It's perfectly fine. I tell you this: truly religious people don't say "I am very religious". If they say it then it's very often a facade and a social statement. Truly religious people even belittle themselves in their faith. So Yulia's statement "I am not very religious" (I would have to see the exact words and context) may be just a sign of modesty.
If you look at those posts they are not generic Santa Claus or Easter Bunny wishes. They are actually religious and they specifically and directly refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I won't read to deep into it. A lot of these Christian holidays are also social traditions, and even not really religious people observe them. It's like Christmas in the USA - you won't call anyone religious just because they congratulate others with it.
Ok, in order to understand why Russian ladies like to wear their crosses one need to travel and hang out with some Russkies first.
In short, it's true about Russians paying huge over-the-top respect to their cultural heritage, history, traditions, religion and special care to elders. They like to keep these things in order to carry on and pass their cultural identity to the next generations. But in general they are not that religious. A lot of Russians start wearing a cross after being baptized in childhood or later. Interestingly, some of them (like 70-80% of them) did not even ever take it off their neck. It's a habit of sort.
But it's not necessary means they go to church every Sunday and act like our American evangelical or devoted Catholic Christians. They basically wearing their crosses around necks just to acknowledge their Byzantine (Greek Orthodox) Christianity heritage and traditions, not much of them getting so religious and self-righteous. They don't judge those who don't go to church and don't judge whose who do that often. Sometimes they go to their beautiful churches in the middle of the day just to have a break from urban noise and to enjoy escape in cool shade during a hot day. It always beautiful inside, like a museum; clean, quite, cool - a perfect place to sit and think, relax in silence for a little while. Only with age few might start going to church more often and be closer to God and faith.
In general Russian lady wearing a cross does not always automatically means what she is religious. It basically means that she was baptized and prefers to consider herself as a Christian, i.e. a "good girl". At least for parents.
But it's usually a true for these particular personalities and characters too, as these girls tend to be a bit more modest than others, they try to be more kind and less vulgar than others (in their eyes). So cross around the neck for them is mostly like a symbol - "here, I'm a good person. I'm trying to live good, healthy and believe in kindness, etc". Certainly it's Christianity based, but it's not a blind devoted dogma of faith. It's more of a personal choice to be on a positive side of things. Heck even their devoted muslims are ok with eating pork and consuming alcohol, I personally seen many cases like this myself. [emoji38]
Russian church crowd is actually more tolerate to LGBT community, as long as they are not messing with their heritage and traditions. They tend to be more mellow on this subject. Unlike their dogmatic church officials and their rednecks. Yes, Russia has probably the same amount (or may be a bit more) of the their own rednecks. Although, I gotta say, I like to be a redneck myself sometimes. Who doesn't?
That's the only issue. Needless to say there is no such a thing as political correctness is Russia, so one need to grow a thick skin while being in Russia. Russian humor is a tough challenge - no topics are taboo. Heh. Everything and everybody is a fair game, and can be subjects of jokes and anecdotes, one need to learn not to take it personally and laugh along when traveling in Russia.
From my experience of hanging out with Russians they are extremely loose about their faith, unlike Catholics or Baptists. They are strongly serious about paying their respect to their religious traditions and holidays, they mostly like to visit their onion dome churches only during big holidays mostly, but it usually never taking extreme forms in public. It's usually more about nice ceremonies, church bells, choir and stuff. Well, what not to love about Russian churches? Tourists are always welcome, although wearing shoes is mandatory. They also will supply you with a long skirt and a headscarf to throw it on top of your head, you will give them those items back when leaving the church. Just symbolical requirements. Men on contrary have to take their hats off.
Most of the big churches often are just nice museum. It's usually super interesting inside. No one gonna jump on you and force religious believes on you there. Sometimes it can be a museum and an active church only on special time and special days. Anyways everybody are always free to come in disregarding their faith or nofaith.
But oh boy, those church bells and church/monastery choirs are amazing.
My personal all-time favorite is St. Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg:
http://youtu.be/dEvXD8hN6Ps
Russians generally consider personal faith as a solemnly personal choice. Although after very breakup of Soviet Union during early 90's it was very popular, especially after those nearly 80 years during which any religion was not allowed at all. So now few politicians here and there like to take it to populism form in order to get some political momentum points for next elections.. But it's not a necessary always a bad thing. It brings a lot of positive vibes actually. Like recently (like 5-6 years) they made a habit to celebrate Easter in Moscow in a very public and colorful manner: street festivities, cute Easter eggs sculptures and art installations all across the city. It's a carnaval /slash street fest of sort.
Some fluff form my friends. Different parts of Moscow this year:
http://youtu.be/c6XE7W_wLy8
http://youtu.be/0y7H5ULgLfA
http://youtu.be/VKrYcuzT8ZQ
http://youtu.be/S4uFBrBmrjE
They also hold some special classical music festivals all across the country too. Gergiev always taking his Mariinsky orchestra on tour around many cities and provinces across Russia during Easter. They holding series of free concerts for those Russky citizens, which don't have enough money to travel far or time to get off work to visit St Petersburg and expose their kids to cultural heart and arts of Russia. Ya know, in Soviet Russia if you can't come to high-culture, then culture comes to you for free.
Maestro Gergiev with Mariinsky:
http://youtu.be/Q6SI1XoN_lc
Christmas time is especially nice and elegant in Moscow. They have different dates in Orthodox Christmas. But it's generally the same. 7th of January or so..
Here are some fluff from my bookmarks.
Big openair ice rink:
http://youtu.be/82WTJZH4Fr4
Ice rink in the park for youth and hipsters:
http://youtu.be/eIF-vHXEVtc
http://youtu.be/vZ8RL1uzjbc
http://youtu.be/i-y6mRaKiVo
http://youtu.be/e9NOOhNfd_0
http://youtu.be/L5tn-tQNGeA
http://youtu.be/vZ8RL1uzjbc
http://youtu.be/pDyCFyD8NpM
http://youtu.be/pXZVhQqs-Es
http://youtu.be/p2pGes6GniI
http://youtu.be/TBNLlVc_vPI
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So here is my a bit lengthy (but brief
) input on the subject. So at least we can understand and learn from each other more about little Russian prodigies of figure skating craft. They Iive in this culture, they love their country, they are exposed to their cultural heritage and traditions of many centuries at the very young ages. Certainly, they very much like to keep their national identity and have all the attributes which comes with being a Russky.
Sounds so cool! :thumbsup:
And the round pendant is usually a tiny icon of some saint.
