Traditions unite: cultural and educational program of the 2nd All-Russian Wedding Festival has started in the National Centre RUSSIA

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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.