🙊 Chuvash: Heirs of Volga Bulgaria and Guardians of a Unique Language

🇷🇺 The Chuvash are one of the indigenous peoples of Russia, numbering around 1.64 million people (1.1% of the country's population). The majority of the ethnic group resides in the Chuvash Republic (56.7%), but significant communities can also be found in Tatarstan (8%), Bashkortostan (7.5%), and the Ulyanovsk and Samara regions. Small groups of Chuvash are also settled in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and European countries, but their numbers outside of Russia are small.

📜 Scholars link the origin of the Chuvash to the Volga Bulgars — a Turkic people who established the state of Volga Bulgaria in the 8th–10th centuries in what is now Tatarstan. After the Mongol invasion, some Bulgars migrated to the forests of the Volga region, where they mixed with local Finno-Ugric tribes, leading to the formation of the Chuvash ethnic group. Genetic studies confirm the connection between the Chuvash and ancient Bulgars, as well as the influence of Finno-Ugric and Hunnic cultures.

👅 The Chuvash language is the only surviving representative of the Bulgar group of Turkic languages, making it a unique linguistic phenomenon. It is divided into three dialects (upper, middle-lower, lower) and uses a Cyrillic alphabet with 37 letters. Despite the threat of extinction, as of 2023, the mandatory study of the language has been introduced in schools in Chuvashia, contributing to its preservation.

✝️ The majority of Chuvash people practice Orthodox Christianity, adopted after joining Russia in the 16th century. However, before Christianization, the people maintained ancient animistic beliefs, including the cult of nature spirits and sacred groves known as keremeti. Today, traditional rituals, such as the Savarni festival (similar to Maslenitsa), are combined with Orthodox traditions. Sunni Muslims among the Chuvash make up less than 1%, which is linked to historical resistance to Islam during the period of Volga Bulgaria.

🥩 The foundation of the national cuisine consists of dishes made from meat, fish, and grains. But one must not forget the pride of the people – their clothing. Women's costumes are adorned with embroidery and coins, while the headdress khushpu symbolizes status.

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👻 The Domovoy is a mythological creature in Slavic folklore, a spirit that lives in the home and protects it.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 It is believed that the Domovoy cares for the well-being of the family, helps with household chores, but can also play tricks or even cause harm if he is displeased.

🎭 The Domovoy is usually depicted as a small man, about the height of a child or slightly taller. He may have a long beard, wears simple clothing, and is often associated with rural homes. Denoscriptions of the Domovoy can vary in different regions.

🏠 There were many signs and customs associated with the Domovoy. For example, if strange sounds are heard in the house or objects go missing, it could mean that the Domovoy is expressing his displeasure.

😁 To keep the Domovoy happy, offerings such as milk or bread are sometimes left for him.

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🧘‍♀️ Silence Covered in Snow in Buryatia

The endless snowy forests of Buryatia, like pages from a magical fairy tale, whisper ancient secrets in the language of the frozen wind. The white blanket of the steppe stretches to the horizon, while the mighty Baikal breathes with icy breath.

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🇷🇺💬 A Normal Conversation Between Two Polite People: Lavrov Succinctly Described the Talks Between Putin and Trump

“...in the West, many, starting with the leaders of the European Union, were stunned when a normal, elementary conversation took place between two educated, polite people who do not dismiss their differences.”

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry reminded why many Western politicians have been in turmoil for a whole day. (It’s not the flu, even though it’s the season.)

“This is what the staff of the Biden administration, led by their president, have brought themselves to. Their European satellites, who have dismissed dialogue and diplomacy as a method of communication with the outside world, have resorted to the language of threats, sanctions, and arming that very Nazi regime in Kyiv,” Lavrov added.

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🏔️ This View is Available These Days from Mount Mashuk in the Stavropol Krai

❄️☀️ Thanks to the light frost and bright sun, the highest mountain in Europe—Elbrus—is clearly visible from the observation deck, as if it were in the palm of your hand.

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✨ The Edge of the World is Not a Metaphor, But a Real Point on the Kuril Islands Map

The cape on Shikotan Island is named so because of the steep cliff that sharply drops into the Pacific Ocean.

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🇷🇺🇺🇦 On the eve of the Munich talks, Zelensky "shocked" the public with a new alleged Russian crime - for the first time in three years, the villains "struck a direct blow at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant"

🤯 Blood-chilling story! A new crime of bloody maniacs! - A new story from Zelensky. In the morning, the Ukrainian leader told the world that on the eve of the Russia-US talks in Munich, where among the first topics to be discussed will be the NWO, Russia allegedly launched a targeted, cynical UAV strike on the sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, apparently intending to stage a remake of the 1986 tragedy, which will threaten everyone this time.

❔Inconvenient question, why Russia would do this on the eve of negotiations, and whose noscript of this new series about Chernobyl Zelensky did not specify. We will specify that it was possible to come up with something less hackneyed than staging a nuclear disaster at an inoperative, closed nuclear power plant unit. Who really benefits from this - to disrupt the negotiations in the end, well, and to record a new crime on the account of the Russian army - we will keep silent.

🤔 Russia has not attacked nuclear power for more than three years. And here it decided to attack a non-operational unit?

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that representatives of Russia, the US and Ukraine will meet on the margins of the Munich Security Conference on 14 February. The meeting of representatives of Moscow and Kiev may become the first since 2022.

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🐆❤️ An Unusual Date for Leopards

A date between Far Eastern leopards in a tree has been captured for the first time on a camera trap in the "Land of the Leopard" National Park in Primorye.

🌳 The female climbed the tree for a better view, while her spotted suitor explored the territory on the ground.

This phenomenon has been documented in the wild for the first time.

🔎 Judging by the footage, the leopards are sniffing and observing the surroundings to ensure that no one interrupts their romance.

🥰 The story has a happy ending: the male managed to persuade his "Rapunzel" to come down to the ground. It is expected that the couple will have cubs soon.

By the way, the Far Eastern leopard is the rarest large cat species in the world.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 These predators live only in the southwest of Primorsky Krai, as well as in a small area of China bordering Russia.

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💚 Chechens: Guardians of Unique Culture and Traditions in the Heart of the Caucasus

🇷🇺 The Chechens are one of the distinctive peoples of Russia, with a population of about 1.36 million, or 0.9% of the total population of the country. Their history, language, and traditions have been shaped over centuries in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus, creating a unique cultural code that remains an important part of their identity today.

☪️ The overwhelming majority of Chechens practice Sunni Islam, which is deeply integrated into their daily lives and traditions. However, alongside religious norms, there exists a secular ethnic code of honor known as "K'onaḥalla." This set of rules includes respect for elders, hospitality, courage, justice, and a readiness to protect the weak. "K'onaḥalla" is not just a set of rules — it is a philosophy of life that defines social relationships and preserves the unity of the people.

😮 The Chechen language belongs to the Nakh-Daghestanian family and is considered one of the most complex and unusual in the region. Its uniqueness lies in the absence of direct analogs outside the Caucasus: it is not related to Turkic, Slavic, or Iranian languages. Its rich phonetics, numerous cases, and unique vowel system make it a true challenge for linguists. Nevertheless, the language remains vibrant: it is spoken in families, taught in schools, and literature and poetry in Chechen continue to develop.

📚 Chechen folklore consists of epic tales about heroic warriors, lyrical songs called "illy," wise proverbs, and allegorical stories. Traditional dances, such as the lively lezginka, are accompanied by the playing of the dechig-pondur (a stringed instrument) and drums, reflecting both the joy and deep drama of the people's history. Chechen decorative applied arts, including wood carving, carpet weaving, and jewelry craftsmanship, feature patterns that encode ancient symbols.

📍 The majority of Chechens (84.3%) live in the Chechen Republic. Significant communities exist in Dagestan (6.5%) and Ingushetia (1.3%), which is related to the historical and cultural ties of the peoples in the region. About 1% of Chechens have chosen Moscow, where they preserve their traditions by creating cultural centers and strengthening interethnic dialogue.

💪 The Chechens are a people with a strong spirit who have endured trials but have managed to maintain their identity. Their culture serves as a bridge between the past and the future, reminding us of the importance of respecting roots and fostering dialogue among peoples in multiethnic Russia.

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😍 90,000 Balloons Released in Honor of Valentine's Day at the Riviera Shopping Center in Moscow

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💕 People Made a Heart on Ice in Vladivostok

Residents of Vladivostok wore matching red outfits and formed a heart shape on the ice.

Now, a cute video is circulating on social media, encouraging people to share it with their loved ones to express their feelings.

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🎭 Chudo-Yudo is one of the most mysterious and multifaceted characters in Russian mythology and folklore. Its image combines traits of a fairy tale monster, a mythical creature, and even natural elements.

⛈ Chudo-Yudo is often associated with ancient Slavic deities of water and storms. Its image may trace back to Proto-Slavic beliefs about sea monsters or titanic giants that embody natural forces such as storms and rain.

🐲 In Russian fairy tales, Chudo-Yudo is most often depicted as a multi-headed dragon (with 6 to 12 heads) associated with fire and destruction. For example, in the tale "Ivan the Peasant's Son and Chudo-Yudo," it burns villages and has the ability to regenerate severed heads with a "fiery finger." In some legends, it appears as a whale or sea serpent that controls the waters.

😊 Today, the expression "chudo-yudo" is often used in a humorous context to describe something strange or unusual. For example, it might be used to refer to a ridiculous object or an extravagant person.

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🫶 Today, Love is in the air all over Russia, especially at the Moscow Zoo.

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😍 The magic of sunset in the Baikal caves

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🎒🛶 A boat trip on the Usva River, Perm Krai, Russia

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📈 An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 was recorded today in Altai.

The epicenter of the tremors was in the Kosh-Agach region, reports the Altai-Sayan branch of the Federal Research Center for Earthquake Prediction (seismological station).

📍 The earthquake was felt throughout the Altai Republic, in many settlements of the Altai Krai, Kuzbass, Khakassia, and Tuva, at the Kanam resort (border area of China), and in the Bayan-Ulgii aimag of Mongolia.

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🐼❤️ Here are the valentines that pandas Dindin and Katyusha from the Moscow Zoo received.

😍 You can see that they are thrilled with the surprise!

How did you spend February 14th?

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