(I’d like to apologize for not writing in a while. I’m finally getting ready to go home after six months and that is taking up a lot of my time.)
Today, I want to talk about folklore and the building of a persona. In Russia, there is the concept of the Russian Soul (similar yet completely different from the concept of the American Spirit for those who are familiar). This concept goes back as far as I can find data and can be seen in folklore and fairy tales throughout Russian history. Many times, you will hear the “Russian Soul” described as “delighting in misery” or being staunchly stoic in all things. These descriptions are only partially true and they miss the real heart of the expression.
So, what is it in its entirety then? Simply, it is abject realism in the face of all things and an acceptance of things that cannot be changed. For owners of the Russian Soul, there is no need to lament the things outside of their control. This is not to say that everything is left up to fate though, far to the contrary. We’ll cover that in a bit. It is just an acceptance that some things just happen.
Let’s talk about Olga for a moment, the consummate baddass Pagan turned Christian ruler from 10th century Kiev. I 
feel her story is a perfect example of early expression of the Russian Soul. Her and her husband, Igor were pagan and supported the old gods, but there was a lot of pressure from Byzantium and Constantine to convert. When trying to work out a compromise the Drevlian tribe, who were staunchly pagan, murdered Igor, thinking he was going to make them convert. Olga, despite protests from advisors, took control of her country decimated the tribe of her husbands killers and went on to make Kiev an important industry and trade hub until her son was able to take over. Though she had been Pagan, she realized the necessity of Christianity to realize her goals and was baptized Helen. Eventually, the rest of the country followed suit.
Hers is a perfect example of the Russian soul, and we see it early in the 10th century. Here we see the acceptance of Christianity as a necessity regardless of personal feeling. In fact, not only did she accept it but she followed her Christian duties carefully. But we also see the determination to punish her husband’s killers despite protests and the hurdles that had to be over come to do so, and she did it in epic fashion.
On top of peoples lives we also have folklore to give us insight to the Russian soul and what those in all times of Russia (Rus’, Muscovy, USSR and Russia proper)value. The most numerous stories tend to revolve around the same essential character either referred to as Vasilii or Prince/Tsarevitch Ivan. I refer to them as the Russian ‘Little Johnny’ stories. (If you aren’t familiar with Little Johnny stories, they are American stories, typically from the South about a young boy who gets into and out of mischief with wit and industry, the ideal of the American Spirit.) Whether our hero in these stories is happy, or sad, rich or poor, things just happen to him. There is no translatable rhyme or reason for them, just the understanding that some things happen beyond our control and they can be very good or very bad. Our hero always just dutifully goes along with whatever happens, helping himself only when absolutely necessary. The stories always end the same, with the hero getting money, land and a beautiful wife.
A perfect example is the story “Ivanoushka the Simpleton” He and his brothers each are supposed to do vigil at his fathers grave. The brothers don’t go, and Ivan goes every night. He is rewarded for doing so with a stove the first night, nothing the second, but its stated he sleeps on the stove that day, and if given a magical talking horse the next night. (This story, like many, was largely an oral tradition and I’ve read many different versions. I’m sticking to the parts that appear in all of them) After that, life goes on as normal till the Tzar opened up a competition for his daughters hand. Ivan uses the horse to win the competition but not quite in the way one would expect. Like I said, the versions are different, but more than
one has him jumping in one of the horses ears and coming out the other ear handsome and dressed in finery. Another interesting point in the story that tends to be a common trope, is that even with magic, he is not successful the first time. Of course, he did eventually succeed, his brothers were jealous and he got wealth and the girl.
This story and Olga’s seem completely different on the surface. Olga fought tooth and nail for what she wanted and Ivan seemed to just dumb luck his way into success, but when you dig a little deeper they are both prime examples of the same Russian Soul. Ivan completely accepts the things he cannot change, his brothers and others opinions of him. So he makes a different path. He doesn’t argue with his brothers when they won’t take him, he dresses himself up so he is unrecognizable so he will not have to fear being excluded when he gets there. He fails, even with magic, but perseveres. He perseveres though now the odds seem, to the outsider, even more insurmountable. Just like Olga.
The last story I want to talk about that I feel embodies the Russian Soul is that of Baba Yaga, the old forest witch. Much in the style of Hansel and Gretl and Marie Laveau, Baba Yaga was a witch that lived in the forest in a house with chicken legs. She often killed and ate hapless travelers including children. So, the Russian Soul part has to be about the travelers that survive her right? Eh, no… While its true, in many stories she lures victims to their fate there are also several stories where she cared for lost and abused children and helped them find their or a better home. An interesting reality for a witch that is supposed to strike terror in children and bring about good behavior. I believe the reason for this character development is that Russians are realists if they are nothing else. Sure, Baba Yaga is a witch and witches do nefarious things but a kid in need pulls at the heart strings and Baba Yaga is no exception.
When people think of creating a persona they often focus on things like back story or developing an accent. In my experience, both of these things often leave people frustrated and/or annoy others more than it give the individual an added boost to their SCA experience. Persona development should be fun and it doesn’t have to be done in a grandiose way. I’ve been playing for over a decade and have been studying Russian for longer. I don’t have a back story for Akilina, I don’t use a Russian accent (unless I am reading or reciting in actual Russian) but I am a different person at events. I hold myself differently, I am more careful and deliberate about my speech and I focus on my understanding of the Russian Soul.
Note: This is a quick and dirty over view hopefully encompassing the idea of the Russian Soul more roundly. It is so much more indepth than this and I plan to write on it more as I go on and as always I am always down to chat about this and all other things Rus’/Slav at any event. Just come find me.