The National Character
There is a great majority of factors that influence the nations stereotype and its people’s character. People that live in the southern countries have less problems than those who live in the North and because of this they’re more cheerful and artistic. The history also has a great influence on the national character. The people of Asia are revengeful because their forefathers often were at war with others. In Africa many countries were colonies of the Great Britain, Holland, Spain and so on Africans were the slaves and because of this they’re still hard-working and industrious.
The National Character exists. It is not a myth, it’s a reality. But the National Character doesn’t describe the character of every person, it describes the character of people of nation in general. Every person has its own character, but according to the person’s belonging to some nation many traits of character are similar and these features may be explained as the national character.
The Practical English Dictionary explains that character means the total of moral qualities making up an individuality. But what is Russian soul? It is not so easy to answer this question. To my mind it is a property, a treasure and a pride of the nation that had been formed during a long historical and cultural development. Russia is the land of uneasy destiny. It was tried by fire, bound with chains, forced to be silent. But through all the ordeals, my country survived with dignity.
Before the Revolution the Russians believed in three things: in God, the Tsar and the homeland. After the Revolution in the Soviet Union period citizens had no God, no Tsar. They had only the mother country and the Communist Party.
But fortunately, new times came. We believe in God again and love our land with all its drawbacks and blunders. In my opinion, the dominant quality of the Russian soul is love for the Motherland and there is no pragmatism in this love. The Russian soul has a very important distinguishing feature its boundless kindness. Every child knows that an unofficial symbol of our native country is a Russian birch. It symbolizes obedience, modesty, patience and cleanness. From birch leaves so - called "veniks"are made, which are used in Russian bathhouses. I didn`t find any English equivalent for the word "venik". The Russian bath or "banya" is a special ritual which comes down from one generation to the next one.
After all bathing procedures including diving into the ice water pool we usually sit down at the round table near the samovar, drink hot tea with honey and get into conversations.
Conversation is a very important part of our social life. "There is no better way to get to know Russians than over conversation with food and drink", wrote Mr. Richmond, the author of the book "From Nyet to Da." In the Russian language there is such an adjective "khlebosolny" which consists of two words "bread and salt" and means "hospitable". This word is the brilliant definition of the Russian soul and Russian character.
Занятие 41 «Традиции и обычаи РФ».
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