Beliefs

The Firebird and Baba Yaga are stories, not the news.

People tell them to wonder, and to feel a little shiver, and then they come home.

Churches and holy days

Churches and icons are part of Christian life here.

At Easter, many families colour eggs and bake a tall sweet bread.

Many families mark Christmas in January.

Andrei Rublev painted icons. Trinity Lavra is still a place of prayer.

Many faiths

Muslim people have lived in these lands for many centuries, including in Tatarstan and the Caucasus.

Muslim families may mark Ramadan and Eid.

Buddhist people have lived in Buryatia and Kalmykia for many centuries.

Buddhist families there have temples and festivals.

Jewish people have lived in these towns for many centuries.

Jewish families may mark Shabbat and Passover.

We are not sure what people at very old graves believed.

Many families in Russia today are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, or of no religion.