Love and traditions: couples from the All-Russian Wedding Festival celebrate the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia
The Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia is being celebrated in our country for the first time on 30 April. Joining the celebrations are couples who united their destinies at the I and II All-Russian Wedding Festivals. Over the past two years, the event has connected 427 couples, including the Evens from the Magadan Region and the Kazym Khanty from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra. For them, this new holiday is a symbol of unity, a reminder of the value of ethnic traditions and the uniqueness of cultural heritage.
The Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia was established by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. It is intended to draw attention to the preservation of the traditional way of life, crafts, economic activities, and original culture of ethnic communities numbering fewer than 50,000 people. For lovers among them, it is an occasion to proudly showcase the richness of ancient traditions and share the wisdom of their ancestors.
Daria and Alexander Vasiliev — Evens from the village of Ola in the Magadan Region — started their family at the I All-Russian Wedding Festival. Alexander admits that he dreamed of finding a bride "of his own blood", and reality exceeded his dreams. Daria not only honours Even traditions but is also skilled in traditional embroidery and performs northern folk dances in the "Nelkeni" ensemble. The young family is certain: the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples is an important holiday that reminds us that Russia is not just a territory, but a home for many unique peoples, calling us to protect the diversity of customs and cultures so that our country remains vibrant and multifaceted.
"Traditions play a huge role in preserving cultural identity. This can involve rites associated with holidays, the passing down of songs, tales, and legends, and, of course, the wedding. Our wedding at the I All-Russian Wedding Festival required about three months of preparation. We started by sewing national wedding costumes — our parents helped us a great deal with them. Before our trip to Moscow, the elders performed a traditional Even rite for us on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk — the feeding of the fire — to appease the spirits and cleanse the bride and groom of hardships before marriage. At the moment of registration, we held hands and experienced a storm of emotions: excitement, joy, and, of course, pride, as we became part of a grand celebration," the couple shared.
The lovers emphasise that it is very important that the All-Russian Wedding Festival allows every people to showcase their culture, as a wedding is a serious step towards continuing one’s lineage; it is linked to the continuity of generations and the transmission of traditions.
The II All-Russian Wedding Festival in 2025 united the destinies of Pavel and Valeria Tarlin — representatives of the Khanty people from Kazym. The couple represented the Beloyarsky District of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra at the festival. The young family admits they honour folk traditions: Pavel regularly visits his wife's parents' camp and helps them with reindeer herding tasks.
Pavel and Valeria arrived for the celebration in national costumes. The bride wore a bright Khanty dress made of cloth, embroidered with folk patterns, with a beaded breastpiece and a shawl. The groom wore a traditional shirt.
"We felt incredible pride that on our wedding day at the National Centre RUSSIA, we were able to show thousands of people the beauty of the Khanty culture, which is harmoniously linked with nature. Our main values are the veneration of the spirits of water and the forest, and respect for fire and the family hearth. Our people have great traditions of mutual assistance: in a cold land, it is beneficial to live together. And the establishment of the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia at the state level is a very important, long-awaited step for us. It is a sign of respect for our ancestors, history, and traditions. A holiday that unites not only us but everyone who cherishes the diversity of Russia," the spouses noted.
Applications for participation in the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" can be submitted until 22 May on the National Centre RUSSIA website. The celebration of love will take place on 8 and 9 July. By tradition, the main event will be a solemn simultaneous marriage ceremony for couples from across the country, who will demonstrate not only their sincere love for each other but also the beauty of national traditions. This year, the celebration of love will take place not only at the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow but also at its branches.
The I All-Russian Wedding Festival was held in 2024 as part of the International RUSSIA EXPO. During the event, 221 couples entered into marriage. In 2025, the event took place at the National Centre RUSSIA, where another 206 families were formed. The event has become an annual tradition and will be held on the feast day of Saints Peter and Fevronia.
The "Geography Lessons" exposition features a model of the first domestic high-speed train and the project for the Moscow — Saint Petersburg railway.
The holiday is intended to strengthen respect for their historical heritage and role in the country's development.
