Wedding at the RUSSIA EXPO: Newlyweds from Khakassia received the flame of the All-Russian Family Hearth

---

A wedding ceremony of a couple from Khakassia took place at the RUSSIA EXPO - it was timed to coincide with the National Achievements Forum: Entrepreneurship. Andrei Lik and Anastasia Poterailo are engaged in production of taiga tea together. They were handed the flame of the All-Russian Family Hearth "Heart of Russia", which was lit at the RUSSIA EXPO on January 23 - on this day Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the start of the Year of the Family.

"Of course, we were planning our wedding on this day - but to celebrate it here at the Exposition is very pleasant. It's something unique," said Andrei Lik. "It's like a special birth story of our family - out of the ordinary. We will tell it to our grandchildren," added Anastasia Poterailo.

The newlyweds were congratulated by Deputy Director General of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"» Anastasia Zvyagina. She handed them the flame of the All-Russian Family Hearth "Heart of Russia".

"Today you have made an important common step into the future - you have created a family. Not so long ago, here at the Exposition Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of the Year of the Family and said a very important phrase: Russia is a family of families. And the strength of Russia is in traditional values. I would like to pass the fire to you. It was brought to us from Murom by a large family of Terentyevs. And this fire has spread all over the country - it was carried by cars, airplanes, trains. We pass its part to you so that it could warm you, bring you love, loyalty and all the best and kindest things," said Anastasia Zvyagina.

The creation of a family by entrepreneurs on a thematic day at the RUSSIA EXPO in the Year of the Family is doubly important and valuable, said Oksana Kuchina, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Khakassia. "I wish you happiness, to cherish every moment spent with each other, and to your business I wish development and prosperity," Oksana Kuchina said.

"I wish you to always have kindness, understanding and compromise in your family. And to your to joint business - development and ambitious projects," Denis Paul, director of the center "My Business" of Khakassia, joined the congratulations.

During the ceremony, Andrei and Anastasia, as well as guests, tied chalam ribbons, which is part of the Khakass tradition. The white color of the ribbon stands for purity of deeds and thoughts in Khakass mythology, red is a symbol of the sun, warmth, life and prosperity, blue is a symbol of clear sky, connection with the cosmos, with the Upper World.