Traditions unite: cultural and educational program of the 2nd All-Russian Wedding Festival has started in the National Centre RUSSIA
From July 8 to July 10, the National Centre RUSSIA plays a
role of space of unity and love. More than 200 couples will get married there.
On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, the grand opening of the 2nd
All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" took place, and
on July 9, a rich cultural and educational program was launched. Festival
participants and guests got a chance to spend their time in an interesting and
useful way. Thus, they are getting familiar with all the diversity of the
Russian wedding culture, learning new skills at master classes, attending
thematic excursions, and gaining new knowledge at meetings with experts.
The exposition of exclusive wedding dresses was the first to
open. It was divided into three sections so that guests could follow the
evolution of wedding fashion — from historical outfits to Soviet and modern
ones. The designers' clothes at the exposition were presented by the fashion
houses of Valentin Yudashkin, Alexander Arutyunov, Measure, GAPANOVICH and Edem
Couture.
The program is also full of public talks, where famous
historians, journalists, psychologists, musicians, stylists, beauty artists and
heads of wedding agencies share interesting information and give valuable
advice. On July 9, Anatole Vovk, an art critic and fashion historian, told
about the history of wedding rings. The audience learned how this symbol of love
and fidelity has changed in the history of Russia, what was the difference
among the wedding rings of aristocrats, merchants and townspeople, and what
traditions of pre-revolutionary Russia have survived to the present day.
"The traditions of wearing wedding rings have changed
over time. For example, Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, as well as
Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna, observed this custom. However, after the
revolution, marriages were no longer performed in churches, but were registered
in registry offices, and wedding rings lost their former importance. But over
time, everything came back: rings, wedding dresses, gifts, specialty stores. In
the 1990s, foreign accessories and clothing began to be imported to Russia, and
now they are also produced by Russian brands. Modern couples can choose any
wedding rings they like — made of gold, silver, steel or other materials, with
or without stones. But whatever the decoration is, the most important thing is
that a wedding is a union of two loving hearts who want to raise children and
pass on their values to them," Anatoly Vovk explained.
At the gastronomic venue, the guests could not only learn,
but also literally taste the wedding traditions of different peoples of Russia.
A spectacular gastroshow was conducted by a multinational team of chefs from
the "Gastronomic Map of Russia" project, led by Ekaterina
Shapovalova, author, methodologist and head of the "Gastronomic Map of
Russia" project.
"At such large thematic events as the All-Russian
Wedding Festival at the National Centre RUSSIA, it is very important to talk
and show how rich our country is in cultural, gastronomic, and musical
traditions. Young people should absorb these traditions, keep them in their
families and pass them on to their children. More than 190 peoples living in
Russia share a common memory. And when we celebrate important moments in life,
whether it's a wedding or a birthday, Russian music should sound, and modern
dishes of our rich multinational cuisine should be served. I am sure that in
the next 5 years the National Centre RUSSIA will become the largest
"library" in the country, a major source of our national heritage in
all areas," Ekaterina Shapovalova said.
It all began with a traditional ritual: the newlyweds broke
a loaf for happiness, health and a long life together. The loaf was prepared by
Chef baker of the Russian cuisine chain "Tsar Kurnik" Irina Khasaeva,
whose mother is from Don Cossacks, and whose father is a Lak. Chef of the ethnocultural
project "In Karelia Eat", father of many children, Mikhail Gavrilov,
taught to make "Kosoviki" — pies for a son-in-law. And for the
brides, there was prepared a traditional Buryat drink "sai", which is
an integral part of the nomadic Buryats' wedding traditions. The tea ceremony
was held by cultural carriers and employees of the Buryat cuisine chain
"Orda" Albina Akmatova and art director Angarag Chagdurov.
The gastroshow will also take place on July 10. It was
decided that the final day of the wedding festival will treat the guests with
traditional pancakes. On this day, the newlyweds will be able to taste pancakes
with 50 flavors of Russia, as well as to compete in the art of frying pancakes
in a frying pan and turning them in the air.
There was also a public talk about how wedding traditions in
the Russian culture — peasant, noble, and modern — were changing. Their
evolution was discussed by Maria Sevostyanova, editor-in-chief of
"Prababoushka", magazine about love to Russian culture, Daria Samsonova,
director of TV project "Playing the Wedding", Irina Serova, designer
of the EDEM fashion house.
At a public
talk, Ekaterina Minkevich, founder of "Influence You" agency, member
of Association of Speakers of Russia, and of international organization
"Global Women in PR", mother of three children, and Elena Lashtabega,
pediatric neuropsychologist and expert in brain development, talked about
Raising children in the digital age.inging in the digital age. They
discussed effective time allocation strategies and methods of developing
self-discipline in children. As the speakers emphasized, the most important
thing in parenting is a parental example and an open dialogue in the family.
The meeting with psychologist Veronika Krutilnikova was
about effective techniques and tools that help to shape a sustainable
harmonious partnership. Long-lived couples also shared their secrets of strong
relationships, including the star family of Vyacheslav and Ladlena Fetisov, who
have been happily married for 36 years.
The program includes a variety of workshops where people can
show their talents, master new skills and learn more about wedding traditions.
On July 9, masters of folk crafts taught everyone interested to make wonderful
souvenirs with a sacred meaning: pare of dolls called "Nerazluchniki",
which protect the relationship in a couple, and "Wreaths of
happiness" from meadow grasses as a symbol of love and well-being.
The newlyweds and guests of the festival also had thematic
tours of the National Centre RUSSIA. Thus, they got to visit "The Birth of
Scale" and "Journey Across Russia" expositions. Through the
prism of family and love, these routes show how the destinies of people and the
history of our country intertwined into a single plot. The excursions participants
also took a look at the exposition of children's works themed "House of
Happiness for the loved ones". They've learned about families and entire
dynasties who had left a vivid mark on the history of Russia, as well as about
traditions and wedding ceremonies of different regions.
On July 10, it will also be possible to visit expositions,
to take part in a gastroshow and to learn something new in master classes. In
addition, on this day, the cultural and educational program includes public
talks, lectures, and a meeting of the literature club. Discussions of wedding
trends, wedding organization, and the basics of family harmony will be held by
Elena Buryakova and Inna Snizhko — founders of "Wedding Awards
Russia"; Elena Shirshova, head of wedding agency "Wedding
people"; Mikhail Braslavsky, founder of wedding agency
"Bonweddings"; Anastasia Isaeva, executive director of wedding agency
"For Two", DD-CLUB Private Events; Julianna Wiener, entrepreneur,
philanthropist, partner of the conference "Points of growth in
business"; Leonid Ovrutsky, composer, leader of the "Quattro"
band, and other speakers.
The meeting with Vyacheslav Dubynin, Doctor of Biological
Sciences, neuroscientist, professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and
Denis Reshetov, head of the Academy of Business Communications, teacher, author
of the best-selling book "The Mood for Communication", will allow
participants to look at love from the point of view of chemistry and deduce a
working "formula of love". And the guests of the literary club
"What would you like to read?!" will discuss books about love,
devotion and family relationships. The moderator will be a professor at the
Higher School of Economics, the author of the telegram channel "Chesnakov.
The library" Alexey Chesnakov.
A musical evening concert — an immersion into the world of
feelings through the popularly beloved Russian music works of the XX century,
will be a bright ending of the cultural and educational programme, as well as
of the entire wedding festival. The famous and loved music pieces will be
performed by soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre, laureate of international
competitions Diana Kazanlieva, and laureate of international competitions,
artistic director of the "Overton" creative Association Yakub
Suvorov, accompanied by the leading accompanist of the Mikhailovsky Theater
Natalia Dudik.
The full program of the festival is available on the
official website of the National Centre RUSSIA in the "Events"
section.
Event photobank
The Department Store stand became a significant part of the international industrial exposition INNOPROM 2025.
The stand of the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA became one of the most visited spaces at the INNOPROM 2025 International Industrial Exposition, held in Yekaterinburg from July 7 to 10.
On July 10, Regina Todorenko and Vlad Topalov will host the closing ceremony of the II All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts."