Culture

The family unit is very important in Russia, as is its heritage. Christianity is the country's most practised religion, and although many languages are spoken, Russian is the most widely used. Its cultural centres are Moscow and St, Petersburg, where football and ice hockey teams are fanatically followed. Russia's natural resources have been the envy of the world for hundreds of years, and engineering has historically been at the core of its workforce and economic output.

Food and Drink

Unsurprisingly, its vast population, religious and cultural diversity have resulted in Russian cuisine offering an array of ideas, ingredients, methods and dishes. The harsh weather has a huge impact on the way meat is eaten, cooked and preserved. Varieties of chicken, beef and vegetable soups are home-made all year round. Providing warmth and nutrition, they have been a staple for many hundreds of years. Main courses are simple but delicious. Beef Stroganov and Pelemy are among many traditional dishes the country has to offer. Russia is world-famous for vodka. Beer is also rapidly increasing in popularity, and now Russia is one of the world's largest producers. Traditional non-alcoholic drinks include Kvass, while tea is also becoming an increasingly large part of Russian culture.

History

Even as far back as the fifth century, Slavs were pouring into Russia. Its first state was founded four hundred years later. Today it is known as Ukraine, and back in the ninth century, it was founded by Scandinavians. It was not until the early sixteen hundreds, after centuries of Turkish rule, that there was a marked expansion of the Russian Empire. It then took a further three centuries to reach its peak. Civil war divided the country and the start of the 1920s, but its end marked the start of further expansion, and the USSR was formed. This was followed a period of industrialisation that continued until the Second World War. Following the cold war and changes brought about under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, the soviet state disbanded in 1991. As Russia moves towards 2012, it still has no plans to join NATO or the European Union.