Russian Daily Life
A brief overview of the traditional foods, clothing, housing, and lifestyles of Russia.
Traditional Lifestyles of Russia
While kingdoms and empires came and went, the peasants of Russia remained. For most of the nation's history, the vast majority of its population lived in small farming communities. Under serfdom, peasants, or 'souls,' could be bought and sold along with the land they lived on. In medieval times, they worked on two plots of land: one to support their local lord and the other to feed their families. Each field was divided into strips, which were then allocated to individual families. The amount of land each family received to work depended on its size. Their staple crops included beets, cabbage, rye, and other hardy vegetables.
Markets were typically held once or twice a week, but most families produced as much of their own goods as possible. Peasant women, for example, made colorful, patterned clothing from flax and cotton. Styles varied by region and time, but many favored red and white and embroidered natural imagery such as flowers into their work. Their extra clothing could then be sold at market in exchange for other items.
A typical peasant family lived in a one- or two-room timber house called an izba. Families slept on top of large ovens for warmth or on shelves lining the walls. They often stayed together for multiple generations. As serfdom became more akin to slavery, landowners sometimes sold individuals or entire families to other estates, or passed land between hands. Serfs could also be conscripted into the military at any time. In many cases, however, peasants were free to live as they chose so long as they met their obligations. The actual living conditions of a village depended on the wealth and temperament of its owner.
The peasant class made up the bulk of Russia's population, but they were generally not the most visible members of its society. The upper classes of tradesmen, clergy, and nobles tended to lead more lavish lifestyles. They might live in stone, brick, or timber townhouses and country estates instead. The truly wealthy shared more in common with the nobility of Western Europe than the peasants who worked their fields. Famines were a relatively common occurrence; when they struck, it was usually serfs who died by the thousands.
Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom in Russia in 1861. Part of sweeping national reforms, the transition brought both new freedom and new struggles for the Russian peasants. Land once owned by wealthy estates came under peasant control, but many ended up still working for their former masters. Feudal obligations were replaced by rents and taxes. Unable to support themselves by farming alone, former serfs now worked as laborers or enlisted in the military. Overall, the reforms came too late and changed too little. In 1917, after several peasant uprisings, socialist forces toppled the monarchy and began a new phase of Russian history.
Life in the Soviet Union
Under the Soviet system, Russia’s working classes experienced new opportunities equality, but also new challenges and dangers. The state provided employment, food, housing, and education to all citizens, ensuring their basic needs were met. When this fell apart, however, widespread crises could result. The largest famine of the Soviet Union occurred shortly afters its formation, as peasant farmers were pushed from their own land and onto collectively owned farms. The transition proved inefficient at best, leading to mass food shortages, food riots, and crackdowns. The Great Famine took place in the 1930s and was quickly followed by World War II, another period of immense suffering in Russia and its associated territories.
The mid-20th century saw a more stable social and economic system within the Soviet Union. Physical labor was typically rewarded with higher wages but less prestige than intellectual roles. Shortages of goods were relatively common. In the cities, multiple families shared communal apartments until more housing could be built. People took part in the black market to buy and sell goods they could not otherwise find. Other elements of daily life went on much like contemporary Europe and the United States. Children went to school, took examinations, and prepared for careers as adults. Mothers received 18 months of half-paid maternity leave and subsidized daycare. Life in the Soviet Union was complex, always changing, and it varied widely between regions, cities, and families.
Modern Russian Lifestyles
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation adopted a more capitalistic system still influenced by its Soviet past. Today, about three-quarters of the Russian population can be found in urban centers, where they work in any number of fields. Traditional foods like borscht, dumplings, piroshki pastries, and cabbage or beef soups are all still commonly served. In addition, access to foreign cuisines has increased significantly in both markets and restaurants. Western-style apparel is the standard in most parts of Russia. Life in modern Russia tends to be diverse and active, with an emphasis on sports and outdoor recreation. More rural regions, particularly those inhabited by ethnic minorities, may practice more traditional lifestyles.
References
Bushkovitch, Paul. A Concise History of Russia. Cambridge University Press. 2012.
Moon, David. The Russian Peasantry 1600-1930: The World the Peasants Made. Routledge. 2014.
Malyukova, Anna. “Everyday Life in the Soviet Union.” Left Voice, www.leftvoice.org/Everyday-Life-in-the-Soviet-Union.
Rowland, Daniel Bruce. Medieval Russian Culture. University of California Press. 1984.
“The World Factbook: Russia.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 29 May 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html.
Vernadsky, George. Kievan Russia. Yale University Press. 1973.
Ziegler, Charles. The History of Russia. ABC-CLIO. 2009.
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