are a kind of connection that unites the origin of the numerous and diverse peoples of Eurasia.

The unifying potential of the Russian nation, the "super-nation," as V. V. Kozhinov calls it, is very great, and the future of Russia and the world largely depends on its realization in culture.

The Russian people are representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population Russian Federation), the most numerous ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora has 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 identify themselves with any particular religion. The national language of the Russian people is Russian.

Each country and its people have their own meaning in modern world, concepts are very important folk culture and the history of the nation, their formation and development. Each nation and its culture is unique in its own way, the color and originality of each nation should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other nations, 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 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 fortitude. 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 the old days, Slavic houses and property were very often plundered and completely destroyed, hence the simplified attitude to everyday life. And of course, these trials, which befell the long-suffering Russian people, only tempered his character, made him stronger and taught him to get out of any life situations with his head held high.

Kindness can be called another of the traits that prevail in the character of the Russian ethnos. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when "they will feed and drink, and put to bed." The unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, very rarely found 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 features of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both her love for work and huge 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 argue. And no matter how scientists all over the world would like 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 for everyone.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

(Russian meal)

Folk traditions and customs are a unique connection, a kind of "bridge of times", linking 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 sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are observed to this day. 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 includes matchmaking, wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). The conduct of ancient rites and rituals guaranteed a successful and successful future. happy life health of offspring and the general well-being of the family.

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

long time ago Slavic families were distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already married, remained to live in home, the head of the family was the father or elder 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 Feast of 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 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 the bride was held (acquaintance of the future newlyweds), then there was a rite of conspiracy and handshaking (the parents decided 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 all their lives. At the age of one, the baby was put on the inside of a sheepskin coat and sheared it, cutting out a cross on the crown, with such a meaning that impure forces could not penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a slightly grown godson should bring kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds) to godparents, 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 the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, dating back centuries and preserving the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. And to this day they celebrate pagan holidays, people listen to signs and centuries old traditions, remembers and tells his children and grandchildren old traditions and legends.

Main national holidays:

• Christmas January 7
• Christmas time January 6 - 9
• Baptism January 19
• Pancake week from 20 to 26 February

• Forgiveness Sunday ( before Great Lent)
• Palm Sunday (the Sunday before 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 of Pentecost - 50th day after Easter)
• Ivan Kupala July 7
• Day of Peter and Fevronia July 8
• Ilyin's day August 2

• Honey Spas August 14
• Apple Spas August 19
• Third (Bread) Spas August 29
• Veil day October 14

There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (from July 6 to 7), once a year, a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold wealth. In the evening, large bonfires are lit 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 with the flow, hoping to find their soul mate.

Shrovetide is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Shrovetide was rather not a holiday, but a rite, when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, appeasing them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, longing 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 has remained, exciting winter entertainments have appeared: sledging and horse-drawn sledge rides, the straw effigy of Winter was burned, all the Shrovetide week a relative went to pancakes either to the mother-in-law or to the sister-in-law, the atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere , various theatrical and puppet shows with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was fisticuffs, they were attended by the male population, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military business”, testing their courage, courage and dexterity.

Christmas and Easter are considered especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people.

Christmas 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 are re-opened to society and rethought by it. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve because the main course is holiday table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge "sochivo", consisting of boiled cereals poured 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 treat and gave gifts to each other. 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmas time, earlier at this time the girls in Russia held various gatherings with fortune-telling and rituals to attract suitors.

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 Easter cakes (festive rich Easter bread) and Easter, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to ancient legend, symbolize the 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 Risen!”, Then follows a triple kiss and the exchange of festive Easter eggs.

The stereotypes of Russian behavior, of course, depend on which generation one belongs to. The younger generation and managers who received the best education in Western Europe behave differently than the generation of their fathers. However, some stereotypes are carried over from generation to generation and can be considered “Russian archetypes”.

How I became Russian (TV series trailer)

The most important factor that still determines the behavior of a Russian person (and his attitude to housing, clothing, food, cleanliness, order, property) is long-term residence in a totalitarian state.
Including the psyche of the population was very strongly affected by both the post-perestroika crisis and the “shock therapy” of transformations in society in the 90s.
The rules of everyday life change frequently and quickly, and no one knows by what laws and no one explains anything to anyone. In Russia, there is not enough confidence, there is nothing to rely on.

An anecdote from the times after the collapse of the USSR
The state comes to the people and says: “I have two news for you: good and bad. Where to start? "-" With a good one. "-" You are free! "-" And now the bad one. "-" You are free ... "

national character

The main stereotypes about the features of the Russian national character

• "mysteriousness of the Russian soul" - the mentality of the Russian people - is enigmatic mystery that cannot be unraveled
• "people" - patriotism, service to the fatherland, love for the motherland, loyalty to traditions
• "hope for a bright future" - the search for truth, justice, freedom, hope for an ideal state, the expectation of a "just ruler"
• "messianism" - Russia as an example to other peoples, is ready to sacrifice itself for the sake of others ("They save others, they destroy themselves.")
• "fatalism" - resignation to the fact that a lot will happen regardless of the will and desire of a person, the belief that nothing happens by chance in life. This character trait of Russians sometimes leads to passive behavior, the habit of relying not on oneself, but on God’s will, “good uncle” (sayings: “Wait and see”, “We are used to ...”; “nothing” is the most common reaction to fail)
• "sentimentality", "openness of emotions", "pathos" (phraseologisms: "pour out the soul"
• "polarization" - the division of the entire diversity of the world into good and evil, truth and falsehood, "us" and "them"
• "maximalism", "fanaticism", "extremism"
• observance of rituals, traditions, customs

Opposites of the Russian national character

Russians themselves believe that the Russian character consists of extremes and opposites. The guiding slogan of the Russian man is: “Either everything or nothing.” According to Russian and foreign observers, Russia is “a country of systematic paradoxes”.

They contradict each other:

• credulity, hope for a true ruler - and dreams of freedom
• generosity, hospitality, openness in privacy- and formalism, rigor, non-smiling in official communication
• great culture (literature, music, theater), the development of science, the ability to achieve better results (perfection) in many areas, the presence of modern technologies - and incompleteness, the inability to see the consequences of one’s actions in advance and plan them, half-heartedness, inability and unwillingness to complete what has been started business - everything is decided on the go, most institutions work on the verge of their capabilities (post office, city transport) (the resulting positive character traits are “resourcefulness”, “adaptability”, “the ability to create something from nothing”).
• fear of superiors - and stubborn non-compliance with prescribed and established rules

The opinion of foreigners about Russians

Russians are a very proud, self-confident people. But on the other hand, the Russians are deceiving, pretending, hiding in front of problems (When the German troops entered Kyiv, Stalin claimed that not a single German soldier crossed the Russian borders.). Being exposed in a lie, they will only shrug their shoulders.
The problem of bureaucracy is that any case is drawn up for a very long and difficult time, the rules often change, those who wish are endlessly sent from one window to another.

social behavior

Russian collectivism

Russians do not tolerate loneliness well, they are sociable people.
They can even talk to strangers (communication on the train), they like to often talk on the phone (in cities, the time-based payment principle has not yet been introduced). telephone conversations, and people are “on the phone”).
Relations with neighbors are still important in the life of Russians - neighborly ties play an almost family role.
Russians are characterized by such character traits as compassion, cordiality, compassion (deafness, unfortunately for another person, is unusual for Russians).
On the other hand, many of them adopted this way of life: to live like everyone else, not to stick out.
Collectivism can be attributed to love for mass holidays, for companies, the tradition of hospitality. In the village there is a habit of meeting with neighbors in one hut - "gatherings". Russians value the principle of "catholicity" - the internal unity of people on the basis of a common spirit.

„Ruský kolektivismus se v Rusku projevuje sklony k masovosti, Občané se tlačí, vytvářejí fronty a z těch front se vyčleňují přirození vůdci, kteří buď organizují dav nebo sepisují pořadníky. To bývá na úřadech. Kdyby tam nebyla fronta, určitě by lidé odešli, že mají zavřeno. Fronta bývá jedna ústřední, pořadníků více.”
Elizabeth Roberts

However, in recent times, Russians have also been characterized by a craving for individualization (with the fall of the USSR, every Russian finally found himself left to himself).

public role

Russians more expressively enter into their social role, observe the rules of formal behavior, always try to maintain a “good name”, they are characterized by a constant eye on “what other people will say or think about us”.
There is a huge difference in human behavior in the public (professional) sphere and in private life.
A “servile psychology” is characteristic in relation to the authorities (one and the same person can show disdain for a person dependent on him and in a minute become slavish, obsequious in the face of the boss), the proverb is popular: “You are the boss - I'm a fool. I'm the boss - you're a fool." In society, democratic principles do not always work in relation to the terms of holding certain positions (the rector of a university, for example). If a person has already taken a high position, then, as a rule, he firmly “sits” on it.

Core Values

Russians highly value: courage, strength, good social position, "good name", reputation in the eyes of friends and neighbors, sentimental and emotional deeds.
Russians especially revere smart people. Cleverness, in the eyes of Russians, is not rational abilities, but rather spirituality, delicacy, social responsibility, high moral qualities.
It has long been customary to measure the level of culture by the number of books read.
Oddly enough, a smile is sometimes considered an indicator of stupidity ( folk proverb: "Laughter for no reason is a sign of a fool.").

Money is not considered a particularly great value, Russian people are convinced that wealth cannot be acquired by honest work.

Russian attitude towards...

...to foreigners

Back in the 19th century, xenophobia was apparently absent in Russia. The Russians were ready to quickly come to terms with the presence of foreigners. To those who came without malicious intent, they were friendly, but to those who came with malicious intent, they were cruel.
In the Soviet era, other (better) restaurants and hotels were assigned to visiting foreigners, they were given first places in the queues, but they were not allowed into the restricted areas.
Currently, everything depends on the nationality of the foreigner. Russians love Chekhov, Serbs are also close to them. But with the Poles, Ukrainians, Germans, they already have a slightly more complicated relationship.
Some museums introduced double prices for foreigners (in the Hermitage a ticket for them is 3 times more expensive than for a Russian).

...beggars

Beggars in Russia are pitied, they are given money.

...children

Russians, of course, love children very much and are ready to give the last funds for their education and the improvement of their future.

Parents

Russians greatly revere their ancestors and old parents and surround them with care. In families, as a rule, several generations live together more often than we do. Putting old people in a nursing home is considered a sin.

...authorities

The Russian archetype is characterized by fear of the state.
The state almost constantly intervened in the lives of its subjects (by violence, ideology) - a Russian person could rarely concentrate on his private life.
The embodiment of evil power, which puts pressure on the people and cynically robs them, for a Russian person is bureaucracy, a terrible and irresistible force.
An “Orthodox type of person” was formed, which is patient, passive, conservative, sometimes even indifferent, able to survive in the most incredible conditions, immersed in the past and absorbed in the eternal search for ideals, refraining from arbitrary interference in anything.
Related to this is the inability of the Russians to take personal responsibility (“My hut is on the edge, I don’t know anything.”)
The paradox of attitude to power: on the one hand, Russian people are genetically accustomed not to expect goodness, help, support from the authorities; at the same time, he hopes for a miracle, for a "good tsar", a reformer - a savior (illusions, euphoria are constantly replaced by disappointment, condemnation of the authorities).
In the history of Russia, the deification of power, charismatic leaders is repeated - an indicator of the sacredness of Russian consciousness.

The ratio of men and women

Men

Men (already boys) should not show their weakness (sometimes rudeness helps them in this). They don't compliment women as often as they would like. When they like a woman, they will tell her about it directly, show their love with gifts, attentiveness. (So ​​it’s not so difficult for women to find out whether they love or don’t love?)

„Mladý muž univerzál - nosí černé džíny, černou koženou bundu, černou koženou čepici s nápletem. Tváří se nepřístupně (žvýkačka narozdíl od cigarety není podmínkou), mluví úsečně zaměrně hlubokým hlasem. Mladíci se shlukují kolem stánků u výstupu z metra, usrkávají z lahve pivo domácí výroby, kouří, pojídají buráky, plivou (i slupky slunečnicových seminek) a dokáží kolem sebe udělat slušný.“

Russian woman

A Russian woman loves to feel like the weaker sex. She is able to spend her last money on clothes and cosmetics. Previously, women had to work in male professions, they used to take care of everything, immediately became adults.

„Ruská žena je často buď puťka, která se bojí překročit stín svého muže, nechá se bít manželem, tyranizovat synem a vydírat tchýní, nebo je to emancipovaná energetická bytost s věčně doutnající cigaretou na rtech a stejně razantním stylem za volantem i bez něj.
D.Šťáhlavsky: Rusko mezi řádky

A sign of bad behavior in society is considered ...

• blow your nose
• use a toothpick
• have dirty shoes
• come visit without a gift
• show your bad mood
• speak "intricate phrases" (Russians are also annoyed by "blank talk" of spatial reasoning about what can be expressed in a nutshell)
• “throw words” (Russians take what is said too seriously and literally; you can’t joke just like that).
• Russians do not understand the European manner of “not noticing” something unpleasant, which does not correspond to the norms of behavior. They will actively intervene, comment, correct the situation. (If, for example, someone in a queue is in no hurry, delays others, his behavior can cause loud indignation and even a scandal.)
• When sorting out relations with Russians, it is recommended to be more careful in words and intonation - a Russian often seems to intuitively think of the situation and prefers to act (sometimes it even comes to rough bodily reactions, fights).
• Talking about money is uncomfortable for Russians, it is also not customary to talk about intimate relationships, to ridicule the national traits and dignity of Russians.
• It is better not to ask the interlocutor questions about the place of birth. Due to the complex history of Russia (including the forced migration of the population), very complex things can be affected.
• Russians value a heart-to-heart conversation - it is a long, unhurried, frank conversation with a good acquaintance, with a close friend. "High topics" are preferred - for example, about the meaning of life, the future of Russia, politics, literature, theater, cinema. You can also talk about family matters.

Gestures

• click on the throat with the index or middle finger: means "drink vodka" or "he's drunk"
• tap your index finger on your temple: "not a very smart person"
• put your hands on your heart: emphasize your sincerity in conversation
• stick the thumb between the middle and forefinger with a clenched fist: fig (fig with butter), a vulgar gesture expressing categorical denial
• the Russians keep score in such a way that they bend their fingers, gradually collecting them into a fist, starting with the little finger

Life

Life - way of life, everyday life, material and cultural development of society.

In Russia, there is a strong spiritual orientation to the East, i.e., a focus on spiritual life (service highest goal). Russians have always reproached the West for being extremely consumer-oriented (money, things, personal success).
Therefore, Russians are often indifferent to money and, in general, to the material side of life, a lack of concern for life's comfort; on the contrary, they attach importance to such values ​​as education, literature and culture, respect in society.
The unpredictability and severity of Russian nature and climate and many historical cataclysms made it difficult to develop European pragmatism, the ability to organize time and save space.

„Bolševismus naučil lidi skromnosti, nenáročnosti, ale také rozmařilosti a plýtvání. Naučil je žít s pocitem, že to dnes může být naposledy.“
D. Šťáhlavský: Rusko mezi řádky

Housing

Recently, in many large cities of Russia, great amount improved housing, comfortable apartments, but, all the same, only very wealthy people can afford new housing. For Russians, the “housing problem” is still a huge problem. Until now, there are families where several generations live together in one apartment.
Most residential buildings in Russia are huge, multi-storey, multi-entrance. They are typical of windows protected by bars, heavy armored doors in entrances and apartments, dirt in entrances, on the stairs and in the elevator.
People have not learned to take care of the house and its surroundings as if it were their own.
Unlike other nationalities, it is not customary for Russians to show guests their house, their apartment.

Fashion wealthy people- to build country comfortable houses, mansions, the so-called. "cottages".

In Soviet times (especially Stalinist times), many people had to live in communal apartments, that is, in apartments that are state property, in which several families (unrelated family relationships people belonging to different social strata). Life in communal apartments has actually crippled mental health and interpersonal relations of one generation of Russians.

Cleanliness is a mess

Everywhere in Russia there are many uncleaned places, abandoned wastelands. The strange smell of Russia is made up of gasoline, buckwheat and vodka. However, Russians thoroughly wash their hands, clean their shoes, use perfume.
In the toilets you can find the inscription “Big request! Don't throw paper down the toilet!“.
Some toilets are missing a door or top of the walls. In restaurants, they often do not distinguish between men and women.

Drunkenness

Russians have a very frivolous attitude towards their health, including addiction to alcohol.
Russians usually tolerate alcohol well, can drink a lot of vodka and remain "sane", but they quickly become addicted to alcohol.
The causes of alcoholism are the harsh climate, difficult living conditions (for centuries I have been looking for Russian in a glass of oblivion of problems).

The Russian authorities continue to fight alcoholism. Since 2014 drinking alcohol in in public places forbidden. You can drink at home, in a cafe or in a restaurant.

Rites

Bath

Bath has been known in Russia since the 10th century. In the village, this is a separate log hut next to the house. It consists of a dressing room and a steam room. In the steam room there is a fireplace stove. When it is drowned, the stones become hot. In order for the bath to be filled with hot steam, the stones are poured with hot water. In the bath, they pat themselves with a birch or oak broom.

The role of the bath in the life of a Russian person, its functions: cleansing the body, strengthening physical health, treating a runny nose, colds, aches, losing weight, prevention, enjoyment, relaxation. (The bath "clears the brain, dries the tears.")
The public function of the bath is acquaintance, the emergence of friendship, a place for negotiations and establishing trade relations.

• bath day: Saturday
• to those who come out of the bath they say: With light steam!

family rituals

Wedding

The traditional Russian wedding lasted several days and was preceded by matchmaking and a wedding ceremony. The wedding was like a theatrical play (theft and ransom of the bride) with sad and funny moments. Most often they arranged a wedding between Christmas and Lent to have fun, to survive the long winter; there was less work during this period.
In a modern wedding, everything depends on money. The groom must “break through” to the bride, performing various tasks (for example, he must put out the name of the bride in banknotes).
There is also a custom to cover apples with paper money of the same color - it turns out a green, red apple ... A big and rich wedding is a matter of honor.

The funeral

The funeral is traditionally held on the third day after the death of a person. Believers are buried in the church. During the year, they arrange a wake, a ceremony in memory of a deceased relative, conducted by members of his family - 3, 9 and 40 days after death.
The commemoration ceremony includes home prayers, a visit to the temple and the grave of the deceased, and lunch, which serves vodka, pancakes, kutya (sweet porridge made from millet or rice with raisins) and a funeral dish - white jelly.
Russians come to the graves of their relatives for Easter; at the same time, a glass of vodka, covered with a slice of bread, is usually placed on the grave, or another treat is left.
Previously, the rite of mourning was widespread in Russia. Good professional mourners who weep at the grave were highly valued.
Expression of condolences: Please accept my deep condolences. We share your deep grief.

housewarming

Moving to a new apartment or a new house is an important event for the family, it has long been accompanied by rituals (in modern times, a feast is obligatory).

Russian people are generally broad people ..,

wide as their land,

and extremely inclined

to the fantastic, to the disorderly;

but the trouble is to be wide

without much genius.

F.M. Dostoevsky

One can talk endlessly about the Russian character and its features ... There are so many things mixed in a Russian person that one cannot count on one's fingers.

What does it mean to be Russian? What is the peculiarity of the Russian character? How often do gray-haired academicians ask this question in scientific debates, nimble journalists in various shows, and ordinary citizens in table discussions? They ask and answer. They answer in different ways, but everyone celebrates our, Russian, “speciality” and is proud of it. You can’t lure a Russian person with a kalach - Russians are so eager to preserve their own, dear, that they are proud of the most disgusting aspects of their originality: drunkenness, dirt, poverty. Russians make up jokes that no one can drink them too much, gladly showing their dirt to foreigners.

"Mysterious Russian soul"... What kind of epithets we do not reward our Russian mentality. But is it so mysterious, the Russian soul, is it so unpredictable? Maybe everything is much simpler? We Russians are capable of self-sacrifice in the name of our homeland, but we are not able to defend our interests as citizens of this country. We meekly accept all the decisions and decisions of our leadership: we choke in queues for the replacement of driver's licenses; we lose consciousness in the passport and visa services in anticipation of receiving a new passport; we knock on the thresholds of the tax office in order to find out under what number you now live in this world. And this list is endless. Boundless patience - that's what distinguishes a Russian person. How to disagree with foreigners who personify us with a bear - huge, formidable, but so clumsy. We are probably rougher, certainly tougher in many cases. Russians have both cynicism, and emotional limitations, and a lack of culture. There is fanaticism, and unscrupulousness, and cruelty. But still, in the main, Russians strive for good.

For a Russian person, this is the most terrible accusation - it is an accusation of greed. All Russian folklore is based on the fact that being greedy is bad and greed is punishable. The catch, apparently, is that this very breadth can only be polar: drunkenness, unhealthy excitement, life for free, on the one hand. But, on the other hand, the purity of faith carried and preserved through the ages. Again, a Russian person cannot believe quietly, modestly. He never hides, but for his faith he goes to execution, he goes with his head held high, striking enemies.

Very accurately, the features of the character of a Russian person are noticed in folk tales and epics. In them, the Russian peasant dreams of a better future, but he is too lazy to realize his dreams. He still hopes that he will catch a talking pike or catch a goldfish that will grant his wishes. This primordially Russian laziness and love to dream about the coming of better times has always prevented our people from living like human beings. And the tendency to acquisitiveness, again mixed with great laziness! A Russian person is too lazy to grow or make something that a neighbor has - it is much easier for him to steal it, and even then not by himself, but by asking someone else to do it. A typical example of this is the case with the king and rejuvenating apples. Of course, in fairy tales and satirical stories, many features are greatly exaggerated and sometimes reach the point of absurdity, but nothing arises from scratch - there is no smoke without fire. Such a trait of the Russian character as long-suffering often crosses the boundaries of reason. From time immemorial, Russian people have meekly endured humiliation and oppression. The already mentioned laziness and blind faith in a better future are partly to blame here. Russian people would rather endure than fight for their rights. But no matter how great the patience of the people, it is still not unlimited. The day comes and humility is transformed into unbridled rage. Then woe to those who stand in the way. It is not for nothing that a Russian person is compared to a bear.

But not everything is so bad and gloomy in our Fatherland. We Russians have many positive traits character. Russians are deeply partisan and possess high strength spirit, they are capable of defending their land to the last drop of blood. Since ancient times, both old and young have risen to fight against invaders.

A special conversation about the character of Russian women. A Russian woman has an unbending fortitude, she is ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of a loved one and follow him to the ends of the world. And this is not blindly following the spouse, as in Oriental women but a completely conscious and independent decision. This is what the wives of the Decembrists did, following them to distant Siberia and dooming themselves to a life full of hardships. Nothing has changed since then: even now, in the name of love, a Russian woman is ready to wander all her life through the most remote corners of the world.

Speaking about the peculiarities of the Russian character, one cannot fail to mention a cheerful disposition - the Russian sings and dances even in the most difficult periods of his life, and even more so in joy! He is generous and loves to walk in a big way - the breadth of the Russian soul has already become a parable in languages. Only a Russian person for the sake of one happy moment can give everything he has and not regret later. Let's remember the poor artist who sold everything he had and covered his beloved with flowers. This is a fairy tale, but it is not so far from life - a Russian person is unpredictable and you can expect anything from him.

Russian man is inherent in the aspiration to something infinite. Russians always have a thirst for a different life, a different world, there is always dissatisfaction with what they have. Due to greater emotionality, a Russian person is characterized by openness, sincerity in communication. If in Europe people are quite alienated in their personal lives and protect their individualism, then a Russian person is open to being interested in him, showing interest in him, taking care of him, just as he himself is inclined to be interested in the life of those around him: both his soul is wide open, and it is curious - what's behind the soul of another.

There are dozens of images in our literature, each of which bears an indelible stamp of the Russian character: Natasha Rostova and Matryona Timofeevna, Platon Karataev and Dmitry Karamazov, Raskolnikov and Melekhov, Onegin and Pechorin, Vasily Terkin and Andrei Sokolov. You can't list everyone. Isn't there such a person in life? The pilot saves the city at the cost of his life, without leaving the stalled plane until the last moment; tractor driver dies in a burning tractor, taking him away from grain field; a family of nine takes in three more orphans; the master creates a unique, priceless masterpiece for years and then gives it to orphanage... You can continue indefinitely. Behind all this is also a Russian character. But aren't other people capable of this? Where is the line that will help distinguish a Russian person from the rest? And there is, after all, another side to it: the ability for unbridled revelry and drunkenness, callousness and selfishness, indifference and cruelty. The world looks at him - and sees a riddle in him. For us, the Russian character is an alloy of the best qualities that will always prevail over dirt and vulgarity, and, perhaps, the most important of them is selflessly devoted love for one's land. Gently stroking a birch tree and talking to it, greedily inhaling the intoxicating aroma of arable land, tremblingly holding a poured ear in the palm of your hand, seeing off a crane wedge with tears in your eyes - this can only be a Russian person, and may he remain so forever and ever.

The Russian character is complex and multifaceted, but this is what makes him beautiful. It is beautiful for its breadth and openness, cheerful disposition and love for the motherland, childlike innocence and fighting spirit, ingenuity and peacefulness, hospitability and mercy. And we owe all this palette of the best qualities to our homeland - Russia, a fabulous and great country, warm and affectionate, like the hands of a mother.

From all that has been said, we have to conclude that the only indisputable feature of the Russian character is inconsistency, complexity, the ability to combine opposites. And is it possible on such a land as Russian, to be not special? After all, this feature did not appear today, but was formed from day to day, from year to year, from century to century, from millennium to millennium...

And Leskov tried to create in his works just such a Russian person ...

The mysterious Russian soul (national character of Russians and features of communication)

One can be fascinated and disappointed by the Russian people, one can always expect surprises from him, he is highly capable of inspiring strong love and intense hatred.

N. Berdyaev

Traits of national character

If they say about England “Good old England”, meaning the preservation and observance of traditions, about France - “Beautiful France!”, referring to the beauty and brilliance of the country for which it has always been famous in all manifestations, then they say about Russia: “Holy Russia”, suggesting that Russia is a country historically oriented towards spiritual life, a country adhering to a traditional way of life, a country based on Orthodox values.

Historical and political transformations do not have a very positive effect on the character and mentality of the Russian people.

Blurred, non-standard, non-traditional values ​​introduced into Russian society - the philosophy of consumption, individualism, money-grubbing - this is one of the main reasons for the formation of a modern national character.

First you need to decide what is considered Russian nationality. From time immemorial, the one who accepted the Russian system of values, traditions, aesthetics, etc. was considered Russian. Historically, the one who accepted Orthodoxy was considered Russian. Thus, a third of the Russian nobility before the October Revolution was represented by Tatars. A.S. Pushkin, his ancestors were generally black! And this despite the fact that the poet is considered the most important Russian (!) Poet, who absorbed and described Russian life, customs, traditions of that period in the life of Russia!

And those white-haired and blue-eyed Russians, who can still be seen in Vologda and Uglich, are primordially Slavic branch all Russians.

Russian national traits

In order to understand the “mysterious Russian soul”, one needs to get a little acquainted with the origins of the formation of the Russian national character.

The character of Russians was formed on the basis of historical conditions, geographical location country, space, climate and religion.

Among the national traits can be attributed the famous breadth of the Russian soul. In this regard, despite all sorts of rules and regulations that dictate moderation in giving, gifts that are disproportionate in value are given to partners, colleagues of the opposite sex, employees “vertically”. Truly with Russian scope. No wonder the gift industry is replete with expensive and pretentious gifts that are sold out for every holiday.

The main distinguishing features of the Russian people are also the following:

Compassion, mercy. Today, mercy and charity are in trend (it is very Russian - to help not even for the image, but simply because someone needs and suffers ...): many people and companies actively help those who are in difficulty, transferring funds to the needy old people, children and even animals. They travel at their own expense to places of disaster and actively help the victims.

A German Wehrmacht soldier wrote about this feature of the Russian character when he found himself in a Russian village during the Second World War: “Waking up, I saw a Russian girl kneeling in front of me, who gave me hot milk and honey from a teaspoon. I told her, "I could have killed your husband, and you're worried about me." As we passed through other Russian villages, it became all the more clear to me that it would be right to make peace with the Russians as quickly as possible. ... The Russians did not pay attention to my military uniform and treated me more like a friend!”

Among the best qualities of the Russian people are the interests of their family, respect for parents, happiness and well-being of children.

But the so-called nepotism is also connected with this, when the manager hires his relative, who is forgiven a lot, unlike an ordinary employee, which does not have a very good effect on the performance of professional duties.

Russians are characterized by an amazing quality of self-abasement and self-denial, belittling their merits. Maybe all those words that foreigners hear while in Russia, that they are gurus, stars, etc., are connected with this, and Russians seem to have nothing to do with it. Foreigners cannot understand how people with such the richest culture and literature, a colossal territory full of riches, manages to deny itself in this way. But it's related to Orthodox rule: humiliation more than pride. Pride is considered the main of the deadly sins that kill the immortal soul, according to Christian beliefs.

To national traits also applies:

Religiosity, piety exists in the soul of even a Russian atheist.

The ability to live moderately. Not the pursuit of wealth (which is why Russian society is confused - people do not know how to live only with wealth). At the same time, many who were “starved” in the Soviet period “for imports” tend to show off and throw money around, which has already become a byword and is well known in Courchevel. This part of Russian nature is usually associated with "Asiaticism" and money that came easily or unjustly.

Kindness and hospitality, responsiveness, sensitivity, compassion, forgiveness, pity, readiness to help.
openness, frankness;
natural ease, simplicity in behavior (and up to a fair rusticity);
non-vanity; humor, generosity; inability to hate for a long time and the associated accommodatingness; ease of human relations; responsiveness, breadth of character, range of decisions.

Remarkable creative potential (which is why the Olympics were so beautifully designed, with the help of innovative technologies). It is not for nothing that in Russian culture there is the character Lefty, who will shoe a flea. It is known that Lefty is right hemisphere, that is, a person with creative thinking.

Russians are incredibly patient and tolerant. (see above example with a Wehrmacht soldier).

They endure to the last, and then they can explode. Repeating the phrase of A.S. Pushkin: “God forbid to see a Russian riot - senseless and merciless!”, And sometimes misinterpreting it (as in the Internet dictionary of aphorisms, you can read “Russian riot is TERRIBLE - senseless and merciless”), tearing it out out of context, some forget that this remark has a very informative continuation: “Those who are plotting impossible coups with us are either young and do not know our people, or hard-hearted people, to whom someone else’s little head is a half, and their own neck is a penny “.

Negative qualities, of course, can also be noted. This is carelessness, laziness and Oblomov dreaminess. And, alas, drunkenness. To a certain extent, this is due to the climate. When there is no sun for half a year, you want to warm up and you don’t want to do anything. Under certain conditions, Russians are able to pull themselves together, concentrate and ignore the climate in the name of an idea. Many feats of arms are confirmation. Carelessness is associated with serfdom, which every almost Russian will have to get rid of in himself. The Russian relies on "maybe" for two reasons: the hope for the master, the tsar-father and the "zone of risky agriculture", that is, the uncertainty and unevenness of climatic conditions.

Russians are somewhat gloomy. And on the streets you rarely meet people with cheerful faces. This is connected with the legacy of the socialist past, which had its own difficulties, with the current state of affairs and, presumably, with the harsh climate, where there is no sun for almost half a year. But on the other hand, the situation is changing in the office: Russians willingly communicate with familiar people.

Insufficient ability to unite, to self-organize suggests that a leader, a ruler, etc. is certainly needed. At the same time, a man is often appointed as a leader, based on patriarchal stereotypes - a man is the best leader. However, the situation is changing, and today we can see many women in top positions.

Perhaps due to the fact that in recent decades, values ​​\u200b\u200bthat are not characteristic of the Russian people have been introduced - acquisitiveness, worship of the Golden Calf, Russian people, despite all the existing benefits, modern technologies, the absence of an "Iron Curtain" and opportunities, often stay (yes, representatives of the middle -class) in the state increased anxiety and pessimism. Wherever Russians gather, at a festively and magnificently laid table, there will certainly be a couple of people who will argue that “everything is bad” and “we will all die.”

Evidence of this is the active discussion on the forums of the Opening of the Olympiad, which was excellent. At the same time, many did not see this beauty, because they discussed corruption and how much money was spent on the preparation of the Olympic Games.

Russians cannot live without ideas and faith. So, in 1917, faith in God was taken away, faith in the CPSU appeared; It became unclear what and whom to believe.

Now the situation is slowly, but leveling off. Despite the eternal criticism of everyone and everything (and of the Orthodox Church and its ministers), people turn to God and engage in mercy.

Two faces of modern business society

Today, the business community is roughly divided into two parts. These parts are presented as follows. Directors of middle and old age, more often - representatives of the regions, former Komsomol organizers and party leaders. And young managers, with an MBA education, sometimes received abroad. The former are distinguished by their closeness in communication to a greater extent, the latter are more open. The former are more often endowed with instrumental intelligence and tend to view subordinates as cogs in a single mechanism. The latter are more characterized by emotional intelligence, and they still try to delve into the problems of their employees, of course, not always.

The first category was not taught to negotiate. At the same time, in the process of communication, some of them acquired good communication skills and were able to negotiate “with whom it was necessary” and had great connections in their environment. Some representatives of this group, on the contrary, communicated “from top to bottom”, in the usual authoritarian style, often with elements of verbal aggression.

Modern top managers have been trained in negotiation skills and continue their education after completing the main course. But at the same time, “... It is rare for foreigners who get into top positions in Russian companies to withstand more than a year” (SmartMoney Weekly No. 30 (120) August 18, 2008).

What is the reason? The fact is that, despite the European education, young top managers are carriers of the domestic mentality.

The authoritarian management style is "imbued with mother's milk", at meetings and on the sidelines, profanity may sound. This type was demonstrated by Nikita Kozlovsky in the film "DUHLESS". His hero has the whole set of characteristics.

By the way, both the first and the second are introverted. The latter can be completely immersed in the world of gadgets and prefer communication through communication devices.

Knowing these features, we can draw conclusions on how to adapt to communication with Russians.

So, one has to understand that ambitious "red directors" must be treated with great respect, like a gentleman in the days of serfdom, as well as young top managers, but at the same time understand that they are more democratic in communication. And yet they prefer communication over the Internet.

Russian etiquette - sometimes senseless and merciless

With all the kindness, generosity, tolerance, the manners of Russians leave much to be desired, because. Russians are the successors of the Soviet people, who for a long time were told that "bourgeois" is bad. It has ingrained itself in the subconscious. Therefore, sometimes you can observe the manifestation of not too correct behavior.

So, for example, at the Closing Ceremony of the 22nd Olympic Games, when the champion was awarded a medal on a ribbon, and it had to be hung around his neck, the athlete did not think to take off his hat, although during the anthem he put his right hand to his heart. On solemn occasions, men need to remove their hats.

Once the author observed a situation, also related to headgear, in another city. After a seminar on business etiquette and a conversation about do's and don'ts, two participants stood up without warning, put on large caps right in the classroom and left the room.

According to the rules of European and Russian etiquette indoors and, moreover, at the table, he takes off his hat. Exception: artists who claim to have a certain image, and representatives of confessions, where it is customary to always wear a turban or turban.

If a foreigner leans back in his chair, this may mean that he intends to relax and / or complete communication. The Russians have a manner of sitting, leaning back in a chair - a basic condition. Only athletic and / or educated people in Russia sit without leaning against the back of a chair (if the chair is traditional, not ergonomic), the rest sit as they have to, demonstrating many of their complexes and basic settings.

Russians are not accustomed to standing elegantly, they may try to take a closed posture and/or stomp on the spot.

The view of a Russian person depends on the situation. If this is a leader, then he can look, literally without blinking, with a prickly look in the face of his interlocutor, especially a subordinate, or quite benevolently if his acquaintance or relative is in front of him. Of course, intelligent and educated people "wear" a benevolent facial expression.

Anxiety and tension are indicated by a transverse vertical crease between the eyebrows, which gives a strict, inaccessible look, which can somewhat interfere with contact. It is interesting that we can see such a fold even in very young girls.

When a lady approaches a colleague sitting on a chair, he does not always think of getting up, but at the same time he can elegantly invite her to enter the elevator, which is not true, because. either a man or the one who stands closer enters the elevator first.

Features of communication in Russia

Communication in our country has its own specifics:

- unkindness, unsuccessful manners, projective thinking (projection - the tendency to consider others similar to oneself); stiffness or swagger instead of free communication; gloomy facial expression; inability / unwillingness to give an answer and feedback, conflict, inability to conduct a “small conversation” and listen.

In informal (and sometimes even formal) communication, the wrong thematic choice of conversation is often preferred (about politics, problems, illnesses, private affairs, etc.). At the same time, we have to admit that women are more likely to talk about "everyday life" and their personal lives (relations with parents, husbands, children, and men - about politics and the future, more often in gloomy tones.

In Russia, there is a wide variation in the nature of communication - from a gloomy style to a feigned positive style that came back in the 90s and was "copied" from US communication patterns.

Along with other factors, the inability to communicate in general lowers the personal image of many compatriots, the level corporate culture and the overall image of the company.

Mistakes and major misconceptions in communication in Russia

The main mistakes and misconceptions in Russia include the opinion of the average employee that still exists in some cases that the guest owes and owes him something: leave a lot of money, purchase an expensive tourist product, order luxurious dishes to the room, etc.

It's based on the irrational psychological attitude, called "obligation" (a person believes that everyone owes him something, and when this does not happen, he is very offended) and affects communication in the most direct way. If the hopes that a colleague, partner, buyer are not justified, and the interlocutor behaves as he does, then the Russian clerk may be disappointed and even express his irritation.

A common misconception is also an unkind attitude and, accordingly, communication with an insolvent, from the point of view of an employee, a guest.

What affects the style of communication. Past and present.

Modern style of communication is influenced by:

- a huge flow of information that is faced modern man;

- multiple contacts, open borders of countries and the associated willingness to travel, tourism of all kinds;

- new technologies, primarily online communication, which sets a certain communicative style, a fragmented perception of the world, "clip" thinking";

— huge speeds and rhythms of life;

- globalization, and related processes of interpenetration of languages, speech and communication styles.

Reasons for the formation of communication skills in Russia.

Historical past, serfdom, political regime, climate and distances, mental duality (duality) - "black" and "white" in one person, geographical borders of Russia, paternalistic (that is, when the ruler is, as it were, a father) management culture.

As a result, the formed national character is encouraged to communicate, not associated with courtesy, openness, etc.

This is manifested, for example, in the internal unwillingness to give his name on the phone. Although after the trainings they are trained in this.

Why is it so difficult to give your name on the phone in Russia

An example of insufficient communicative competence is the low willingness of compatriots to give their names on the phone. This is due to the historical mentality and habits of Russians. And it may be because

- before, the staff was not trained in business communication, courtesy, etc.

— it is proved that the lower is social status person, the harder it is to introduce yourself.

- It is more difficult for a person from more distant from the centers to introduce himself by name to a stranger.

- Soviet people have been accustomed for many decades not to demonstrate themselves, to be secretive. It's connected with political regime, which existed in the USSR for a long time.

- "Works" archetypal memory, the collective unconscious.

- Some mystical ideas (for example, in pre-Christian Russia there were ideas that one could jinx by name and therefore amulets were hung around the neck - a bear claw, etc.)

Centers and regions

Speaking about modern Russian society, one cannot fail to mention the constant confrontation between the central cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg ...) and the regions, which is due to the fact that Moscow was always replenished in Soviet times with products that were not available in all regions of the Russian Federation. During the period of stagnation, there were so-called "sausage trains". From other cities of Russia, from the Moscow region came to buy scarce products, including sausage

The former consider the inhabitants of the provinces to be not very well-mannered, sometimes cheeky and that "they walk over the corpses", regardless of anything.

There is even such a thing as "life outside the Moscow Ring Road", that is, outside of Moscow. Starting from the nearest regional cities and places, life really seems to freeze and remain unchanged for a long time. Innovations come here with some delay.

At the same time, the regionals consider Muscovites, on the one hand, to be arrogant and rich, despite the fact that the truly indigenous inhabitants of the capital in this generation are quite calm and friendly people, on the other hand, they are “suckers” and “blunders” who can easily get ahead of themselves in many directions.

And if Muscovites can condescendingly, but tolerantly, look at visitors, then regional, even settling in the capital, cannot always accept the way of life and mentality of a Muscovite, and, sometimes, they may even experience residual complexes, saying something like : "Is it okay that I'm not a Muscovite?" or: “Here you are, Muscovites!..” The latter have to prove the “presumption of innocence” in the inadequate distribution system that took place in the years of the USSR.

Now the appearance, the face of the city is changing, and the style and customs of the inhabitants of the metropolis are changing too.

Bulat Okudzhava

Ch.Amiradzhibi

I was evicted from the Arbat, an Arbat immigrant.

In Bezbozhny Lane, my talent is withering.

Around strange faces, hostile places.

Although the sauna is opposite, the fauna is not the same.

I was evicted from the Arbat and deprived of the past,

and my face is not terrible to strangers, but ridiculous.

I'm expelled, lost among other people's destinies,

and my sweet, my emigrant bread is bitter to me.

Without a passport and visa, only with a rose in his hand

loitering along the invisible border on the castle,

and in those lands that I once inhabited,

I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm looking.

There are the same sidewalks, trees and yards,

but speeches are heartless and feasts are cold.

The thick colors of winters are also blazing there,

but the invaders go to my pet store.

The master's gait, arrogant lips ...

Ah, the flora is the same there, but the fauna is not the same ...

I am an immigrant from the Arbat. I live carrying my cross...

The rose froze up and flew all over.

And, despite some confrontation - open or secret - at a difficult historical moment, Russians unite, become a conciliar people.

Men and women

Russian men who serve in companies, and do not work at a construction site, are distinguished by gallant behavior: they will open the door in front of a lady, let them go ahead, pay the bill in a restaurant. Sometimes even regardless of official subordination. Whether to hold the door in front of the lady? Shall I give her a coat?

Until now, the opinions of experts are contradictory, and in each case it helps to understand the moment and intuition. According to the rules of American business etiquette: in no case should you hold the door and give a coat to a lady colleague. But we live in Russia.

Women in Russia have a combination of femininity and domesticity, well-groomed, businesslike and very active. In Moscow, every second or third lady is driving. modesty in her traditional meaning seems to be a thing of the past.

At the same time, women continue to love when office men take care of them: coats are served, etc. So foreigners advocating emancipation, having arrived in Russia, will have to wait with their advice.

On the one hand, gallantry is pleasant, on the other hand, in Russia, as in many countries, there is a glass ceiling for women. And they prefer to take men to leadership positions. Both men and women.

Traditional stereotypes are that a woman cannot think logically, a weak leader, her family will interfere with her.

At the same time, if a woman has taken a leadership position, then she is a “real bitch”, a “man in a skirt” and goes over the corpses ...

In a mixed team where both men and women work, there are office romances. Traditionally, the public takes the side of a man, so in some cases it is better not to take risks and not start unnecessary relationships.

Women's teams have their own specifics. While some employee is doing well, then envy may sometimes appear on the part of others. Therefore, it is better to try not to excite her by dressing, say, too brightly or stylishly. Moreover, if an employee suffers misfortune, everyone unites and begins to provide her with all kinds of assistance: financial, organizational, etc.

According to the rules of etiquette, it is not pleasant to talk about illnesses and family matters at work. However, this rule is violated, especially in women's team. And woe to that secretary, who, in response to the confidential stories of her boss, began to share her problems. It can get tough.

Men and women in Russia look different.

Clothing, dress code

In order to climb the career ladder, some of the men try to dress elegantly, and even buy suits. famous brands. Basically, these are top managers and ambitious yuppies.

The other part of the men is socially lower, the educational level is lower. Probably connected with this is the way to wear a black top and jeans on any day. The subway is dark from such clothes. Black jackets, black pullovers, sometimes black shirts (for negotiations, which are usually worn light shirts) in combination with a black tie.

Interestingly, as soon as the slightest opportunity is given not to wear a good, stylish suit, like the Italians or the French, Russian men immediately put on the “black style”. This is usually explained by the fact that it is “non-marco”. In fact, the desire to "hide" behind black would say a lot to social psychologists ...

There is a special demographic situation in Russia: there are significantly more women than men. And, if earlier it was necessary to be afraid of harassment directed at a woman, now in Russia, due to natural competition, there is a “hunt” for accomplished men. Therefore, women resort to various tricks in order to get a successful husband: cleavage, mini, false nails, which does not meet corporate standards, but at the same time “promotes” the lady in the local “marriage market”. This should not be surprising.

Both those and others violate the dress code, which at the same time has become softer and more democratic today. And employers do not require ladies to have a strict “case” suit, which was previously necessary.

Negotiations and reception of delegations

A lot has been written about the rules of conducting business negotiations on the pages of our magazine.

Russian negotiators: perceive the interlocutor as an adversary, treat him with suspicion and some hostility, consider it necessary to hide certain data (opacity allows many grandfathers to do so).

Local "princesses" have ambitions. It seems to Russian negotiators that their city or region is the best. And, what is worse, they try to “knock out” all sorts of preferences during the negotiations, which most often go not for the development of territories, but into their own pocket. At the same time, local federal authorities often represent the most serious obstacle to the innovative development of the territory.

At the same time, there are very positive examples of territorial development. So, Alexander Vasilyevich Filipenko is considered the pride of Siberia, former head Administration of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, which glorified the region with innovations and amazing projects aimed at the improvement and development of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The International Biathlon Center is named after him.
Negotiation specifics

Speaking loudly without considering the manner of the other party can also upset the negotiations.

Rigidity, i.e. firmness, immobility, non-adaptation in negotiations. No concessions.

Blatant manipulation, when they try to "drive the interlocutor into a corner"

Inadequate appearance (either jeans with a black pullover, or a very smart suit.

Unwillingness to take responsibility, attempts to get away from a serious conversation.

Ignorance and not a strong desire to find out the national characteristics of the representatives of the other side and the rules of good taste (they can take off their jacket out of time, at the beginning of negotiations, slap on the shoulder)

Broken promises and careless paperwork complete the list.

Unpleasant hints of bribes (in the case of compatriots), the so-called kickbacks.

Reassuring trends. Some Russian local leaders are building roads and hospitals at their own expense. Isn't that Russian?.. After all, generosity and charity have always been on Russian soil.

When a delegation is expected in an organization or in a company, everyone strives to prepare in the best possible way.

Hospitality.

But if in modern companies, young managers, with all their democracy, can even reach some even familiarity in communication (this is expressed in careless treatment, the truncated name “Tatyan” instead of “Tatiana”, in ignoring the positions of senior-junior, some even negligence in communication, strange Business Cards), then in organizations with a traditional culture, ceremony, sedateness, following the rules of conduct adopted when receiving delegations are more honored. There is a protocol department that organizes receptions, delegations, meetings, and events.

feast

In Russia, it is accompanied by abundant eating and wine drinking. Only in diplomatic circles can only two appetizers be served for Breakfast or Lunch. If, however, not too many treats are served at the corporate party, then this can be perceived with surprise, if not with resentment. Russians at corporate parties eat on a grand scale, drink a lot and sometimes dance, but more often they prefer to break into groups and speak “heart to heart”.

Etiquette is not always observed, because why observe it if everyone became friends and almost relatives at that moment? ..

It is very important to control yourself at such moments, because office romances that start at events pass quickly, and the words spoken about the leader under the influence of strong drinks are “Not a sparrow. Fly out - you will not catch "

greeting, address

After the October Revolution, the boundaries of communication between the sexes were erased and the appeal “comrade” and “comrade” addressed to both men and women appeared in everyday life.

After Perestroika, when capitalism began to enter Russia, specialists in the field of the Russian language tried to introduce into speech the appeals “sir”, “madam”, “sir”, “madame”. Sometimes at pretentious corporate parties you can hear “Mr. Ivanov”, “Mrs. Petrova”, but more often at the moment when they are spoken about in the third person.

With direct contact, you have to find the option that is acceptable and convenient for both. So, an older person in Russia is addressed by his first name and patronymic, of course, on “you”, to a younger person - by his first name. At the same time, a manner of addressing even older people by name has become a practice (depending on the corporate style). This style comes from the USA.

Of particular note today is the question of the transition to "You". The initiator of such an appeal maybe only a superior person, only a client, only an older person, and only a woman, if equal, will speak. Everything else is a violation of the rules of etiquette.

At the same time, in Russia, “you” sounds all the time, especially on the roads, where it seems that drivers generally forget about the existence of the pronoun “you”.

Nowadays, as the initial address, you can hear "respected" in relation to a man or "lady" said to a woman. Or impersonal: “Be kind?”, “Would you tell me? ..”

Smile.

It should be noted that the traditional unsmiling and gloomy expression on the face, by which Russians are recognized all over the world, are associated with a sincere desire to appear serious.

The Russians smile willingly. But only when meeting friends. Therefore, foreigners could be philosophical about the fact that on the streets they will meet many people who walk with the most unpositive expression on their faces, brows furrowed. Obviously, the climate has influenced this style so much. This is also due to the fact that Russians are characterized by some closeness, despite the fact that there is a proverb “In the world and death is red!”. Some actors in life are very closed. But the Russians will smile broadly and sincerely at acquaintances and friends. It’s just that in the mind of a Russian person, a smile and laughter are close in meaning, and “Laughter without a reason is a sign of a fool.”

Guests can come not only from abroad, but also from another region

Forewarned is forearmed. In order to be well prepared for contact with representatives of a particular national culture, in this case modern Russians, it is important to study their customs and traditions, features and possible differences. If you know what certain traditions are connected with, then this will make it possible to adapt in relation to partners, visitors, establish the correct style and intonation in communication with them, which, as a result, will allow you to establish long-term business relations. Knowledge of morals, peculiarities, traditions will eventually give a tolerant approach, which in turn will give understanding and create spiritual comfort and loyalty towards, in this case, the Russian people and their mysterious soul.

___________________________-

1. Paternalism ( lat. paternus - paternal, paternal) - a system of relations based on patronage,guardianship and control by seniors of juniors (wards), as well as subordination of juniors to seniors.

___________________________________

Irina Denisova, Member of the Council, coordinator of the Personal Marketing Club, the Communications workshop of the Marketing Guild

This article was published in the paper business publication “Secretary and Office Manager's Handbook”, No. 4, 2014. Please observe copyright and refer to the author and publication when reprinting. Published in the author's edition. - I.D.