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22:30
Russian wedding traditions — the ceremonial doll
In Ancient Rus’ dolls served as a type of companion in everyday life. They helped to ensure that peace, health, prosperity and love reigned supreme in every home. Each important event — be it a wedding or the birth of a child — had its own special doll. The Krupenichka doll — named after the Russian word for grain, «krupa» — was considered the most important doll in home. During the harvest it was filled with grain and people believed that if filled to the top, the next year’s harvest was guaranteed to be plentiful. Another doll, the Kubyshka-travnitsa, was made by filling pieces of fabric with yarrow, mint, sage and hops. Such a doll was believed to protect the home and preserve a woman’s beauty and health. The Bird Woman was more of a ceremonial doll. It was made at the end of winter with the goal of encouraging spring’s timely arrival. In village homes there were as many...
The View from Up On High. River Caravans. The Volkhov River
For eight thousand years the Volkhov River has carried its waters from south to north – from Lake Ilmen to Lake Ladoga. The Volkhov was part of the most critical international trade routes for many centuries, and was also the main transportation artery for the swathes of land on either side. Over that span of time, hundreds of thousands of ships of all kinds – dignified merchant vessels, rickety fishing boats, fancy white steamships, working motorboats – sailed along its waters. It has also been the scene of battles for territory and the souls of believers, but at the same time provided an opportunity to maintain commercial ties. The people the river connected learned to solve their problems amicably and be good neighbors. And it was here, on the banks of the Volkhov River, that the Russian state was born.
Now on air
22:30
The View from Up On High. River Caravans. The Volkhov River
The Novgorod veche
Just what is the Novgorodian Assembly? It is a legislative body that can be compared to the modern-day State Duma. In Novgorod the highest authority of power was the people’s assembly, which was called the «Veche». There citizens discussed the most important issues concerning domestic and foreign policies – questions such as the crowning and expulsion of princes, instances of war and peace and unions with other states. Nowadays there is a bright theatrical show of the same name taking place in Veliky Novgorod. The modern Novgorodian «Veche» helps guests to immerse themselves in the past. There tourists can see how the old «Novgorodka» coin was minted, taste classic Novgorodian cuisine and try on outfits boyars once wore.
Now on air
22:30