I love you, my Siberia, my dear wonderland…
Siberian Federal District includes Western and Eastern Siberia. It is situated between European part of our country and Far East. It is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean in the North and it borders the Kazakh Republic, the Mongolia Republic and China. That is why when we say Siberian Federal District we mean Siberia.
To begin with, Siberia was inhabited by many nationals. “Chinese Sunnu” are from here too (they are “European gunny”). The Enisey is the birthplace of the kirgis, the middle part of the Ob` is the birthplace of the “ugry”, European branch is known for us as “Hungarians”.
More than that, Siberia spreads over the huge territory. The population density is law in this area nowadays, what matters most in this case is that the nations didn`t have much contact with each other. Besides, there wasn`t a dominant nation in Siberia. There is no doubt, that there was enough space for everyone, and when Russians appeared, they settle on free territories. Thus they were not numerous, they were afraid of conquering the other ethnic groups, but war actions was rarely were the point. For this reason there weren`t any international fights or quarrels. It is said that Kazaks, Russians, Ukrainians and Germans – all of them who came from the Urals were called “Cheldons” (a person from Don) by Siberian settlers.
We must admit that national differences gradually disappeared when Siberia became the place of exiles and penal servitudes. Siberia gets the status of not only the place where human being lives but also his fate. Moreover, Siberians started believing them being connected not by historical, cultural and religious ties, but mainly by the unique relations.
Life conditions never were simple in Siberia. Severe climate, strong frosts in winter, dry and hot summer, great amount of snow, low fertility – these were
the reasons why people lived difficult lives.
In addition, long distances and not numerous populations didn`t promote constant communication and exchange among people. Siberia was named “prison without walls” in tsar times. Such factors made Siberians to be self-cared and rely upon themselves.
Those who had firm character and iron will power could survive in mentioned above environment. Vladimir Vysotski said about it: “Entreaties and moans do not live here; snowstorm grabs and takes them over.”
The main argument in favour is aborigines were free than people in Russia Siberians didn`t know damaging of rights – “The God is high and the tsar is far away”. As a consequence of it all the problems were solved independently. It was possible if members of the conflict were ready to hear each other. Due to it, there were no Civil Wars (at the beginning of the 20th century the Civil War took place in Siberia as the fight of the Kolchak and the Red Army). As a result of it the Siberian mentality formed as a national peculiarity with courageous features, will, self-oriented power, aspiration to be independent and tolerance. I can`t but remind Vysotski lines: “Our mothers frightened us in infancy prophesying for fault Siberia… They sweared in hearts but really were afraid of so difficult fate to their children.”
Siberians helped Russian in difficult times not once. Colonel, “born to be the servent to the tsar and the father to the solders”, mentioned by Lermontov in his poem “Borodino”, was a commander of Tomsk Shooting regiment in reality.
In December 1941 Sibiryakidefended Moscow from fascists Germany. It can`t be denied that thanks to Sibiryaki Russians knew about mysterious country “Kidani” (China), reached the Pacific Ocean and further to California and made many important discoveries.
Siberians are very passionate because descendants of travelers or ancestors of people who were against tsar regime inhabited this area. Ready to fight, fighters to nature, people moved to Siberia when passion itself died away in the West. If you are asked abroad “Where are you from?” and your answer is “Siberia” noone would reask your nationality, because out of Siberia Sibiryaki – are the united nation.
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