Russian Culture for World Culture Day- Tradition, is it Dead or Alive??
Grade level: 10th grade
Time: 45 minute lesson
Objective: Students will be able to identify how tradition and modern culture are both present in Russia and other Slavic nations.
Materials: pictures of “Bread and Salt” welcome from RAEE Dec. 2014-Jan.2015 and others from internet; actual bread and salt; students; paper/pens; personal copy of the “Domostroi” in Russian.English translation available at many libraries and bookstores -- look for ”The Domostroi: Rules for Russian Households in the Time of Ivan the Terrible edited by Carolyn Pouncy, 1995.
Videos: video]
[Russian wedding]
[Smolensk video]
Procedure:
Greet the students as they enter the classroom by asking them to take a piece of bread and dip it in salt, and eat it. After the class is seated, ask “what do you think is the point of having some bread and salt?” Class discussion on their thoughts.
Begin with explaining when important, respected, or admired guests arrive, they are presented with a loaf of bread placed on a tray as a sign of hospitality. In Russia (and many other Slavic countries), the tradition of “Bread and Salt” includes a form of specially baked round bread with a salt placed on top of the bread or in the middle of the bread. This custom is often practiced during official events and even in restaurants when you go with a group of tourists. The guests are supposed to break off a piece of the bread, dip it in the salt, and then eat it. Watch Youtube videos of the bread and salt tradition in the Russian and Ukrainian cultures.
Usually the “Bread and Salt” presented by a young woman dressed in a national costume. Depending on the region of the nation, it could be a traditional peasant costume or even a Cossack one.
Ask students: Why bread? Why salt? What is so significant about it? Allow for a pair-share activity
Bread in many cultures is a very revered product. Bread in Russia symbolizes wealth. Since ancient times, salt has been highly valued in Russia, and people even believed that salt offered protection from evil forces. The “Bread and Salt” tradition appeared in Russia long time ago. In one of the written sources – a collection of rules and precepts of the 15th century – “Domostroi” we can read that this custom is very old and the “Bread and Salt” is presented during celebratory events and at the time of mourning as well.In the Middle Ages Russian people also believed that if enemies shared “Bread and Salt” with each other they would become close friends.Even today a good host in Russia is a person who treats his guests very well and follows the “Bread and Salt” tradition.
Closing activity: Ask students to respond to this prompt: In a 3 paragraph essay (minimum), decide if tradition and modern culture both have a place in Russia today, can you think of 3 examples from American culture? Do Americans and Russians treat tradition the same way? Defend your argument with evidence from American and Russian customs, traditions, and folklore.
“Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova”. Yaroslavl residents welcome the Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova with bread and salt.
Russian hostess in Smolensk greeting American teachers with Bread and Salt
Russian teacher and student singing traditional greeting song as teachers entered the building
American teachers were greeted with the bread and salt platter in Smolensk province. It is customary to break off a piece of bread, dip it in the salt, and then eat it. Another picture of the bread and salt being offered
The beginning of the line of guests, being greeted with the bread and salt.