Festival of the Russian Geographical Society

The III Festival of the Russian Geographical Society was held from 3 to 12 November in Moscow in the Central House of Artists. In 2017, it was dedicated to the unity and diversity of the peoples of Russia.

More than 30 regions of the Russian Federation took part in the exposition and program of the event. The partners of the project were the Russian Post, N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS, the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Military-Historical Society and others.

The total area of ​​the exposition of the Festival was more than 6,000 m². Its main zones in 2017 were: «History of the Russian Geographical Society», «Dwellings of the peoples of Russia», «Folk costumes», «Crafts of Russia», «Holidays, rituals and games of the peoples of Russia», «Fairy Forest», a photo exhibition of winners and finalists of The Most Beautiful Country contest, as well as a zone of partners.

Guests of the event could get acquainted with traditional houses of the peoples of Russia: to look into a Russian hut, a Caucasian house and a Cossack house, to visit a yurt from Bashkiria, a real plague of the Tozhu Tuvans and a Chukchi yaranga. Visitors saw authentic objects of the life of the Amur Evenks and other peoples, learned what a tour-yurgan and pastor are and saw from what materials and how people built houses in different parts of our country.

The costumes of the peoples of Russia were presented at the Festival: traditional outfits of residents of the North Caucasus, the Urals and the Volga region, the North, Siberia and the Far East. The Russian costume was presented separately — visitors learned about the difference between the northern and southern costumes by the example of women’s festive clothes of Bryansk, Vologda, Voronezh and Ryazan regions.

When and how the Chukchi and Tuvans celebrate the New Year, what wedding traditions are followed by Mansi, what role the hearth plays in the life of the Vainakhs — all these interesting facts were told in the zone «Holidays, rituals and plays of the peoples of Russia». There was also the «Glade of Games»: everyone could participate in traditional games of the Tatars, Buryats, Kalmyks, and, following the long tradition of many peoples of our country, tie a ribbon to the «Tree of Friendship» and make a wish.

Also, the guests of the festival took part in numerous master classes and creative workshops: pottery, embroidery, carving on the horn of a deer; they learned how the Vologda lace and special Russian seam 'Irkutskaya glad' were created.

The program of the festival was diverse: performances of folklore ensembles from all corners of our country, musical and dance master classes, costume demonstrations, meetings with photographers and authors of documentary films, fascinating lectures by ethnographers and much more.

There are more than 190 peoples with common history and unique traditions in Russia. Learn more about our country!