Love, family and continuity between generations: the focus of the educational programme at the III Wedding Festival
On 9 July,
the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts"
featured an educational programme comprising a series of themed sessions. The
events, devoted to the role of the family in the modern world, its values and
its role as a source of strength, brought together experts in literature, art
and sport, public figures and participants in Wedding Festivals from different
years. Each meeting was an open dialogue exploring the many facets of family
life through words, art and personal stories.
Open
Dialogue "Smile of Russia — Smile of Unity"
The
nationwide project was launched during the panel session "Smile of Russia.
Smile of Unity". The initiative, dedicated to the Year of Unity of the
Peoples of Russia, will bring together residents of the country to create a
large-scale visual archive reflecting the diversity of peoples, family
histories and cultural traditions. The National Centre RUSSIA supported the
project and will become one of its venues.
"The
National Centre RUSSIA was created by our President, Vladimir Vladimirovich
Putin, so that we can be proud of our past and present. Russia's strength lies
in the fact that over the centuries we have learned to live together. We are
united by destinies, cultures, traditions, customs and shared historical
memory. Russia is a civilisation of traditional values, and the National Centre
helps preserve them and pass them on to new generations. We are proud that the
world's only All-Russian Wedding Festival is held here. After all, love,
family, fidelity and respect for one another are our main values. If we
carefully preserve this legacy, our country can neither be defeated nor
broken," said the Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA,
Anastasia Zvyagina.
The
moderator of the panel session, Anna Polezhayeva, Director of the House of the
Peoples of Russia and a member of the Presidential Council for Interethnic
Relations, noted that the project brings together modern technologies, science
and real human stories, allowing Russia to be presented through the faces of
its residents, family histories and the bonds between generations. According to
her, the initiative will help preserve the memory of family roots, highlight
the richness of the country's cultural diversity and show that Russia's strength
lies in the unity of its peoples.
The project
is open to all residents of the country. Participants will be able to create a
personal "map of roots" by marking on an interactive map the cities
connected with their family history and become part of a shared digital archive
dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Applications will be
accepted until 20 September 2026.
Open
Dialogue "Family as a Union: What Brings Generations Closer and Helps Them Grow Together"
Experts,
parents of large families and families taking part in the festival spoke at the
session "Family as a Union: What Brings Generations Closer and Helps Them
Grow Together". They shared their experience of building harmonious
relationships, raising children, preserving family traditions and passing
values on to new generations.
"When
people become a couple and then a family, they do not immediately think about
the long life ahead, the different things they will face and the fact that they
will have to go through everything together. A real family story is made up of
many events. We grow older, everything changes: habits, professions, children
appear, and the family changes and grows along with us. The most important
things are the skills and secrets that help preserve relationships, respect and
trust," noted the discussion moderator, mother of many children and
television and radio presenter Tatyana Romanenko (Tutta Larsen).
The
participants emphasised that a strong family is built on shared values, mutual
support, responsibility and the personal example set by parents. Families who
took part in the II and III All-Russian Wedding Festivals shared stories about
how they pass traditions on to their children, teach them to listen to one
another and preserve respect in their relationships.
Open
Dialogue "Forms of Love: Literature and Art"
Experts and
representatives of culture and the arts discussed at the session "Forms of
Love: Literature and Art" how literature, theatre, cinema, music and folk
traditions help people understand love, family relationships and mutual
responsibility and preserve traditional values.
Yevgeny
Zharinov, Professor at Moscow Pedagogical State University and Doctor of
Philological Sciences, and philologist Nikolai Zharinov turned to the works of
Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, noting that both writers regarded the family
as the foundation of the moral development of the individual and society.
Actress, producer and founder of the Istok House of Culture Sofia Ernst spoke
about the wedding traditions of the peoples of Russia, emphasising that in folk
culture, a wedding is seen not as the end of a love story, but as the beginning
of a new path in life and a union not only of two people, but of two families.
The
participants agreed that literature, art and folk culture help preserve family
values, cultural memory and continuity between generations. The open dialogue
was part of the business programme of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival,
which is being held at the National Centre RUSSIA and brings together families,
newlyweds, representatives of culture and public figures from across the
country.
Open
Dialogue "The Neurophysiology of Clothing"
Why is a
wedding dress more than just a beautiful tradition? Why did brides change their
outfits during the ceremony? And how did clothing literally help a person move
into a new life? Neurophysiologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor
at Moscow State University Vyacheslav Dubynin spoke about this at the meeting
"The Neurophysiology of Clothing" at the National Centre RUSSIA.
"Wedding
rituals have always emphasised the importance of transformation and moving to a
new stage. This is expressed through the colour of clothing, the features of
its cut and the very moment of changing clothes, when a person symbolically
says goodbye to their previous status and begins a new chapter in life,"
he said.
Open
Dialogue "Love as a Source of Strength: What Helps Preserve a Family in Times of Trial"
Participants
in the meeting "Love as a Source of Strength: What Helps Preserve a Family
in Times of Trial" discussed how mutual support, trust and responsibility
help families overcome life's difficulties and maintain strong relationships.
Television presenter and State Duma deputy Marina Kim emphasised that the true
strength of love is revealed precisely in times of trial, when it is especially
important for people to remain by each other's side.
"What
my wife went through was heroic. The words she said to me every day helped me
learn to love life again. Her support brought light back into my life and
showed me that I must not give up. Family is the strongest motivation,
something that allows you to cope with any difficulty," Olympic champion
Roman Kostomarov shared.
Participants
in the III All-Russian Wedding Festival Alyona Shatrova and Valentin Kucherenko
also shared their stories. They noted that any difficulties are easier to
overcome when spouses maintain trust, open dialogue and support.
"We
try to resolve all the difficulties we face only in person. Messages and phone
calls do not provide complete mutual understanding. When we are together, side
by side and hand in hand, any obstacles seem insignificant," the couple
said.
In
addition, on 9 July, as part of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival
"Russia. Uniting Hearts", the musical and choreographic parable
"Khorovod. Wedding" will be held, becoming the culmination of the
second day and bringing together artists and festival participants from across
the country. The ceremonial passing on of the flame of the All-Russian Family Hearth
"Heart of Russia" to the newlyweds will also take place.
The I
All-Russian Wedding Festival was held in 2024 as part of the International
RUSSIA EXPO. Since then, the event has become annual. It is organised by the
National Centre RUSSIA jointly with the Moscow Government and the Moscow Civil
Registry Office. This year, the branches of the National Centre RUSSIA in
Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk and Khanty-Mansiysk also joined the III All-Russian
Wedding Festival, with ceremonial marriage registrations held there as well. A
total of 186 couples married at the Wedding Festival, 150 of them in Moscow.
Recordings
of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival and its educational programme can be
watched on the russia.ru website in the "Livestreams and Videos"
section.
Event photobank
The musical and choreographic parable "Khorovod. Wedding" became the culmination of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts".
At the National Centre RUSSIA, couples took part in culinary and floristry workshops.
The care and attention of loved ones are what make it possible to overcome any difficulties, recover and move forward.
