"Synthesis of folk traditions and modern culture": lecture by Sofya Ernst at the Exposition

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On May 14, as part of the All-Russian Wedding Festival, actress and producer Sofya Ernst delivered a lecture entitled "Synthesis of Folk Traditions and Modern Culture". She shared the history of the creation of the "Getting Married" project, aired on Channel One. The event was organized with the support of the Istok project, dedicated to the development and popularization of Russian folk culture among young people.

The "Getting Married" project is a series of documentary films, which show the process of preparation for the main family celebration. Each series is dedicated to the organization of a wedding in the traditions and rituals of a particular region of Russia. The project avoids direct copying, it manages to create an unforgettable event for newlyweds, reproducing the cultural code.

"As part of the project, we come to a region, learn about its traditions and rituals, collect all the information and rethink it in order to make a modern wedding inspired by traditional rituals," Sofya Ernst told the Exposition guests.

She added that the project team is doing serious work in the regions, studying their culture, contacting local local history museums and collaborating with regional designers.

"Each region has its own crafts, for example, lace is different everywhere — there are a huge number of its varieties in Russia. We collect all the treasures preserved in the regions bit by bit and try to build them into our wedding. And our ethnographers collect information on the wedding rituals of our ancestors," said Sofya Ernst.

The "Getting Married" project is dedicated to wedding traditions in all parts of Russia.

"We traveled to Dagestan, and Chuvashia, and Udmurtia. It is very nice to see that there, somewhere far, far away, traditional clothes have been preserved. Grandmothers in these places say: "Yes, this is our custom, we pass it on from generation to generation". There is such a tendency that the further we go away from the city, from civilization, the higher the chance to meet a living tradition. This is a kind of research of where and how tradition lives now. At the same time, traditional costume does not mean archaic — on the contrary, it is very organic," she emphasized.

The All-Russian Wedding Festival started at the RUSSIA EXPO on May 12 and is being held in Russia for the first time. Until May 19, couples from all federal districts of the country will get married at the Exposition, and thematic days dedicated to the stages of the wedding rite and various customs will be held. Each of them will be connected with the traditions of Russia's regions and peoples.