From Russia with Love

🇷🇺

People of the North. Pomors, Nenets, and Komi-Izhemtsi

The Arkhangelsk Oblast is not only about Russian villages and Pomor settlements. It is a land where indigenous peoples have lived for centuries, each with their own language, customs, and philosophy of life. Today, on the final day (dedicated to) the Arkhangelsk Oblast, we will tell you about the main ethnic groups of this harsh and beautiful region.

🚤 Pomors — the "Russian Vikings" (photo 1)

Let's start with those who gave this land its name. The Pomors are not just inhabitants of Pomorye; they are a distinct sub-ethnic group of the Russian people with their own identity.

Their customs were born from the daily struggle with the sea and the cold. Women here were never afraid of work, and men would go to sea for weeks and months. The main Pomor tradition is the "tonya" (fishing camp) and respect for the sea. You could not curse the sea, even during a storm. When setting sail, a Pomor would always leave his house open — so any traveler could enter, warm up, and eat. This was the law of northern hospitality.

The Pomors had their own calendar, their own signs, and even their own "Pomor language" (actually a dialect), where a compass was called "matka" (womb/mother), a storm "torok", and the Northern Lights "pazorya".

🦌 Nenets — masters of the tundra (photo 2)

In the northeast of the region, in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (which is part of the Arkhangelsk Oblast), live the Nenets — an indigenous small-numbered people of the North.

They are reindeer herders. Their life is still governed by the rhythm of nomadism. The chum (tent), reindeer, sleds, and the endless tundra — that is their world.

The main custom that amazes visitors is their respect for nature as a living entity. You must not hit the ground with a stick, scold a river, or leave trash behind in the tundra. For a Nenets, the reindeer is not just food and clothing; it is a sacred animal on which the survival of the clan depends.

The Nenets have their own holiday — Reindeer Herder's Day. It's a real festival with reindeer sled races, thynzei (lasso) throwing, and jumping over sleds. A spectacle of incredible beauty and energy!

🇷🇺 Komi-Izhemtsi (photo 3)

In the southeast of the region, in the Leshukonsky and Mezensky districts, live the Komi-Izhemtsi — another people who mastered the northern expanses. They came here from the Pechora River and mixed with the Pomors, creating a unique culture.

The Komi were famous not only for reindeer herding (they were the first among the Finno-Ugric peoples to start breeding large herds) but also for their astonishing costumes. Women's Komi dresses were embroidered so skillfully that they were passed down as family heirlooms.

🙌 Unity in Harshness

What unites all these peoples? The ability to listen to nature and respect one's neighbor. In the Arkhangelsk tundra, it is not customary to quarrel. If you meet someone on the road, you must feed them. If you have fish and your neighbor has meat, you exchange. This isn't business; it's survival and good neighborliness.

This is the Russian North — diverse, proud, and hospitable.

Soon we will head to another amazing corner of our country. Where? You'll find out tomorrow 😊

#RussianCulture

❤️

From Russia with love

Please open Telegram to view this post