Nizhny Novgorod residents were invited to take part in the Great Ethnographic Dictation.

      October 23, 2025 12:40 Society NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria Orlova

      Residents of Nizhny Novgorod were invited to take part in a large ethnographic dictation (6+), which will be held from November 1 to 8. Acting Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the region Maria Chernikova spoke about the all-Russian campaign aimed at strengthening civic identity and popularizing the traditional spiritual and moral values of the peoples of Russia at a press conference at the NOIC. This was reported by a correspondent of NIA "Nizhny Novgorod".

      You can participate both in person and online. To do this, you must register on the event’s official website or via the website of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, where a corresponding link will be posted.

      As Maria Chernikova noted, this year more than 50 offline venues are planned to open in the region for participating in the dictation — compared with four last year. This growth is due to high interest in the project. Ten years ago, when the dictation was held for the first time, about 4,000 Nizhny Novgorod residents took part, and last year the number of people wishing to test their knowledge exceeded 33,000.

      Exact addresses of all venues in the region will be published closer to the start of the event on official resources.

      Maria Chernikova emphasized that the dictation is not an exam in the usual sense: it is an opportunity to check and expand one’s knowledge of the culture and history of the peoples of Russia.

      "There is no minimum age threshold for participation — last year the youngest participant was 8 years old and the oldest 68. For participants under 16, 20 tasks are provided; for older participants, 30. Forty-five minutes are allotted for completion," she said.

      The dictation questions cover both nationwide and regional topics. For example, last year one task asked about the symbol of the city of Arzamas — the correct answer was "Goose."

      Also this year an innovation is planned: questions for the ethnographic dictation may possibly be asked live on air by participants in the special military operation.

      Not only Russian citizens can take part in the dictation. The tasks are available in Russian, English and Spanish, which means residents of different countries who wish to learn more about Russia can join. Separate tasks will be prepared specifically for foreign participants to introduce them to the unique features of Russian culture. According to Chernikova, the questions will relate to Russia beyond the borders of the Russian Federation.

      Regarding the possibility of preparing in advance, past years’ tasks are available on the event website. This will help participants understand the structure and themes of the questions.

      Correct answers will be published on November 13, and participation certificates can be obtained until December 25. All registered participants will receive them at their email addresses.

      The event is timed to the Day of National Unity, which is observed annually on November 4. According to Maria Chernikova, the dictation contributes not only to raising cultural literacy but also to strengthening the unity of the country.

      "When you learn more about the lives of other peoples, about the culture of your region and country, it strengthens not only multicultural ties but also the integrity of the state," she noted.

      It was previously reported that from September 1, 2025, a compulsory subject "History of the Nizhny Novgorod Region" will be introduced into the educational program of Nizhny Novgorod schools.

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